How to Use Overlearning to Improve Learning

Key takeaways

Overlearning is a learning strategy that involves repeating tasks or practicing material beyond initial comprehension and mastery.

• To improve learning and recall, incorporate strategies such as 3R, taking breaks, and continued practice. 

• Examples of overlearning can include anything you do repeatedly, such as practicing the same musical piece, shooting free throws from the same spot, drawing the same shape, or even solving a Rubik's Cube.

• You can use this powerful technique to enhance your learning ability and long-term retention of material.

Discover what overlearning is, how it can help you master knowledge, and tips to use this technique in your everyday life. Then, consider enrolling in the AI for Creative Work Specialization from the University of Michigan, where, in as little as four weeks, you can learn skills to help you use artificial intelligence (AI) tools sustainably and successfully.

What is overlearning?

Overlearning is a learning tool that involves repeating tasks or practicing knowledge beyond initial comprehension and mastery of the material. If you have ever taken training that repeated key topics well beyond when you understood the material, this is an example of overlearning. The idea is that repeated exposure to these tasks will reinforce learning and ingrain the knowledge more effectively. 

How overlearning can help you professionally

When we overlearn a task, the energy it takes to perform it decreases significantly. In one study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, participants who overlearned a task decreased the energy expenditure needed to complete the task by as much as 20 percent [1]. This is true for both physical and mental tasks. This decreased energy expenditure comes from minimizing unnecessary thoughts or actions and streamlining the needed actions to perform the task.

When you reduce the energy expenditure for a certain task, you free more energy to expand on this skill or knowledge. By ingraining a certain skill into your long-term memory, you make the skill you learned “resilient.” You can then expand on this foundation without forgetting your base skill. For example, a gymnast who learns a backflip with a full twist does not want to worry about forgetting how to do a backflip. The same principle applies to professionals; overlearning base skills allows you to build upon your foundation and grow your professional skill set. 

Is overlearning good or bad?

Overlearning is generally considered a good and effective strategy, especially for mastering visual learning tasks and skills that require quick motor sequences, such as basketball or ballet. 

Overlearning strategies 

Consider employing these overlearning strategies to improve your learning and recall of information. For best results, combine strategies to integrate knowledge into your memory further.

3R strategy

An often-effective overlearning strategy is the 3R strategy, which stands for Read-Recite-Review. With this strategy, you will read the initial text before reciting the information out loud. By reciting the information, you are using active memory, which helps to process and store information. When you repeat the information, you may notice gaps in your recall or areas in which you need more confidence. After reciting the information, go back and reread the text. Rereading can help you find knowledge you missed and may deepen comprehension. Repeat the process a few times when learning new information.

Study breaks between sessions. 

Spacing practice has been shown in research to improve recall of information and increase long-term retention. In one study conducted at the University of South Florida, researchers gave students either 10 math problems in one session or five math problems in two sessions one week apart. Students with distributed math problems scored higher on exams related to the problem material one and four weeks later [2]. To better integrate knowledge and skills into your long-term memory, space your learning time as much as possible. Even a five-minute break can be beneficial to the retention of information. 

Continue practicing after mastery.

After mastery, continuing to practice the skill or knowledge can help you retain the information. Continued exposure to the material can lead to enhanced memory performance and longer retention of the information. If you can, find ways to “refresh” information or practice skills. In many professional settings, refresher courses are available to help employees retain information. Using active learning techniques, such as creating self-quizzes, flashcards, or questions to help refresh the information on your own, can also be beneficial for long-term retention.

Read more: Improve Your Memory by Building a Memory Palace

Overlearning can improve training. 

Like athletes, professionals must practice the material they have mastered to retain the skills. While you may feel like you know how to perform a certain task, prolonged periods without practicing the skill or material increases your chances of forgetting it. This is especially true with new information. If you are training for a new professional skill, practicing repetitions outside of what is required by your training can help you retain information and potentially open growth opportunities. 

Don’t get confused by overlearning similar tasks.

When overlearning a particular topic or skill, it is best to avoid competition between skills. If you are learning two similar skills, try to overlearn one and then take a break before learning the other. This can help separate the two areas, give your brain time to integrate new knowledge and avoid confusion. You will likely need to go back and review each topic, as well as take time to examine the differences.

Overlearning examples 

We may not realize it, but there are examples of overlearning in almost every industry. Here are a few common practices that demonstrate the importance of overlearning:

• A pianist practicing a musical piece repeatedly

• A baker baking the same cake multiple weeks in a row

• An actor reading lines several times per week for months before a play

• A dancer repeating choreography every day before a showcase

• A basketball player practicing free throws for hours from the same spot

• A sculpture making the same shape every day for a week

• A computer programmer writing similar code for 10 different example problems

• Solving a Rubik’s Cube once a week for a month

• An accountant practicing a new Excel technique 20 times

• A graphic artist drawing an eye every day for a month

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