It's almost impossible to believe it’s been over a year since Cathy and I started the seemingly never-ending process of residency interviewing. Here are three evidence-based learning strategies I applied which made the interviewing ordeal a smidge more tolerable.
Read moreCramming: Misaligned Testing Incentives
Studies show that cramming may sometimes be more effective on immediate, non-cumulative tests. These kinds of rapid-fire exams are fairly common across the country. If cramming gets us the scores we want on these exams, what incentives do we have to space out our learning?
Read moreCramming: Skipping sleep for short-term gains
Cramming can actually leave learners feeling more satisfied. In fact, those who space out their learning often report feeling that their learning is inferior to cramming—even when they’re presented with their own objective gains in long-term retention.
Read moreCramming: I don't have time to study
One reason cramming feels good is that it requires very little planning. Most of the time, we’re faced with several different courses, all competing for our precious study time and with their own exam schedules. With the rapid march of each upcoming exam, it’s easier to just focus on what’s next. But you might have more time than you think.
Read moreCramming: The "Perks"
Most “professional” students will at some point find themselves in situations where the amount of material they need to learn far exceeds the amount of time they need to prove mastery. In this mini series, we will explore a couple of the factors at play, and how to tip the scales in favor of durable knowledge and the most efficient (and fun!) ways to achieve it.
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