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Summarization is one of the least effective methods of retaining what you have learnt. According to an extensive study [1], the two most effective methods of re

by npalli 13y ago

Summarization is one of the least effective methods of retaining what you have learnt. According to an extensive study [1], the two most effective methods of retaining what you have learnt are Practice testing --- Self-testing or taking practice tests over to-be-learned material Distributed practice --- Implementing a schedule of practice that spreads out study activities over time http://psi.sagepub.com/content/14/1/4.full.pdf http://psi.sagepub.com/content/14/1/4.full.pdf

gtani 13y ago
Here (first comment) is a hybrid strategy: write your own comprehensive exam for your course/field of study. http://calnewport.com/blog/2012/08/10/you-know-what-you-write-the-textbook-method-for-ultra-learning/ http://calnewport.com/blog/2012/08/10/you-know-what-you-writ... (the Cal Newport blog has 2 posts about summarization but nothing conclusive AFAICT http://calnewport.com/blog/2012/08/16/experiments-with-the-textbook-method/ http://calnewport.com/blog/2012/08/16/experiments-with-the-t...
arkitaip 13y ago
Also please take a look at the research of John Hattie whose meta study Visible Learning analyzes what actually works in a school setting: http://visible-learning.org/ http://visible-learning.org/ His Hattie Ranking might change the way you view education: http://visible-learning.org/hattie-ranking-influences-effect-sizes-learning-achievement/ http://visible-learning.org/hattie-ranking-influences-effect...
danielford 13y ago
Thanks for the link to that review article, I'm definitely going to be reading it. However, I disagree that summarization isn't a valid form of practice testing. I've seen the sort of summarization described in the original post used as a form of practice testing. For example, a similar method (5 minutes reading, 10 minutes writing a summary, followed by 5 minutes re-reading, and another 10 minutes of summarization) showed very good results in this article. http://www.physics.emory.edu/~weeks/journal/karpicke-sci11a.pdf http://www.physics.emory.edu/~weeks/journal/karpicke-sci11a....
m_ke 13y ago
From the paper: 3.5 Summarization: Overall assessment. On the basis of the available evidence, we rate summarization as low utility. It can be an effective learning strategy for learners who are already skilled at summarizing; however, many learners (including children, high school students, and even some undergraduates) will require extensive training, which makes this strategy less feasible. Our enthusiasm is further dampened by mixed find-ings regarding which tasks summarization actually helps. Although summarization has been examined with a wide range of text materials, many researchers have pointed to fac-tors of these texts that seem likely to moderate the effects of summarization (e.g., length), and future research should be aimed at investigating such factors. Finally, although many studies have examined summarization training in the class-room, what are lacking are classroom studies examining the effectiveness of summarization as a technique that boosts stu-dents’ learning, comprehension, and retention of course content. I read through a good portion of it and they are mainly focused on k-12. The research they cite consists of remembering facts, not understanding technical content such as physics and math. Getting through an advanced math textbook is nearly impossible without taking notes and summarizing the main ideas.
DenisM 13y ago
What practice testing would you suggest for the War and Peace?

by npalli 13y ago

gtani 13y ago

Here (first comment) is a hybrid strategy: write your own comprehensive exam for your course/field of study. http://calnewport.com/blog/2012/08/10/you-know-what-you-write-the-textbook-method-for-ultra-learning/ http://calnewport.com/blog/2012/08/10/you-know-what-you-writ... (the Cal Newport blog has 2 posts about summarization but nothing conclusive AFAICT http://calnewport.com/blog/2012/08/16/experiments-with-the-textbook-method/ http://calnewport.com/blog/2012/08/16/experiments-with-the-t...

arkitaip 13y ago

Also please take a look at the research of John Hattie whose meta study Visible Learning analyzes what actually works in a school setting: http://visible-learning.org/ http://visible-learning.org/ His Hattie Ranking might change the way you view education: http://visible-learning.org/hattie-ranking-influences-effect-sizes-learning-achievement/ http://visible-learning.org/hattie-ranking-influences-effect...

danielford 13y ago

Thanks for the link to that review article, I'm definitely going to be reading it. However, I disagree that summarization isn't a valid form of practice testing. I've seen the sort of summarization described in the original post used as a form of practice testing. For example, a similar method (5 minutes reading, 10 minutes writing a summary, followed by 5 minutes re-reading, and another 10 minutes of summarization) showed very good results in this article. http://www.physics.emory.edu/~weeks/journal/karpicke-sci11a.pdf http://www.physics.emory.edu/~weeks/journal/karpicke-sci11a....

m_ke 13y ago

From the paper: 3.5 Summarization: Overall assessment. On the basis of the available evidence, we rate summarization as low utility. It can be an effective learning strategy for learners who are already skilled at summarizing; however, many learners (including children, high school students, and even some undergraduates) will require extensive training, which makes this strategy less feasible. Our enthusiasm is further dampened by mixed find-ings regarding which tasks summarization actually helps. Although summarization has been examined with a wide range of text materials, many researchers have pointed to fac-tors of these texts that seem likely to moderate the effects of summarization (e.g., length), and future research should be aimed at investigating such factors. Finally, although many studies have examined summarization training in the class-room, what are lacking are classroom studies examining the effectiveness of summarization as a technique that boosts stu-dents’ learning, comprehension, and retention of course content. I read through a good portion of it and they are mainly focused on k-12. The research they cite consists of remembering facts, not understanding technical content such as physics and math. Getting through an advanced math textbook is nearly impossible without taking notes and summarizing the main ideas.

DenisM 13y ago

What practice testing would you suggest for the War and Peace?