Changing Up Your Study Strategies
As your courseload changes and you take different types of classes, the study strategies you were using before may not be as effective now. How you study for economics could look different than how you study for English or chemistry. Having a variety of techniques in your toolbelt allows you to switch things up and engage with information in multiple ways.
Studies have shown that simply rereading your notes or textbook repeatedly is not very helpful for many people. It doesn’t really keep your attention, and after one or two passes, you are probably just glossing over the information, not really absorbing it. You can recall it in the moment because it is familiar to you, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can retrieve the information during a test or apply the concept in a real-world situation.
There are a multitude of ways you can change things up and make your studying more meaningful:
- Use visuals.
Transform your notes into mind maps or diagrams. Draw things out so you can see how they are connected or interrelated. Create a picture and label the parts so you know not only the definition of the word, but what it is referring to. There are also different graphic organizers you can try to break down topics into smaller chunks, concepts, or steps.
- Try active retrieval.
Close your textbook or notebook, get out a blank piece of paper, and write down everything you can recall about a certain subject. For instance, if you are studying World War I, jot down all of the important events, years, people, turning points, and results that you can remember. If you are studying photosynthesis, explain the process in your own words.
You could also fold your paper into sections and label each one with a different concept, event, process, person, etc. and then fill them in with what you can remember. This can also help you identify areas where you need to go back to and spend more time studying.
- Teach someone else.
Pretend you are the teacher instead of the student and teach the topic to a family member or friend. Encourage them to ask questions and see if you are able to answer them correctly. Clarify anything that was confusing or didn’t make sense, and if you can’t, it signals where you need to re-enforce your own knowledge.
- Mix things up.
Don’t spend hours intently studying one topic or skill. Your brain can only process and retain so much information at a time. Take a short break and then move on to a different subject or area of the material. You can always circle back later. Study a little bit each day leading up to the test.
- Pick a different location or time.
Sometimes a change of scenery can improve your focus and concentration. If you always study in your bedroom, move to a different spot, such as a guest room, the porch, or the local library. Try studying at other times to see if that makes a difference as well. You may find that after dinner works better for you than right after school or vice versa.
- Move around.
Some people have a hard time sitting still and practicing flashcards or answering questions. Get up and walk around as you study or do some stretches in your seat. Perhaps sitting on a yoga ball where you can gently bounce allows you to concentrate better. This also helps to get your blood flowing and reduce pent up energy.
Everyone learns differently, so it is important to find what works best for you. Crafting Scholars can help you develop different study strategies and techniques that align with your learning style and preferences. Simple changes can make a big difference. Contact us today to learn more.
Originally published at https://craftingscholars.com on August 28, 2024.
