Guessing is Better Than Memorization​

Today I want to point you toward an article I discovered in Edutopia that demonstrates how making educated guesses is more effective when learning and studying than memorizing material.

As the article points out, memorizing is not an efficient way to study. Rather, connecting some meaning to material and even some struggle actually enhances learning. When students make educated guesses, they are using "productive struggle," which helps students engage with the material and utilize perseverance.

"When students try to answer questions on their own—as opposed to when answers are given to them—they engage in productive struggle, which helps them make sense of what they’re learning. Posing questions to students helps them think through a problem, bridging the gap between what they know and what they don’t," the article points out.

Moving away from the seeming perfection of memorizing material and into a space where making thoughtful guesses is okay will actually help students retain the information. Often, when students use rote memorization to study for a test, the material is lost not long after because they didn't make a meaningful connection to it. 

​