Grown-ups are often surprised by how well they remember something they learned as children but have never practiced ever since.
Grown-ups
are
often
surprised
by
how
well
they
remember
something
they
learned
as
children
but
have
never
practiced
ever
since
.
A man who has not had a chance to go swimming for years can still swim as well as ever when he gets back in the water.
A
man
who
has
not
had
a
chance
to
go
swimming
for
years
can
still
swim
as
well
as
ever
when
he
gets
back
in
the
water
.
He can get on a bicycle after many years and still ride away.
He
can
get
on
a
bicycle
after
many
years
and
still
ride
away
.
He can play catch and hit a ball as well as his son.
He
can
play
catch
and
hit
a
ball
as
well
as
his
son
.
A mother who has not thought about the words for years can teach her daughter the poem that begins "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" or remember the story of Cinderella or Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
A
mother
who
has
not
thought
about
the
words
for
years
can
teach
her
daughter
the
poem
that
begins
``
Twinkle
,
twinkle
,
little
star
''
or
remember
the
story
of
Cinderella
or
Goldilocks
and
the
Three
Bears
.
One explanation is the law of overlearning, which can be stated as follows: Once we have learned something, additional learning trials increase the length of time we will remember it.
One
explanation
is
the
law
of
overlearning
,
which
can
be
stated
as
follows
:
Once
we
have
learned
something
,
additional
learning
trials
increase
the
length
of
time
we
will
remember
it
.
In childhood we usually continue to practice such skills as swimming, bicycle riding, and playing baseball long after we have learned them.
In
childhood
we
usually
continue
to
practice
such
skills
as
swimming
,
bicycle
riding
,
and
playing
baseball
long
after
we
have
learned
them
.
We continue to listen to and remind ourselves of words such as "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" and childhood tales such as Cinderella and Goldilocks.
We
continue
to
listen
to
and
remind
ourselves
of
words
such
as
``
Twinkle
,
twinkle
,
little
star
''
and
childhood
tales
such
as
Cinderella
and
Goldilocks
.
We not only learn but overlearn.
We
not
only
learn
but
overlearn
.
The multiplication tables are an exception to the general rule.
The
multiplication
tables
are
an
exception
to
the
general
rule
.
that we forget rather quickly the things that we learn in school, because they are another of the things we overlearn in childhood.
that
we
forget
rather
quickly
the
things
that
we
learn
in
school
,
because
they
are
another
of
the
things
we
overlearn
in
childhood
.
The law of overlearning explains why cramming for an examination, though it may result in a passing grade, is not a satisfactory way to learn a college course.
The
law
of
overlearning
explains
why
cramming
for
an
examination
,
though
it
may
result
in
a
passing
grade
,
is
not
a
satisfactory
way
to
learn
a
college
course
.
By cramming, a student may learn the subject well enough to get by on the examination, but he is likely soon to forget almost everything he learned.
By
cramming
,
a
student
may
learn
the
subject
well
enough
to
get
by
on
the
examination
,
but
he
is
likely
soon
to
forget
almost
everything
he
learned
.
A little overlearning, on the other hand, is really necessary for one's future development
A
little
overlearning
,
on
the
other
hand
,
is
really
necessary
for
one
's
future
development
Grown-ups are often surprised by how well they remember something they learned as children but have never practiced ever since. A man who has not had a chance to go swimming for years can still swim as well as ever when he gets back in the water. He can get on a bicycle after many years and still ride away. He can play catch and hit a ball as well as his son. A mother who has not thought about the words for years can teach her daughter the poem that begins "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" or remember the story of Cinderella or Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  One explanation is the law of overlearning, which can be stated as follows: Once we have learned something, additional learning trials increase the length of time we will remember it.  In childhood we usually continue to practice such skills as swimming, bicycle riding, and playing baseball long after we have learned them. We continue to listen to and remind ourselves of words such as "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" and childhood tales such as Cinderella and Goldilocks. We not only learn but overlearn.  The multiplication tables are an exception to the general rule. that we forget rather quickly the things that we learn in school, because they are another of the things we overlearn in childhood. The law of overlearning explains why cramming for an examination, though it may result in a passing grade, is not a satisfactory way to learn a college course. By cramming, a student may learn the subject well enough to get by on the examination, but he is likely soon to forget almost everything he learned. A little overlearning, on the other hand, is really necessary for one's future development