Hi Katie,

I really enjoyed reading your blog post about the importance of learning and standardized testing. Like you, I also struggled to engage effectively with learning materials during my first year at UVic; however, as time progressed, I learned how to change my study habits to enforce active learning instead of passive learning. Personally, I like how you incorporated the Multimedia Principle into your blog post by adding a video, and I think the video you selected effectively described techniques which can be used to encourage active learning. For example, one of the strategies provided in the video was to test yourself by creating quizzes. This is something I often did as I progressed through University. In particular, I wrote study guides where I created questions I could quiz myself on, and wrote down corresponding answers for each question.

Additionally, instead of restating week 3’s learning materials in your blog post, I like how you related it to your personal experience. For instance, you mentioned reviewing course material in discussion groups as one of your studying techniques, and this reflects the Intensity Principle of Learning: learning material is more likely to be retained if the learning experience is more dramatic and immediate (Psychology Wiki, n.d.). As a result, by discussing course material in learning groups, learning becomes more exciting, and therefore more effective. Further, this strategy also enforces active learning. More precisely, in the video provided in your blog post, teaching your peers in study groups was described as an active learning technique.

Great job!

Xinh

References

Psychology Wiki. (n.d.). Principles of learning. Fandom. Retrieved June 21, 2022, from https://psychology.fandom.com/wiki/Principles_of_learning#Intensity