"Today I Learned": 50 Times People Learned Interesting Facts Online And Couldn't Wait To Share With Others (New Posts)

Another tactic that makes information stick is the retrieval practice. It is most often used when you want to remember information you are learning, whether it’s a language or a computer system. "This is testing yourself to see if you can pull the information out of your brain," Sprenger said. "As a teacher, I learned that many students, both middle and high school (and even college), could store information, yet they had trouble retrieving it for tests or essays."

"Once you begin to learn something, stop and see if you can retrieve it without any help or cues. I call it a blank page review. Take a plain sheet of paper and write down what you’ve learned so far. Do that as you continue the learning. Pay attention to what you couldn’t retrieve. We learn from mistakes. You’ll be amazed at how that simple practice will increase your knowledge."

Yet, if you set a goal to remember something happening right now, the expert suggested to "look for the emotional component (it may be that you’re having fun!), be aware of where you are, and practice retrieving the information. When you meet a new person who is going to be important in your life, be sure to repeat their name. That’s a rehearsal and will help you retrieve the name later. Practice makes perfect…and permanent!"

Lastly, Sprenger stressed the importance of social-emotional learning and creating meaningful relationships. "We are all students as we go out into the world and learn. Getting to know people, the people you work with, live with, ride the bus with…all of our encounters include people who can help us learn. People need connection. We all want to belong. Belonging is not 'fitting in.' Fitting in is a way of changing to become like others. Belonging is being seen and heard for who you are. Make those connections, build those relationships, and learning will follow," she concluded.