Do you want to learn the material you're studying—like, reallylearn it? One learning theory suggests that if you overlearn, you'll gain the ability to do something without having to think about it — and eventually obtain more knowledge. Here's what overlearning is and how to do it.
What is overlearning?
Simply put, overlearning means studying something even once you're sure you know it. Don't stop reviewing or studying just because you succeeded in memorizing something.
The purpose of overlearning is to make the task easy to ensure it is completed to a high standard with no stress. For example, a student wants to pass their spelling test which has 10 words. Knowing about overlearning, she doesn't just memorize each word, but also learns about the origins of each word. Similarly, a teacher wanting to learn about teaching strategies might not simply read one book — they may read ten books, watch videos, attend lectures (and maybe even write their own book).
How do you overlearn?
For instance, when using the Leitner method, always review all the flashcards you're assigned on a particular day, even if you feel like passing over them because you got them right last time. Repeatedly going over material you know well is the key to overlearning and eventual automatic recall.
Schedule blocks of time in your week for reviewing materials you've already mastered. Continually reintroducing familiar ideas to yourself will dig them deeper into your long term memory.
A. Overlearning has several benefits. B. Then what you need to do is overlearn it. C. Review material you already know front to back. D. This takes time, but it makes the spelling test a walk in the park. E. Instead, keep going, digging it deeper and deeper into your brain. F. In real life, we sometimes want to learn more than one similar task. G. This can be as easy as re-reading your notes, or as complex as taking practice tests. |
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