Memory; Surrendering to an Algorithm.

http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/magazine/16-05/ff_wozniak

This was a very interesting article about Piotr Wozniak, the inventor of the SuperMemo. This is a programme which mathematically works out the best revision times for memory retention. Expanding on a theory of Hermann Ebbinghaus it looks at the dimishing returns of memory over time (called the 'spacing effect) and apparently provides you with a method to better your retention.

One of the problems with a lot of education and learning is that it is designed to give the perception of progress, but psychologists suggest that this individual perception of progress should be mistrusted. The Rosetta Stone language series has excellent reviews on Amazon, because their students feel they are progressing. But how do they know they really have retained the language they are trying to learn.

I will have to try it (maybe the trial version first).

http://www.supermemo.com/

There is also an off shoot called SugarMemo

http://sourceforge.net/projects/sugarmemo/