Ask HN: Why don't you use spaced repetition to learn, despite its effectiveness?

8 points

2 years ago

Spaced repetition is widely regarded as an effective method for learning and retention [0]. And articles about spaced repetition often perform well here [1][2], which suggests a lot of you find it interesting. Yet, it seems like an even larger group don’t incorporate it into their learning process.

I’m curious to understand why. If you’ve heard of or tried spaced repetition but decided not to use it, what led you to that decision?

Was it too time-consuming, did it not fit your learning style, or was there some other factor at play? I’m hoping to go beyond the simple "I didn't know about it" or "it doesn't work for me" answers to better understand the practical barriers and perceptions.

[0]: https://consensus.app/results/?q=Is%20spaced%20repetition%20an%20effective%20way%20to%20learn%20and%20retain%20information%3F%20&pro=on

[1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13151790

[2]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35511357

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