Researchers are delving into the interplay of familiarity and novelty to better understand how it enhances memory. This emphasis is particularly backward in the area of test prep. Novelty worked so well in this recent study that it increased recall and retention by nearly 20%. This finding provides students with an impactful tool in their arsenal to improve their performance. In this article, we take a look at the results of this study, discussing practical implications for students who are studying for their next cumulative exam.
Attendees of the pilot study quickly adopted new behaviors. They tasted yellow kiwis for the first time and discovered new spaces in their less familiar neighborhood. To make these experiences for future exams memorable enough to decipher their experience and formulate them to do the best on a test. To demonstrate the notion of novelty through long-term memory retention, we created an unusual memory cue. Now picture that banana with a whole canister of table salt dumped on top!
Understanding Novelty and Familiarity
Novelty and familiarity are two key factors that dictate how people perceive, process, and remember information. When people are familiar with a subject, that familiarity breeds comfort and confidence, which in turn helps them remember information with much greater ease. Just sticking to what you know isn’t going to help you learn and remember things. That’s especially true in high-stakes contexts, like standardized testing or final exams.
What the study’s researchers discovered is striking. When participants had novel experiences prior to learning, they recalled learned material more accurately. In his or her unique way, the chemistry of neurons is changing. This transition happens thanks to the potassium and sodium chloride ions exchanging as the nerve cells go from a resting state to that of firing. This process highlights the biological mechanisms underlying memory creation and retrieval.
To better explore these dynamics, researchers brought participants back for two more sessions. This longitudinal approach allowed them to test the long-term effects of early exposure to novelty. They were primarily interested in how it impacted long-term memory consolidation.
Practical Applications for Students
Adding an element of novelty to study routines can take many different forms, which makes it attainable for students of any age or ability. Taking a walk in a new section of the neighborhood can be a welcome change in perspective. No surprise, then, that this novel experience has been shown to improve cognitive function. Such activities are important because they engage and stimulate the brain while creating new neural connections that can help to improve memory retention.
Furthermore, utilizing the power of art through a visit to an art gallery or online exhibitions can be another conduit for introducing that sense of newness. The initial experience of artistic creations can inspire emotional reactions and ignite curiosity, then amplifying these memory advantages even further.
The study found that everyday new experiences can lead to powerful effects. There’s evidence that students perform better on exams after being exposed to novel cuisine. Engaging in varied practices is another proven strategy. Integrating these immersive experiences into their daily lives can improve the way they learn and tackle knowledge more quickly.
Exam Performance Insights
The results from this study may be relevant for how schools of education and other educational organizations develop assessments. One example cited throughout the study was about an exam question flagged as “too easy” by an exam proctoring software. Despite this classification, many students answered the question correctly, indicating that familiarity with material can lead to successful recall.
It points to a much larger issue concerning the balance between familiarity and challenge in exam questions. When students are confronted with questions they have long internalized, they begin to tune out. This failure to push their minds further can be damaging to students’ overall learning experience.
Educational leaders may want to include creative new features on tests or review guides. Incorporate bizarre images or situations that connect back to what students are learning. This method has the power to activate students’ prior knowledge and encourage students to process information at a deeper level.