Repetition has always been a reliable way to study. However, the word “repetition” is simple and doesn’t really embody a method we are able to use.
Created by Sebastian Leitner, a famous German commentator and science popularizer, The Leitner System is an efficient way of memorization. A method that employs the concept of spaced repetition, an approach to memorization using extensive time intervals.
With the use of flashcards and boxes, The Leitner System dedicates different time periods to certain flashcards, based on the learner’s current knowledge and ability to retain information.
Here, we will discuss everything you need to know about The Leitner System. If you’re looking for a very simple, yet dependable way to review and retain information, then I would encourage you to read on.
What is The Leitner System
The definition of the word “study” is the devotion of time and attention to acquiring knowledge on an academic subject, especially by means of books.
In other words, studying is the practice of retaining certain information for the purpose of understanding it. This is exactly what The Leitner System does.
This is a system of boxes and flashcards that we use to space out our learning across time intervals relative to our understanding of whatever is on our flashcards.
This may sound confusing and complex, but let me explain how simple this method truly is.
Setting Up the System
Before we begin, we need to construct the system itself. Here’s how to set it up:
- Create electronic or physical flashcards
- Create three to five electronic or physical boxes labeled with study time periods (e.g., Box 1 for cards to be reviewed every day; Box 2 for cards to be reviewed every other day, etc.)
- (Optional) Add your study times to your calendar for organizational purposes
We can now begin The Leitner System.
How it Works
With memorization being the key focus of this method, the system needs to be centralized around repetition. The only way to learn and retain something efficiently is through consistent study repetitions.
Each box is labeled a certain time interval to show when each study session should occur. So the flashcards in a specific box will be reviewed after the box’s time label.
Here’s an example:
In this specific illustration, three boxes are used. The goal is to get every flashcard in the last box, which in this case is Box 3. How can we do that?
If you get a flashcard correct, then you move it to the next box. However, if you get a flashcard wrong, then you can either move it down to the previous box or move it all the way back to the first box. The system is highly customizable.
For this example, we can say Box 1 is labeled “1 Day.” So any flashcards within Box 1 are going to be reviewed every day until you get it right. If Box 3 is labeled “1 Week” then every flashcard within Box 3 is going to be taken out and reviewed after one week. You can adjust the time intervals to your liking.
So why are the boxes labeled at longer and longer time intervals? This is because we want to increase the difficulty of memorization as you progress through the boxes. The higher the box number, the longer the time interval.
Once you have finished studying for the day, you will see which concepts you need to study more frequently, and which concepts you may only need to study once or twice a week.
Why Does This Work?
The Leitner System reinforces something called active recall. A brain stimulation that forces you to retrieve something from your memory.
By actively answering questions and recalling the information you’ve studied, the Leitner System helps you access the information stored deep within your memory over increasingly extended periods of time.
When our brains take in large amounts of information at once, it’s more likely that we forget the majority of it before it can digest in our memory. Without consistent review, the brain is unable to actively retrieve certain information that will be needed later on.
The Leitner System’s focus on spaced repetition and the active recall of information allows our brains to absorb the information and process it more effectively. This, in turn, significantly increases retention span and indirectly increases comprehension as well.
A simple system with significant results.