Mastering Essential Learning Strategies – Practice Flashcards

A comprehensive set of question-and-answer flashcards covering passive vs. active learning, metacognition, growth mindset, the Big 5 strategies, SMART goals, cognitive stages of memory, and key insights from the Mastering Essential Learning Strategies module.

What is the main drawback of passive study habits such as rereading and highlighting?

They build familiarity and confidence without improving long-term memory or comprehension.

According to the module, what question should you ask yourself to judge readiness for an exam?

“Can I explain this without looking?” instead of “Do I feel ready?”

Define the 'illusion of fluency.'

The false sense of understanding that comes from repeated exposure and ease of processing rather than true recall.

Which learning strategy involves deliberately pulling information from memory?

Retrieval practice

Why is effortful retrieval considered effective for learning?

Because each successful recall strengthens the memory pathway and reveals gaps in understanding.

Give two examples of active learning strategies.

Self-quizzing and teaching the concept to someone else.

What is ‘desirable difficulty’?

Short-term effort or struggle that leads to stronger, longer-lasting learning.

List the three core metacognitive skills.

Planning, monitoring, and evaluating one’s learning.

What cognitive process is supported by spaced practice?

Consolidation of long-term memory

In the Big 5 Toolkit, which strategy aligns with 'Select & Attend'?

Organization

Which Big 5 strategy makes information meaningful by connecting it to prior knowledge?

Elaboration

Why does cramming often fail for long-term retention?

It keeps information in short-term memory without sufficient encoding and spaced reinforcement.

State one way to break the illusion of fluency when studying.

Quiz yourself without notes or teach the material to someone else.

What are SMART learning goals?

Goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Provide a SMART version of the vague goal “Study chemistry more.”

“Review Ch. 2 notes for 20 minutes daily and do 3 practice problems by Friday.”

How does a growth mindset view intelligence?

As malleable and able to grow through effort and effective strategies.

Give one harmful belief associated with a fixed mindset.

“Failure is the limit of my abilities.”

Define metacognitive knowledge.

Awareness of oneself as a learner and understanding of how one learns best.

Why is attention called the gatekeeper of learning?

Because without focused attention, information is not adequately encoded for later recall.

What learning stage follows 'Encode' in the cognitive model?

Store

Name two simple organization techniques to structure information.

Creating outlines and making concept maps.

Why is rehearsal alone insufficient for deep learning?

It promotes short-term recall without meaningful connections or durable memory traces.

Describe one effective way to use rehearsal properly.

Pair rehearsal with elaboration by explaining the meaning of each term aloud.

What does the module suggest is a better indicator of preparedness than confidence?

Your ability to recall and apply information without aids.

How does spacing reviews combat forgetting?

By revisiting material just before you would forget it, strengthening the memory each time.

What question prompts metacognitive reflection about current study habits?

“Do my current habits help me retain and apply information—or just recognize it in the short term?”

List the five cognitive stages of learning outlined in the module.

Select & Attend, Encode, Store, Retrieve, Consolidate

Which Big 5 strategy most directly supports the 'Retrieve' stage?

Retrieval practice

Give an example of elaboration using an analogy.

“Neurons are like roads and synapses are the traffic lights controlling signals.”

What is the first step of the ‘Learning Lab’ approach encouraged in the course?

Experiment with new study techniques in your actual courses.

How can teaching a concept help your own learning?

It forces you to organize and articulate the material, revealing gaps and strengthening understanding.

Why do passive strategies tend to persist despite their ineffectiveness?

They feel comfortable, familiar, and reduce anxiety even though they don’t improve retention.

What is one recommended response to poor exam results, according to good thinkers?

Learn new study strategies and pinpoint areas to improve.

Which learning strategy combats overconfidence derived from recognition?

Self-testing / Retrieval practice

Describe a quick self-check to replace rereading.

Turn headings into questions and answer them from memory.

What role does sleep play in the learning process?

It aids consolidation by allowing the brain to replay and stabilize memories.

Define surface learning.

Simply reproducing parts of course content and accepting ideas without questioning or connecting them.

Why is organization especially helpful when material feels overwhelming?

It groups related ideas, reduces cognitive load, and reveals meaningful patterns.

How does spaced practice resemble muscle training?

Both rely on frequent, shorter sessions over time rather than one exhaustive effort.

What should you do after identifying a learning stage that often breaks down for you?

Plan one small, specific action to strengthen that stage (e.g., 10-minute flashcard review after class).

Give an example of a desirable difficulty.

Attempting to solve practice problems before looking at worked examples.

Which belief about knowledge supports deep learning strategies?

“Knowledge is complex and built over time.”

What is the primary benefit of concept mapping?

It visually displays relationships between ideas, supporting encoding and storage.

How does retrieval practice reduce test anxiety?

By repeatedly simulating test conditions, increasing familiarity and confidence in recall.

What is conditional knowledge (tested in higher-level exams)?

Knowing when and how to apply concepts in new situations.

Explain why highlighting can be counterproductive.

It often lacks purpose and can trick students into thinking the highlighted material is mastered.

How can you pair rehearsal with spaced practice for vocabulary?

Study small word sets daily, then review them at increasing intervals (1, 3, 7 days).

What mindset statement encourages resilience after failure?

“This setback shows what I need to work on; effort and new strategies will help me improve.”

What does ‘organization’ contribute to the ‘Store’ phase of memory?

It creates structured links that make retrieval easier and memories stronger.