Spaced repetition serves as a memory enhancement technique. It is established that distributing your study sessions is more beneficial than cramming, and with an app, you can customize your own spaced repetition timetable, enabling you to effectively develop dependable memories for any subject matter you wish.
Michael Nielsen has an interesting discussion on his application of spaced repetition on Twitter:
He discusses how he decides what to include in his review system, the appropriate volume of information for each entry, and what memory alone may not provide (a comprehension of the process that engages the memorized elements). Nielsen expresses considerable excitement regarding the advantages:
The most significant shift is that memory is no longer a random occurrence left to fate. Instead, I can ensure that I will retain something with minimal effort: it transforms memory into a choice.
Numerous apps/programs can assist you in managing a spaced repetition system, but Nielsen opted for Anki (ankiweb.net), which is open-source and offers desktop and mobile applications (that synchronize with each other, which is advantageous if you wish to input data on a computer and then review it on your mobile while waiting in line for coffee or other situations).
Upon checking Anki, it appears quite appealing, and I’ve come to realize I can utilize it to counter a cognitive bias we all experience: the inclination to overlook facts that contradict our beliefs.
Charles Darwin remarked on this in his autobiography:
“I consistently adhered to a golden rule, which was to make a note immediately on encountering any published fact, new observation, or thought that contradicted my general conclusions; for I found through experience that such information and ideas were significantly more likely to be forgotten than those that supported my views. Due to this practice, very few objections to my theories were raised that I had not at least acknowledged and attempted to respond to.”
(Darwin, 1856/1958, p123).
I possess notebooks, and I share Darwin’s tendency to forget “unfavorable” facts, but I ponder whether my reasoning might be enhanced by not only recording the facts but also retaining them in memory – employing a spaced repetition system. I’m going to try it out.
Links & Footnotes:
Anki app (ankiweb.net)
Wikipedia on spaced repetition systems
The Autobiography of Charles Darwin, 1809–1882, edited by Nora Barlow. London: Collins
For further information on the science, see this recent review aimed at educators: Weinstein, Y., Madan, C. R., & Sumeracki, M. A. (2018). Teaching the science of learning. Cognitive research: principles and implications, 3(1), 2.
I note that Anki-based spaced repetition additionally provides an aspect of retrieval practice and interleaving (other effective learning strategies).