What does 'desirable difficulty' mean in the context of studying?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the meaning of the term 'desirable difficulty' in the context of studying, particularly in relation to study strategies that might initially seem ineffective but ultimately lead to better learning outcomes over time.
Answer
Desirable difficulty is a learning theory where manageable challenges improve long-term learning.
Desirable difficulty refers to a concept in learning theory introduced by Robert Bjork, suggesting that challenges that require significant but manageable amounts of effort can improve long-term learning and retention.
Answer for screen readers
Desirable difficulty refers to a concept in learning theory introduced by Robert Bjork, suggesting that challenges that require significant but manageable amounts of effort can improve long-term learning and retention.
More Information
The idea behind desirable difficulties is that by introducing certain types of challenges, learners engage in deeper processing, enhancing their ability to encode and retrieve information. It is effective for long-term retention even if it slows down apparent learning in the short term.
Tips
A common mistake is assuming that all difficulties are desirable. It's important to ensure that the difficulty challenges the learner appropriately without causing frustration or overwhelm.
Sources
- The web page with info on desirable difficulties - Davidson-Davie - davidsondavie.edu
- Desirable difficulty - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
- Desiring Difficulties - The Effortful Educator - theeffortfuleducator.com
