2.1.2
Desirable Difficulties
Complete the interactive activities in the Seneca app to work towards your CPD certificate.
Performance vs Learning
Prof. Robert Bjork's research led him to conclude that high performance is not the same as learning.
A trade-off
- Tasks that are easy to complete during initial practice are usually not well remembered in the future.
- Information that requires more effort to understand, may lead to a bad initial performance but is often more likely to be remembered.
The difference between performance & learning
- Performance is an observable metric e.g. a test result
- Learning is something that should be inferred over a longer period of time.
- Performance is often not a good way of measuring learning.
Cramming
- Cramming can lead to rapid improvement in performance but it is often short-lived and can have little impact on learning.
- It may bring short-term benefits, but is unlikely to result in long-term retention.
Desirable Difficulties
Adding desirable difficulties during instruction may lead to a lower initial performance, but can be beneficial to long-term learning.
Climbing a mountain
- As Efrat Furst says:
- "Learning by testing is like choosing to climb the higher peak: It takes more will, effort and sweat but what you gain, you will not forget".
Introducing desirable difficulties
- Spacing study times.
- Interleaving practice.
- Intermittent feedback.
- Frequent low-stake quizzes.
- Variable contexts and examples.
"Desirable"
- Bjork highlights that not all difficulties are desirable.
- The desirable ones generate memory processes that enhance learning.
- Students need to be able to overcome the difficulties.
- If they are not, these difficulties are not boosting learning and become undesirable.
1Memory
1.1Memory Processing
1.2Types of Memory
2How Do We Learn?
2.1Neural Model of Learning
3Cognitive Load Theory
4Effective Strategies
4.1Rosenshine's Principles
4.2Dunlosky's Strategies
4.3Dylan Wiliam
4.4Daniel Willingham
4.5The Learning Scientists
Jump to other topics
1Memory
1.1Memory Processing
1.2Types of Memory
2How Do We Learn?
2.1Neural Model of Learning
3Cognitive Load Theory
4Effective Strategies
4.1Rosenshine's Principles
4.2Dunlosky's Strategies
4.3Dylan Wiliam
4.4Daniel Willingham
4.5The Learning Scientists
Practice questions on Desirable Difficulties
Can you answer these? Complete these activities in the Seneca app to progress towards your certificate.
- 1What can be said about performance and learning?True / false
- 2
- 3What can be said about desirable difficulties?True / false
- 4What researcher created the term "desirable difficulties"?Multiple choice
- 5Ways to induce desirable difficulties:Fill in the list
Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium
Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions
Mini-mock exams based on your study history
Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books