To Really Learn, Quit Studying and Take a Test

We have many ways we approach testing, learning and acquisition of knowledge. What may be surprising to many is the most effective means of learning material in a subject. According to the journal “Science”

students who read a passage, then took a test asking them to recall what they had read, retained about 50 percent more of the information a week later than students who used two other methods.

One of those methods — repeatedly studying the material — is familiar to legions of students who cram before exams. The other — having students draw detailed diagrams documenting what they are learning — is prized by many teachers because it forces students to make connections among facts.

These other methods not only are popular, the researchers reported; they also seem to give students the illusion that they know material better than they do.

Let me throw a spiritual spin on this. The devil is often called “The Tempter”…but the Greek word for tempt (peirasmos) actually means to “conduct or proctor a test”. The job of the Enemy of our souls is to give us tests to see what we are made of. If we fail the test, it is supposed to push us to the brink of needing God’s help. If we  pass the test, we learn the spiritual lesson designed there.

Is it possible that the Enemy, regardless of his adversarial relationship to us, is still God’s servant in our lives? Of course. It is the best way (though perhaps the most painful way) to learn.

Get a Zeal to Learn

Leo Buscaglia, in his book “Loving Each Other” talks about the mealtime ritual as he grew up. All the kids would sit down at the table, grace was offered, and then his dad would ask the same question: “What is one thing you learned today?” It didn’t matter what it was: they may have learned that white cars don’t go faster than black ones or that frogs don’t taste good when licked or that differential calculus helps us get from one side of the room to the other. But if one of his kids said “Nothing”, he would receive the same punishment. Dad would give his child a long, baleful stare along with a groan and say, “Then you wasted this day.“

He must have been related to my dad. Many weekends my dad would bring home an armload of books from the library to read. Many times they would all be read by the next weekend. Then he would do it all again. He was fascinated with a plethora of topics, but his favorites were history, geography, crime novels and famous sporting figures. I remember sitting in his study one Saturday afternoon watching him read. I know; you’re thinking that this explains so much about my geekness. But I liked to watch my dad when he didn’t know I was looking. His facial expressions said so much about what was happening in his heart.

At one point, he looked at me and a frown came over his face. “Mike” he started,