Chapter 13: Now that you've Learned it, Forget It!

Forgetfulness.  It's the confession I have to make at every job interview when they ask about your weaknesses.  In graduate school I was always forgetting where I put my car keys.  At one point I copied five of my keys and distributed them among my friends.  

 Forgetting things is generally speaking not a desirable trait.  But, when it comes to memorization, it plays a part in the process of retention.  

If you were taking a foreign language and had the option of a taking a one month intensive course all day long or taking that same course spread out over four months, which would you take?  You might be able to pass the test after taking the first course but to embed the information in your long-term memory, you would do better to take the second option.  The brain needs intervals of rest or times of "forgetting" for optimal retention.

This science was researched primarily in the 1885 by Ebbinghaus and was called the forgetting curve.[1]  Ebbinghaus logged his ability to remember non-sensical information and graphed his retention or lack thereof. Later researchers would build on the understanding of the forgetting curve and try to determine at what intervals of time between reviewing were optimal for memory retention.  This research is called by a number of different names such as "spaced repetition" or the "spacing effect."  

While the rate of memorization and then resting from the material differs among researchers, one area in particular researchers agree on.  “If there is a strong initial learning, afterwards spaced review is actually better than traditional methods of cramming."  In a study conducted by Cepeda et. al (2006) participants who used spaced practice on memory tasks outperformed those using massed practice [cramming] in 259 out of 271 cases.”[2]   That's a 96% rate of improvement.

Decisive intervals of time for review are challenging to pin down as there are many factors such as interest in material, type of material being retained, previous exposure and other variables.  Yet some have found very successful intervals of learning and reviewing.  Today flashcard software as well as language software such as Pimsleur is built on this principle.

So how does this apply to scripture memorization?  First of all there needs to be a strong initial connection with the material being memorized.  Studies show that this meaningful connection to the material plays a big part of memory retention.  This comes through meditation, understanding and application of the text as well as seeing this process as a means to strengthen not just knowledge but love for the Lord.

Secondly, memorizing and having spaced review is better than cramming.  Some are more spontaneous while others are highly structured and need a careful plan.  A good practice is to review your text several times a day the first few weeks, and then began to add more and more distance between repetition.   I have found that the time away is actually helpful in discovering where the weak points are at.  For those who are structured, a personal set of scheduled intervals may be helpful.

Make it a goal to have spoken a verse out loud 40x, at least 10 of those times to other people.  You will find that the first 20 times may go smooth, but then a rough patch tends to occur which will eventually smooth out again.  Space it out where there is more intensity initially, rest, then review, then rest from those verses a little more, then more review.  It is a process that can last several months.

The nice thing with review is that there is no end to where you can practice your review since it is stored away in your heart.   It can happen spontaneously with another person or on your own. 

With the advent of smart phone technology, review can also be enhanced through various apps.   I use a recorder app to listen to my voice, create the story and/or check the accuracy.  I use a multiple counter app to keep track of how many times I’ve reviewed each Scripture.  I have a Bible on my phone so that when I’m sitting and waiting in line or at the Doctor’s office, I can work on Scripture.   Be creative with the tools that help you to review.

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[1] http://psychology.about.com/od/cognitivepsychology/p/forgetting.htm

[2] Cepeda, N.J., Cobum, N., Rohrer, D., Wixted, J.T., Mozer, M.C., &  Rohred, D.  (2006).  Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks:  A review and quantitive synthesis.  Psychological Bulletin, 354-380.