{{Dablink|"Distributed learning" may refer to "[[distance education]]".}}
{{Merge|Spacing effect|date=September 2009}}
'''Distributed learning''' is defined as opposed to massed learning.<ref name=L&D>{{cite pmid|18772260}}</ref> Reviews of material separated by a long period of time ("spaced") yield more [[learning]] than reviews separated by a shorter period of time ("massed"); this is called the [[spacing effect]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aft.org/newspubs/periodicals/ae/summer2002/willingham.cfm |title=Allocating Student Study Time: "Massed" versus "Distributed" Practice |author=Daniel T. Willingham |publisher=[[American Federation of Teachers]] |work=American Educator |date=2002 |accessdate=2010-09-08 }}</ref> Review of material increases [[long-term memory]] best when there is more time between introduction and review of material. It has been suggested that it would be better for exams to be taken after a break than before, assuming there was a review before the exams, because of the spacing effect.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.window.state.tx.us/schoolstart2004/taskforce/mtg041215/winterbreak.doc |title=Why Taking Exams after Winter Break is best for Students: What the Experts Say |author=Dr. Bill Cunningham |format=.doc |accessdate=2010-09-08}}</ref>
According to a behavioral study, distributed learning across a 24 hour interval does not enhance immediate memory performance but instead slows the rate of [[forgetting]] relative to massed learning. The savings in forgetting were specific to relational memory, but not item memory.<ref name=L&D/>
== See also ==
*[[Episodic memory]]
*[[Learning theories]]
*[[Memory consolidation]]
*[[Spaced learning]]
== Notes ==
{{reflist}}
== References ==
* Dempster, F. (1991). Synthesis of Research on Reviews and Tests. Journal of Educational Leadership. 48(7). pp. 71–76.
* Terry, W. (1983). [http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/ftinterface~db=all~content=a923980046~fulltext=713240930 Recognition of sentences from text after massed vs spaced readings] (requires payment). The Journal of General Psychology. 109 pp. 67–71.
