Make It Stick Book Critique

I wish I had access to this book earlier in my adult educational journey. I think back to when I was obtaining my undergraduate degree, and I was still using the techniques of cramming to get through all of the Psychology tests I was required to take. All the highlighting I had done, all the time I spent thinking that if I just studied the highlighted parts of the book, I would be sure to pass the class. This book turned everything I "thought" I knew about studying and learning upside down. As you imagine my surprise that I had gone this long without knowing the ins and outs of my own learning. This book really had me questioning my own learning style. 

Throughout the book, the authors deliberately repeat the key ideas and tips in different contexts to enhance readers’ learning and retention. Retrieval practice was a new concept to me, and it has taken me some time to really understand it as well as implement it. For those that are new to this concept as I was it is about recalling concepts, facts or events from memory. It’s different from “massed practice” which is about repeating something rapidly and single-mindedly to try to commit it to memory (which is all I knew growing up). 

As I have read through this book the most effective learning strategies are actually counter-intuitive. In this book, the authors debunk common learning myths and education/training strategies which are built on theories and intuition rather than real empirical evidence, and present alternative principles for effective learning which are backed by research studies and experiments.

One thing that made this book relatable were the case studies of how individuals excelled in learning. I would say however, this consumed majority of the reading and at times took me down the rabbit hole and I found it a little difficult to get back on track with the concepts presented in the book. I am not a teacher, but I also feel this is a great resource to really help students understand the basis of learning and how this impact their memory. I also feel this book has been helpful in the "real-world" as we navigate our jobs and how on-the-job training occurs. This could give really great insight to onboarding and how we set up new employees for success as they embark on learning in their new positions.