Spaced repetition for study and learning
Spaced repetition, also known as rote memorization, is a terrible way to "learn" anything. The trouble is, you aren't learning at all, you're hacking your brain to force information into it that has no relevance and really doesn't want to be there. It's not a useful or pleasurable activity. It definitely won't make you smarter. Even Mr. Supermemo himself admitted that after FIVE YEARS of constant daily marathon memorization, 60% of it is gone within the first year of stopping (<a href="http://supermemo.com/articles/kowal.htm" rel="nofollow">http://supermemo.com/articles/kowal.htm</a>). The brain does not want to work this way.<p>I'll propose an alternative to rote memorization for learning: critical thinking.