The Chronicle of Higher Education
May 1, 2009
Close the Book. Recall. Write It Down.
That old study method still works, researchers say. So why don't professors preach it?
By David Glenn
Two psychology journals have recently published papers showing that this strategy works, the latest findings from a decades-old body of research. When students study on their own, "active recall" — recitation, for instance, or flashcards and other self-quizzing — is the most effective way to inscribe something in long-term memory. Yet, why aren't college instructors more aware of this research?