A recurring nightmare haunts many, sometimes years after they finish school: After weeks of procrastination, the day before an important exam “suddenly” arrives.
It’s time to cram all night and hope for the best in the morning. This scenario probably happens more often than not. Why, if everyone knows steady studying and regular overhauling are key to long-term learning and academic success?
Why isn’t education shaped to automate the process of learning, learning some more, then revisiting? Actually, it is. And in online education, it’s one of the cornerstone strategies.
Cramming, a last-ditch effort to pass
Cramming is an ancient and largely self-explanatory term. It is a burst of studying, usually shortly before an assessment. Studying all night before an exam may create an impression of familiarity with the material.
However, it doesn’t provide lasting understanding. Further, a rapid intake of massive amounts of information may lead to cognitive overload and hamper the brain’s ability to process and store information. It isn’t an effective way to retain and apply knowledge long-term.
Spaced Learning is a System
Spaced learning spreads studying over time and structured sessions. Scientific research shows that spaced learning opens doors to deeper understanding and long-term retention.
The strategy harnesses the cognitive phenomenon where the brain embeds information in long-term memory over time. That doesn’t apply only to children and students but also to adults.
For instance, a 2024 study of how physicians add knowledge highlighted the effectiveness of spaced repetition in enhanced learning and retention. The 2024 paper on the Effect of Spaced Repetition on Learning and Knowledge by David W Price and others concludes that spaced repetition significantly improves knowledge retention among medical professionals.
Another research from 2023 explored the effect of spaced learning on learning outcomes and retention among nurse anesthesia students. The result indicates better memory retention from spaced learning and assessments in comparison to massed sessions.
Spaced Learning and Flexibility of Online Education
Why do online education platforms have an advantage over traditional classroom settings in the context of spaced learning? Online has the edge over classical because of flexibility. The former allows students to forge their study schedules, and this adaptability supports spaced learning.
Barua and Lockee of Virginia Tech reviewed strategies to incorporate flexibility in higher education course designs in 2023. They point out that integrating flexibility in course design and delivery fosters a learning environment where students can exercise control over the timing, location, and pace of studying.
The understanding of the benefits of this flexibility is not new: it is traceable to the first corresponding courses in the XVIII century.
However, it is the COVID-19 pandemic that has ballooned the demand for online education and the flexibility it offers.
The unprecedented growth of online education has also brought the pros and cons of online learning into focus. When it comes to spaced learning, online education allows students to schedule study sessions and reviews according to their individual preferences and needs.
So, the rapid shift in demand for online schooling is a side-effect of the pandemic that flung the doors open to the implementation of enhanced learning strategies, including spaced learning.
Implementing Spaced Learning
Online courses can be designed to optimize the support for spaced learning through several strategies:
- Modular Course Structure: Splitting the content into smaller, manageable modules allows students to engage with specific topics over time. It reinforces learning through periodic repetition and review.
- Automated Reminders: Learning management systems (LMS) send notifications for upcoming reviews or assessments, encouraging students to revisit material at strategic intervals in support of the spaced repetition model.
- Interactive Assessments: Regular quizzes and interactive activities enable students to reinforce their knowledge while promoting engaged learning and long-term retention.
So, Spaced Learning or Cramming?
Cramming may be a stopgap solution with short-term benefits. Spaced learning is a strategy for superior long-term retention of knowledge and deep understanding.
The flexibility built into online education environments positions online schools to organically implement spaced learning and accommodate various learning styles and individual schedules.
By leveraging online platforms’ adaptability, educators can design courses that promote engagement and mastery of content, ultimately enhancing the educational experience for all learners.
Share, Discuss, or Ask
Do you have a child in an online school, or are you considering enrolling your child in one? We’d love to hear about your experiences. Let us know what has been or may be decisive in the dilemma of traditional vs. online.
If you have questions, please visit us at EduWW or email [email protected].
