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Published on: March 1, 2017
The illusion of learning: turning studying into thinking
Heidi L Lujan1, Stephen E DiCarlo1
1Department of Physiology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States.
Abstract:
NEW & NOTEWORTHY Students are gathering pebbles, not building bridges. We must teach them to think like architects, not collectors. Highlighting and flash cards create the illusion of mastery, not understanding. This article draws on cognitive science and medical education to expose the gap between effort and insight. It offers practical strategies to shift classrooms from passive review to active reasoning. In an age of AI and information overload, we must cultivate thinkers who can question, connect, and adapt.
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