Luzdivina Cantu
Dr. Busiek
EDUC 4312
September 9, 2010
Article Analysis: Study Habits
I had always thought that the harder a person studied the same material at a time, the
easier it would be to remember for the test. This, along with other study habits is what I am
accustomed to. Of course, I always wondered why the results weren’t that great. After reading
the article “Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits” by Benedict Carey, I realize that
maybe my study habits have always been wrong. This article released September 6, 2010 in The
New York Times explains that I, and maybe countless other people have been following the
wrong theories on studying.
Have you ever been told to go to a quiet place to study and stay there until you’re done
taking in the information? Chances are that your answer is yes. In the article, Carey explains
that the best way to study is by alternating the room where a person is studying. The change in
atmosphere and environment will improve retention. The reason for that is that the brain will
make multiple associations with the same material or information studied and it will be harder
to forget. Another study habit worth remembering is that it is better to study different but
related skills in one sitting. Apparently alternating the material will leave a deeper impression
on the brain. Research was done where students were split into two groups. One group studied
math and did the same kind of problems over and over again, while the second group had a set
of mixed problems. It was found that the students with the mixed sets did twice as well
because they had mixed practice; those students had to choose the appropriate procedure for
each problem. The other students were only using the same strategy over and over again,
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Luzdivina Cantu
Dr. Busiek
EDUC 4312
September 9, 2010
therefore there was not as much thinking involved. Last but not least, it is better to split study
sessions. When a person studies all at one time it will be harder to remember the material
because it’s not being reinforced. However, when studying is split, the person will probably
relearn some of the old material they had studied and then add some new material on top. All
of that will reinforce the material and guarantee a better grade.
Reading this article, my eyes have been opened. I like the ideas expressed and will
probably try the strategies mentioned myself. It makes sense to me that a person should study
in different settings, mix concepts, and split study sessions. In fact, I will try these before my
next test. It seems that the load will be easier to take on and actually give results. One thing in
the article that I don’t agree with is that it mentions “teaching to the test”. This is something
that as a future teacher I wouldn’t want to have in my classroom. According to Carey, it is the
difficulty of the test that makes it an effective study tool to follow, but I believe that if one is
only following the test then the material learned will not be broad or enriching material.
Another idea that I disagree with is that Carey mentions a team of psychologists who found
almost zero support for the notion that children have different learning styles and should be
taught accordingly. I believe that as individuals we are all different and the study habits that
may work for one person will not work for another. For example, the study habits in this article
will probably work for me but that might not be the same for some of my other classmates.
As a future teacher, this article helps me understand in which ways I can teach. I’ve
always wanted to have a mix of everything in my teaching and hopefully this way I can help my
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Luzdivina Cantu
Dr. Busiek
EDUC 4312
September 9, 2010
students have better grades in class. The way that I present the material to them will probably
have a big impact. For that reason, I would like to set up my lessons in a way that the good
study habits in this article are used. I won’t teach to the test but I do know that testing is
important and my students should have good study habits and test-taking skills.
After reading this article, I hope to improve my study habits and those of my future
students. As a teacher it is important that I myself know good ways to study and to deliver
information more efficiently. As a student I know that many times I will study something and
the information only stays in my brain long enough to take the test and then it is gone. With the
strategies and tips in the article I hope to change that and keep the information and education I
am receiving with me for the rest of my life. This is my goal for myself and for my students.
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