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Spaced repetition systems have gotten better

(domenic.me)
663 points domenicd | 2 comments | 18 May 25 11:42 UTC | HN request time: 0.91s | source
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cjauvin ◴[18 May 25 13:09 UTC] No.44021144[source]▶
What I find interesting about spaced repetition is the underlying thesis that raw memorization, in certain contexts, is playing a more important role for learning than what some modern education ideas would make you assume. In mathematics or programming, for instance, there is this idea that understanding a concept is better than memorizing algorithms or recipes (derivation methods for instance). But spaced repetition challenges that, in a sense.
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1. Barrin92 ◴[18 May 25 14:15 UTC] No.44021571[source]▶
>But spaced repetition challenges that, in a sense.

Common sense challenges this honestly. Education systems that traditionally have put a strong focus on repetition, memorization and what you could call neuromuscular training (e.g China, the USSR, France) in particluar in STEM far outperform anyone else. Vietnam outperforms most rich countries.

In programming circles it's a cultural cliche because our profession is full of people who go by: "I am a genius, I work smart, not hard", probably the most damaging idea ever uttered in education, and in the humanities it's seen as culturally unsophisticated.

In reality, 95% of everything is mechanics. Starcraft, math, even literature and acting. Creative freedom is enabled only by a large body of effortless recollection.

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2. 0xDEAFBEAD ◴[18 May 25 18:14 UTC] No.44023283[source]▶
The UK and Germany outperform France in average learning outcomes according to Our World in Data:

https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/average-harmonized-learni...