Challenges of Shaping Student Study Strategies for Success: Replication and Extension

Abstract

We replicated and extended Maurer and Shipp’s (2021) intervention to teach students the successive relearning study strategy and encourage its use in preparation for course exams. This mixed-methods project was conducted in partnership between the faculty member teaching the course and an undergraduate student enrolled in the course. Results were similar to those reported by Maurer and Shipp (2021) but differed in meaningful ways. In this investigation, students reported more spaced practice in studying for the exam, demonstrated both greater confidence and greater mastery of the targeted course concept and closer alignment of confidence and mastery. They also reported greater unprompted metacognitive awareness of their own need to learn better study strategies. Qualitative responses from students aligned with the recommendation from SoTL literature that interventions to teach students to adopt more effective study methods need to both provide information and research evidence about more effective methods to students. The responses also aligned with the recommendation from SoTL literature to scaffold students through how to use the methods with opportunities to practice them. Time management issues emerged as the largest student-identified barrier to adopting successive relearning.

Student Responses to Spaced Practice in Two Large Gateway Chemistry Courses

“…For example, the spaced practice plan used in this general chemistry course exhibits some aspects of what has been called successive relearning , a combination of retrieval practice and spaced practice. , In this case, students completed homework problems as part of their study (a retrieval event) and were given feedback, which they used to study and retry the problem. Some research suggests that, when the instructor actively demonstrates successive relearning and has students reflect on the differences in their understanding over time, students’ appreciation and adoption of the practice is enhanced …”

“…Some research suggests that, when the instructor actively demonstrates successive relearning and has students reflect on the differences in their understanding over time, students' appreciation and adoption of the practice is enhanced. 42 Thus, for a large enrollment introductory course, it may be most beneficial for the instructor to invest time intermittently throughout the semester promoting and demonstrating the impact of the method on students' learning, nudging and encouraging students, and demonstrating metacognitive approaches for exams. This approach lays the foundation for the rest of the course, with the hope that more students will buy into and benefit from the method.…”