Studying: Active vs. Passive

Everyone is busy preparing for final exams.  When you are thinking about how to study, consider how you can use active strategies vs. passive strategies. 

Active strategies are when you are manipulating the information either through writing, shuffling note cards, making concept maps, review charts, time lines, etc.  

Passive strategies are when you are simply reviewing or thinking about the material with limited involvement.  

Obviously the active strategies are going to be the most effective way to get the information into your long term memory.   Here are some examples:

Active Strategies – most effective	Passive Strategies – less effective
Outline textbook material Annotate reading material Study cards Review charts, concept maps, time lines Rewrite notes Combine lecture and textbook notes in a new outline Take on-line practice tests Write answers to study guides provided by professor Form questions, write them and then the answers Form a study group and quiz each other	Reread your notes Reread your textbook Review lecture notes Study while watching television