It's drilled into our heads from an early age.

我們也從小就被灌輸這個觀念。

Have a dedicated desk. Have a dedicated time. Eliminate distractions.

要有一個特別用來讀書的書桌、一個特定的讀書時間、要去除所有讓人分心的事物。

But what if almost everything we're told about how we learn is wrong?

但如果我們所有關於讀書的觀念都是錯的呢？

What if being inconsistent can work in our favor?

會不會「不一致性」反而能讓我們效率更高？

For instance, could something as simple as a change in venue make a difference?

舉例來說，會不會像是換個地點這麼簡單的事，就能產生改變？。

Could interrupting work on a large project facilitate more inventive thinking?

在進行一個大計畫的中間小小休息一下，會不會反而能促進你的創新思考能力？

In the mid 1970's, a trio of psychologists performed an experiment to answer just that.

1970 年代中期，三個心理學家進行了一項實驗以回答以上的問題。

They wondered what would happen if people study the same material twice only in two different places.

他們好奇如果人們在兩個不同的地方讀同樣的內容，會發生什麼事？

To test this, they presented a group of students with a list of 40 four-letter words, like ball and fork.

為了做測試，他們給一群學生 40 個四個字母的英文單字，像球和叉子 (ball, fork)。

All of the students were given two ten-minute study sessions.

所有的學生都被給予兩段十分鐘的讀書時間。

But half of them studied in the same dimly lighted, cluttered room for both sessions, while the other half studied in two different rooms: the cluttered one, and a neater, brighter one across campus.

但有一半的學生兩段時間都得待在同一個昏暗、混亂的房間。另一半的學生則會在兩個不同的房間讀書。第一個十分鐘在髒亂的那間，然後再去校園另一端較乾淨、明亮的一間。

In the last phase of the experiment, researchers had the students write down as many of the study words as they could in 10 minutes.

在實驗的最後一階段研究人員要求學生在十分鐘內寫下他們記得的單字，越多越好。

The difference in scores was striking.

兩組間的分數差十分驚人。

The one-room group recalled an average of 16 of the 40 studied words.

只待在一個房間的那組，平均 40 個單字當中記得 16 個。

The two-rooms group recalled 24.

待在兩個房間的那組則記得 24 個單字。

A simple change in venue had improved the students' memory by 40%.

只是換一個讀書場所就將學生的記憶力提升了 40%。

But it isn't just where you study or practice.

但不是只有你讀書或練習的場地會影響你的效率。

How you do so is also part of the environment.

你如何讀書、研究也是重要的因素。

Think about it.

想想看。

Writing notes by hand is one kind of activity.

手寫是一種方法。

Typing them is another.

打字是另一種。

The same goes for studying while standing up versus sitting down, verses running on a treadmill.

站著讀書、坐著讀書、邊跑跑步機邊讀書也是一樣的道理。

In the end, it doesn't matter which aspects of the environment you vary, so long as you vary what you can.

總而言之，你改變環境的哪些面向已經不是重點了，重要的是你真的改變你能夠改變的部分。

Despite what traditional advice tells us, when it comes to learning, it's consistency, not change, that is limiting.

儘管傳統的觀念那樣告訴我們，但當我們學習時「一致性」才是限制住我們的東西，不是「改變」。

So next time you need to study, to practice, or prepare for that big project, mix it up.

所以下次你要讀書、練習、準備一個大報告時，改變一下吧！

Try another room, another time of day.

換一個房間或一個時段。

Take your guitar to the park.

把你的吉他帶去公園。

Change coffee shops.

換個咖啡廳、換個練習場地。

Switch practice courts.

換個球場練習。

Read in silence and with music on.

安靜讀書之後打開音樂讀書。

Why? Because each alteration of your routine, further enriches the skills being rehearsed.

為什麼？因為你對慣例做出的改變，會使你演練的技巧變得更豐富。

Making them more accessible to you for a longer period of time.

你就能將這些資訊記得更久。

That's the soul of real learning after all: To carry the skills and the knowledge with you—available when needed, no matter the environment.

畢竟這才是學習的精髓：不論環境為何，都能隨時應用你學會的技巧與知識。

"How We Learn by Benedict Carey."

Benedict Carey 所著的 How We Learn : The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and Why It Happens 一書。

On sale September 9th.

九月九日起開始販售。