Turning Difficult Lessons Into Deeper Learning

Though it sounds counterintuitive, it’s not necessarily a bad sign when students are straining to fully understand new materials—so long as they’re supplied with a healthy boost of deeper learning.

A large set of studies have found that brief quizzes administered right after a lesson can reduce the possibility of forgetting new material by up to 50 percent. And research shows that the process of struggling through short quizzes immediately after learning activates the neural circuits that support long-term retention and performance.

Simply reviewing notes can be far less effective, and takes more time, than testing. Reviewing gives a comforting sense of progress, while quizzes and self-tests might make students feel like they’re not doing well. Yet that feeling of uncertainty is precisely what drives learning and growth.

Just like exercise, learning sometimes benefits from a “no pain, no gain” approach. Here are four actionable strategies that K–12 teachers can use to help students build stronger metacognition, support learning retention, and meaningfully enhance achievement.