Priya Gunasekaran
- 21 Jun, 2024
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- 3 Mins Read
Enhancing Student Achievement with Effective Learning Techniques: Insights from Dunlosky’s Research
In the quest to improve student achievement, educators and learners alike are constantly searching for the most effective learning techniques. While traditional study habits like rereading and highlighting are popular, research by cognitive psychologist John Dunlosky and his colleagues reveals that these methods are often less effective than more scientifically-backed strategies. Here, we explore some of Dunlosky’s key findings and provide practical tips for incorporating these techniques into everyday learning.
1. Practice Testing
Overview: Practice testing involves self-testing or taking practice quizzes on the material you are learning. This technique helps to strengthen memory retention and improve recall.
Why It Works: Practice testing leverages the retrieval practice effect, which enhances long-term memory by repeatedly recalling information.
How to Implement:
– Use flashcards to quiz yourself on key concepts.
– Take practice quizzes available in textbooks or online.
– Engage in group study sessions where peers quiz each other.
2. Distributed Practice
Overview: Distributed practice, also known as spaced repetition, involves spreading out study sessions over time rather than cramming.
Why It Works: This method combats the forgetting curve by regularly revisiting material, which strengthens neural connections and enhances memory retention.
How to Implement:
– Break your study material into smaller chunks and review them over several days or weeks.
– Use tools like spaced repetition software (e.g., Anki) to schedule review sessions.
– Create a study calendar that includes specific times for reviewing past material.
3. Elaborative Interrogation
Overview: Elaborative interrogation involves explaining why facts and concepts are true, often by answering “why” questions.
Why It Works: This technique encourages deeper understanding and integration of new information with existing knowledge.
How to Implement:
– After learning a new fact, ask yourself why it is true and how it relates to what you already know.
– Write out explanations for key concepts in your own words.
– Discuss the material with peers or teachers to deepen your understanding.
4. Self-Explanation
Overview: Self-explanation involves explaining how new information is related to known information, or explaining the steps taken during problem-solving.
Why It Works: This technique promotes active learning and helps integrate new information with existing cognitive structures.
How to Implement:
– After solving a problem, explain the reasoning behind each step out loud or in writing.
– Teach the material to someone else, which forces you to clarify and solidify your understanding.
– Use study guides or notes to explain concepts as you go along.
5. Interleaved Practice
Overview: Interleaved practice involves mixing different topics or types of problems within a single study session, rather than focusing on just one topic at a time.
Why It Works: This approach helps improve problem-solving skills and enables students to distinguish between different types of problems and their appropriate solutions.
How to Implement:
– Mix different subjects or topics when studying instead of focusing on one at a time.
– Practice different types of problems or questions in a single session.
– Create varied practice sessions that require applying knowledge in different contexts.

Practical Tips for Educators and Learners
1. Create Structured Study Plans: Educators can help students by designing structured study plans that incorporate these effective techniques. For example, alternating between different subjects or topics within a single homework session can implement interleaved practice.
2. Utilize Technology: Various apps and software are available to aid in practice testing and spaced repetition. Encouraging students to use these tools can make these techniques more accessible and manageable.
3. Foster a Growth Mindset: Encourage students to view challenges as opportunities for growth. Techniques like self-explanation and elaborative interrogation can help them develop a deeper understanding and a more resilient approach to learning.
4. Incorporate Peer Learning: Group study sessions can provide opportunities for practice testing, elaborative interrogation, and self-explanation. Peers can challenge each other with questions and explanations, enhancing collective understanding.
5. Regular Feedback: Providing regular feedback can help students understand their progress and areas that need improvement. This can be particularly effective when combined with practice testing.
Conclusion
Improving student achievement requires more than just hard work; it demands the application of effective learning strategies. By incorporating techniques such as practice testing, distributed practice, elaborative interrogation, self-explanation, and interleaved practice, students can enhance their learning efficiency and achieve better academic outcomes. Educators play a crucial role in guiding students towards these practices, creating an environment that fosters deep, lasting learning. Through these evidence-based strategies, the journey of learning becomes not only more effective but also more engaging and rewarding.
Priya Gunasekaran
Priya, a mother of two, understands the value of a strong foundation in Computer Science from an early age. With a keen interest in technology and a passion for researching parenting techniques, she believes that the most effective way for children to retain knowledge is by making learning fun and engaging. Priya, on the other hand, works as a Content Writer at Eduseed, contributing to educational content that supports these goals.