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The �Growth Mindset�and�Retrieval �Practice

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5^th Graders

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Good Job!

You’re�smart!

Good Job!

You �worked hard!

Easy �or�Hard?

Easy

or

Hard?

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Good Job!

You’re�smart!

Good Job!

You �worked hard!

Easy �or�Hard?

Easy

or

Hard?

“I must be dumb”�

Lost their confidence

“let me try another”�

Remained confident

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Good Job!

You’re�smart!

Good Job!

You �worked hard!

Easy �or�Hard?

Easy

or

Hard?

“I must be dumb”�

Lost their confidence

“let me try another”�

Remained confident

IQ scores DECREASED

IQ scores INCREASED

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James Yang

What does this image mean to you?�
Do you agree or disagree with the message? �Why or Why not?

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Familiar?

… but I studied so hard for that!

You are doing it wrong!

How did you study?

Let’s talk about ways to study better, not longer

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Informed Advice

One-size-fits-all doesn’t exist�
Are there techniques that work for most?
Does science / research have anything to say about how to study and learn effectively?

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Human Connectome Project

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Human Connectome Project

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A basic, but important concept

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What do neurons need in order to grow?

Stimulation through use

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What do neurons need in order to grow?

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What do neurons need in order to grow?

8-12 hours

Know yourself

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What do neurons need in order to grow?

Mix it up

Make it social

Integrate it into daily life

Egs. Walk or bike.� Take the stairs.

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?

If we don’t understand how this works…

… can we study

psychology and

social sciences as a

proxy to understanding �what is going on inside?

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Understanding Memory in Psychology

Why do we remember some things, but forget others?�
What factors affect the strength of a memory?
What factors affect the accuracy of a memory?
What factors affect the longevity of a memory?�
What happens to our memories as time passes?
What happens to our memories when we recall them?

Apply the Scientific Method

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What was I missing?

Hundreds of studies have demonstrated that retrieval practice is better at improving retention than just about any other method learners could use…�

… [This] also fosters what researchers call deep learning

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Compelling Experiment�( 1400 students )

review x3

Condition 2

Quizzed with clickers x3

Condition 1

A -

C +

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Explaining the Results

Listening

Reading

Quizzing

Practicing

Retrieval Practice

Originally called �“The Testing Effect”

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Retrieval Practice _{(Kleiman’s conception)}

Cognitive filters

Time

Don’t do this!

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Retrieval Practice

Cognitive filters

Quizzing + Time

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Interesting Aside

Retrieval Practice is well correlated with �reduced test anxiety….

You’re �Welcome

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Some of My Questions

How soon should quizzing happen relative to learning the content?�
Is MC the best kind of quizzing? �
How does practice via homework followed by take-up compare to immediate quizzing?

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retrievalpractice.org

A great resources to learn more and go deeper into the subject.

Interleaving is a particularly interesting concept worth exploring if you teach a math, or problem based science like physics, or chemistry.

The idea is that there are two parts to solving math problems.

Pick the right strategy to solve the question
Know how to use the strategy to solve the question

Most of the time students learn a new concept and are then given practice problems to match the new concept.

Students can become competent and using a strategy to solve it, but do not need to think about what strategy to use since it is the same within the problem set.

When it comes time for testing, or application of the new concept, student have not practiced the skill or recognizing how to choose the appropriate strategy.

Interleaving is the practice of making successive problems require different strategies.

This way, students need to first choose the correct strategy and then apply it correctly.

It also allows students to continue to practice strategies from earlier in the course.

This practice show tremendous improvement in student understanding, confidence, and performance on evaluations.

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retrievalpractice.org

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My Skepticism about Retrieval Practice

Was there some effect of teaching to the test?�

Is this really the kind of learning we want to promote?

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How can you use Retrieval Practice?

IN CLASS�

Changing the nature of questioning

Every question asked is an oppornity to think and remember
Don’t simply wait for someone else to answer
I will put emphasis on silent thinking after asking�

Avoid COPYING notes

Listen / Read
Think
Write from memory
Check and revise�

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Examples of Retrieval Practice in My Classroom

AT HOME�

DO YOUR HOMEWORK! CHECK YOUR ANSWERS�
What about deep learning…

PARAGRAPHS

(these have also become the basis of my extra help)

�(it also works on literacy skills)

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Studying with Retrieval Practice

Read note 🡪 cover note 🡪 rewrite note from memory��🡪 check for accuracy 🡪 repeat until correct�
Convert notes into new forms. Eg. Graphic organizers�
Redo quiz / Homework problems

Do new practice problems (check your textbook)

Predict questions and answer them

Write a PARAGRAPH and bring it to extra help for feedback!

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What do you do?

How did you study?

… but I studied so hard for that!

I appreciate your hard work. You should spend less time reading and do more retrieval practice.

I read my notes and the textbook

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What Questions or Comments�Do You Have?

What do you find most interesting / useful about Retrieval Practice?

1

In what ways are you already doing Retrieval Practice?

2

Brainstorm more ways that you could increase your use of Retrieval Practice.

3

Discuss the concept of Growth Mindset. Is the way you frame experiences as important as the experience itself?

4