Rote rehearsal refers to practicing something over and over again, and it’s often the strategy of choice for students and athletes. As Dr. Elizabeth Bjork (UCLA) discusses in this video, however, rote rehearsal is a relatively ineffective way to learn, even if it feels like it’s working. Watch the video above to find out more!
If you’re studying for an exam, learning a new language, or just keen on maximizing your memory in everyday life, check out this video by KhanAcademy for some great encoding techniques.
About the Author

Dr. Elizabeth Ligon Bjork (Ph.D., University of Michigan) is a Professor of Psychology at UCLA. Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Bjork has held faculty positions at Rockefeller University and the University of Michigan, served on the editorial board of several scientific journals, is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, and has chaired a number of committees concerned with teacher training and undergraduate education. Her research focuses on identifying ways to optimize human learning and retention.

Related Posts
Mindset

By Saskia Giebl, Ph.D. Researcher, M.Sc.Dec 60

Praise Effort, Not So-called Natural Talent and Ability

“Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is the fastest one of all?” “My dear child, you are. You’ve got...

Read more
For Instructors

By Saskia Giebl, Ph.D. Researcher, M.Sc.Jun 10

When Practice Does Not Make Perfect

We’ve all heard the old adage, “practice makes perfect.” It’s the idea that if we just practice...

Read more
Nate Kornell, Ph.D.

By Nate Kornell, Ph.D.Aug 280

Do your assignments accomplish your goals?

One Question You Need to Ask Yourself About Your Syllabus This article was originally published in...

Read more