Brain Hacking

Brain Hacking

This week I got an update on an application (app) I have used in the past called Duolingo. If you are not familiar with Duolingo, it’s an app that helps users learn a different language. The author of the article, Minda Zetlin (2018), shared how the application is “reviewing the data on tens of thousands of their users” (paragraph 2) and “comparing when they studied with how well they were performing on the app's tests. That review led them to a simple two-step formula for improving language learning and retention:

1. Study the language right before bedtime.

2. Study every night, weekends included.” (paragraph 2)

The study was completed by first dividing Duolingo users into 14 different groups “based on when [what time of the day] they did their studying” (paragraph 3) or used the application to learn a new language. “The group that studied at bedtime seven nights a week outperformed 52.9 percent of other users, while the worst performing group, which studied at random times, only outperformed 47.9 percent of users” (paragraph 3).
The article then shared a study done at Harvard about what is needed in order to remember and learn. “According to researchers at Harvard, learning and remembering consist of three distinct functions: acquisition, consolidation, and recall. You can only perform acquisition and recall when you're awake, but consolidation seems to happen best while we sleep” (paragraph 5).

Looking at the evidence provided by the article it makes sense to why the users of the application were most successful before bedtime because it is right before the learner’s brain begins to consolidate all that was learned that day. Also, because as the author, Minda Zetlin remarked, “creating a daily habit may be the most powerful way to learn a new skill, or start or stop a habit, or achieve any self-improvement goal” (paragraph 5).

Although the difference between the highest and lowest performing groups is only a few percentage points apart, as educators it is important for us to share this information with our students. I have never been a fan of homework, but research proves the power of having our English Learners practice English right before bed every night. My goal will be to figure out a way for my students to do this in a productive way. Maybe I’ll share this article with parents and ask them to download the Duolingo application?


Zetlin, M., (2018, February 27) This Simple Brain Hack Will Help You Learn a New Language Much Faster, According to Science from https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/this-simple-brain-hack-will-help-you-learn-a-new-language-much-faster-according-to-science.html

Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 3, 2018 at 5:05 PM

    Wow! The idea of "brain hacking" and studying later at night is so interesting. My gut instinct would be to tell my students to study earlier, before they get tired. But if consolidation happens best while we are sleeping, this idea makes total sense. I also have to say that I love using Duolingo with all of my students. We started using it with our 3rd and 4th grade students to encourage them to learn a new language at home. This is actually a great resource to share with my teachers and my parents. Thank you for sharing this!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Karla SmithMarch 5, 2018 at 1:26 PM

    I have several friends that use this app and swear by it. They have been able to learn functional Spanish to communicate with parents and students. Your research article was interesting. I plan to try this when my coursework is complete and I will definitely follow the suggestions of this study.

    ReplyDelete

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