Thursday
Sep092010
Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 5:07PM
So says this informative New York Times article, which can apply to chess study as well as academia. Readers are invited to offer their own applications in the comments.
HT: Chris Falter
Reader Comments (2)
The article mentions a few principles. Here are my thoughts on how to apply them:
Principle #1) Vary your learning strategies at each learning session.
Applications:
* Don't use Reinfeld's 1001 format to solve puzzles (all pins, then all skewers, etc.). In a game, you'll have to sort out which themes apply; practice that skill by solving puzzles whose theme (and even goal) is not known in advance.
* Vary frequently among learning techniques, even in the same session; e.g., solve some puzzles, then analyze a GM game, then analyze one of your own, then play, then kibitz... If you can't do all of the above in one sitting, at least alternate the approaches frequently (e.g., don't do mostly puzzles).
* Vary the subject frequently. I.e., don't do mostly tactics, or mostly endgames, or mostly strategy for long stretches. Instead, do a little of each every day.
Principle #2 - Gradual, repetitive learning is better than "cramming."
Application: study an hour a day, rather than nothing on most days and 6 hours on Saturday. If life permits.
Principle #3 - Testing is a very effective aid to learning.
Application - Mix in plenty of games against strong opposition with your other learning strategies. A game against a strong opponent is the ultimate test of chess skill!
Also, it may be helpful to verbalize something when you are studying/analyzing. For example, you are trying to solve a puzzle, but have a hard time seeing how to proceed. After a couple minutes, you look up the solution. As you review the solution with the diagram, verbalize the solution ("Remove the defender of the Q on d5, then knight fork on f6"). Actually verbalizing this (even if only in your mind) provides a second pathway for the pattern to embed itself in your brain.