Make it stick is one of those books that has had a profound impact me on a seeker of knowledge. I came across the book while reading the book “How to take smart notes by Sonke Ahrens and have read and listened to the book around three times now. I wish I had come across this book a bit earlier.
The following are some core topics that were discussed in the book and makes us re-think about our relationship with knowledge and how we learn stuff that matters to us.
The Testing Effect
Retrieval Practice: Practicing retrieval makes learning stick better than re-exposure to the original material. This is known as the testing effect or retrieval-practice effect.
Repeated Retrieval: Effective retrieval must be repeated again and again to improve memory retention.
Interrupting Forgetting: A central challenge in learning is finding ways to interrupt the process of forgetting. Practicing retrieval helps in this regard
Empirical Evidence: Research shows that retrieval practice leads to better long-term retention than massed studying or cramming.
Spacing and Interleaving
Spaced Practice: Spacing out practice sessions leads to better mastery and longer retention. It allows time for memory consolidation.
Interleaved Practice: Interleaving the practice of different subjects or skills improves learning by making it more cognitively challenging.
Desirable Difficulties
Effortful Learning: Learning that requires more effort, such as spaced retrieval and interleaving, leads to stronger and more durable learning.
Reflection: Reflecting on what you have learned, including what went well and what could be improved, enhances learning and memory
Mental Models and Conceptual Learning
Mental Models: Developing mental models helps in understanding complex ideas and applying knowledge in varied contexts.
Conceptual Knowledge: Understanding the interrelationships of basic elements within a larger structure is crucial for deeper learning.
Avoiding Illusions of Knowing
Metacognition: Monitoring your own thinking and being aware of cognitive biases and illusions helps in making better judgments about what you know and don’t know.
Calibration: Using objective feedback to align your judgments with reality helps avoid illusions of mastery.
Growth Mindset and Deliberate Practice
Growth Mindset: Believing that your intellectual abilities are not fixed and can be developed through effort and learning leads to better performance and persistence.
Deliberate Practice: Goal-directed, focused practice aimed at improving specific aspects of performance is essential for achieving expertise.
Practical Applications
Self-Quizzing: Regular self-quizzing helps in better retention and understanding of the material.
Anki and other SRS tools are great for this.
Elaboration: Adding layers of meaning to new material, such as through metaphors or visual images, enhances learning.
Prepare notes, exploring connection between subjects and making it as vivid as you can.
Generation: Attempting to solve problems or answer questions before being shown the solution makes the mind more receptive to new learning.
Convert what you learn into a product of your own, as essay, a blog post or a speech or a tiktok video. Do something with what you have learned.
These principles are broadly applicable across different fields and learning environments, emphasising the importance of active, effortful, and reflective learning practices.