Five steps for smart learning
HAVE you ever thought about how learning works? If you’re just hitting the books, you may be missing out, even if you have an excellent memory for text. Here are some tips to enhance your learning experience.
listen in class
Aural memory for most people isn’t perfect, especially if you’re not sure of the subject or the lecture goes on for too long. The trick is to look at the learning guide before you go in and focus on listening to the most important part of the lecture. If you’re not sure, ask your teacher to always present a “what you should take away from this class” section at the end of class.
Read the book
Read over the material as soon as you can after the class. Even if it’s a quick read, it will still reinforce what you’ve heard. This helps to “fix” information in your long-term memory. If you have a highlighter and the book is your own, highlight important sections. This will boost your visual memory.
talk to someone about the subject
Discussion aids memory, especially if it promotes understanding and lets you work through different approaches. Ideally, it should be with someone who gets slightly better grades so you can get an extra tutorial.
test yourself
Pretend you’re writing an answer to an exam question. You may or may not want to write it out – for some people, walking through it verbally is enough to pinpoint areas where they are still a bit shaky.
teach what you learn
When you’re standing up and giving a presentation and questions are thrown at you, you will know your limitations. Don’t be shy, but ask your audience to be kind and remind them it will be their turn next.