Applying Cognitive Principles to Improve the Efficiency of Memory

Dr. Bennett L. Schwartz PhD, Professor of Psychology, Florida International University, Editor-in-Chief, New Ideas in Psychology
Recent advances in memory research suggest methods that can be applied to enhance educational practices. I outline four general principles of memory improvement that have emerged from research: 1) focus on the meaning of material, 2) use effective practice retrieval – (also known as the testing effect), 3) use distributed practice, and 4) know when to trust your intuitions and when not to (metacognition). My discussion of each principle describes current experimental research underlying the principle and explains how people can take advantage of the principle to improve their learning.