Invitation to join a global virtual book group reading "Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning" by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger, III, and Mark A. McDaniel in March 2019

What

Read "Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning" in just over 4 weeks.

This is the 3rd selection in My Year of Reading 2019 which was listed by Céline Schillinger in her “How to grow, learn, and act for change in 2019?” list of events, resources etc.

The Google Books entry summary for the book:

"To most of us, learning something "the hard way" implies wasted time and effort. Good teaching, we believe, should be creatively tailored to the different learning styles of students and should use strategies that make learning easier. Make It Stick turns fashionable ideas like these on their head. Drawing on recent discoveries in cognitive psychology and other disciplines, the authors offer concrete techniques for becoming more productive learners.

Memory plays a central role in our ability to carry out complex cognitive tasks, such as applying knowledge to problems never before encountered and drawing inferences from facts already known. New insights into how memory is encoded, consolidated, and later retrieved have led to a better understanding of how we learn. Grappling with the impediments that make learning challenging leads both to more complex mastery and better retention of what was learned.

Many common study habits and practice routines turn out to be counterproductive. Underlining and highlighting, rereading, cramming, and single-minded repetition of new skills create the illusion of mastery, but gains fade quickly. More complex and durable learning come from self-testing, introducing certain difficulties in practice, waiting to re-study new material until a little forgetting has set in, and interleaving the practice of one skill or topic with another. Speaking most urgently to students, teachers, trainers, and athletes, Make It Stick will appeal to all those interested in the challenge of lifelong learning and self-improvement."

Readers will also be able to make use of resources for book clubs who are reading "Make It Stick".

Why

This is a book about learning that is a must-read for those of us who want to learn how to learn more efficiently and effectively.

I specifically looked for a book to include in My Year of Reading 2019 that would specifically speak to my One Word 2019 of “apply” (my learning in all contexts) and this one looked ideal to help me this year.

I have very high hopes that this book will significantly help me (and you) apply our learning activities into daily practice.

When

The aim is to read this book in March 2019 but people can take longer or start later.

How

Read the book.

Post comments on your reading of the book including any notes from the book in text, audio or video (see Where below) e.g. chapter by chapter, using your notes as a kind of journal as you journey through the book.

Reply to the comments and notes of others.

Start a discussion.

As an online learning junkie, I am open to anybody doing anything connected with this book to learn and apply the content of this book.

All very informal and fun!

Who

Readers

The book is relevant to all learners of any age who want to understand and apply more efficient and effective ways of learning.

This group would also be good for those who are out of the habit now of reading long-form content and are yearning to get back into that routine and go deeper in their learning supported by others.

Where

The book group is part of a community of learners running on Workplace by Facebook. Many have done or are doing Working Out Loud circles in that community.

There is a dedicated group in that community for this specific book.

To take part in this book club you will be registered on Workplace via an email address that you send to me.

It needs to be an address that has yet to be used to register for any other Workplace by Facebook community and ideally would be a personal email address not an organisational one in case your organisation already uses Workplace by Facebook or may use it in the future.

Note that Workplace by Facebook is not consumer Facebook! There are no ads and Facebook are not allowed to use any data held on Workplace for any purpose.

It would be great if you would also use other platforms such as Twitter to publicise your reading of the book and what you are learning from it and your participation in the book group.

I am happy as always to take any questions.