40 pages • 1 hour read
Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, Mark A. McDanielMake It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2014A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
According to the authors, “Each of us is an astounding bundle of perceptual and cognitive abilities, coexisting with the seeds of our own undoing” (123). Explain how some of the brain’s functions both support and distort learning (you can revisit Chapter 5 or the myths surrounding massed practice discussed throughout the book, etc.).
What revelations about the science of learning did you find the most surprising or counterintuitive? Discuss 2-3 examples.
The introduction asserts that “This is not a book about how education policy or the school system ought to be reformed. Clearly, though, there are policy implications” (xi). Did the book make you question any of the common learning practices you encounter or employ as a learner in a formal educational setting? If so, what are some promising solutions?
How do the authors present and seek to prove their arguments? In other words, how do they organize their book in an engaging, persuasive way? To what extent are they successful in doing so?
Are there any subjects related to learning and memory that you wish the authors covered in more detail or addressed differently?
The authors occasionally discuss learning motor skills as opposed to cognitive information (like in Chapter 3). In what ways do learning motor skills differ from learning cognitive information? In what ways are the processes similar? To what extent is an effective academic teacher engaging in the same type of work as an effective athletic coach?
The authors stress that the field of neuroscience is still growing and cannot yet account for many of the brain’s essential functions in detail. The authors also flag areas of cognitive psychology that warrant more research. What are some brain-related questions that will continue to fuel scientific study? Why do you think these questions are particularly important?
Think about something you’d like to master in your own life (a skill, subject, etc.). Knowing what you know now about learning, devise a plan for achieving mastery. How would you measure your success?
Analyze the ways in which the authors employed their own strategies in the book’s construction. What principles of successful learning did they apply while writing—and did they help you better remember main points?
The authors suggest that pervasive myths about learning dictate mainstream approaches. Why might these misconceptions exist and persist? What are some alternative strategies? Discuss 2-3 examples.
