Maximizing Your Learning Efforts, Part 6 of 6

We have explored several components that go into successful learning:

• Seeing the overall organization
• Having a productive, positive attitude
• Using a variety of techniques and strategies
• Working with the material multiple times
• Spreading the learning over an extended period of time

In this last post of the series I want to reinforce two specific strategies:


1. Recitation - restating the information in your own words from memory.  This is an extremely powerful strategy.  In essence you are doing what you will be asked to do on an exam or on the job when your need the information.  Every time you recall the information you are strengthening that connection and making it easier to do so the next time. Plus, this is extremely easy and does not require extra materials.  After you review your lecture notes or a textbook reading, simply look away and recall what you have read.  If you cannot successfully do so, review or reread and try again.  To extend this strategy you can explain or teach the information to someone else.


2. Review the information as soon as possible after you receive it.  This particularly applies to lecture notes.  As soon as possible after class go over your notes and make them as clear as possible, make any corrections necessary and identify any questions or confusions.  The more time that passes before doing this the more you will forget and you will have to restart the learning process from the beginning.


Keep all of this information in mind as your semester begins and put them into action right away - during the first week of classes.  Enjoy the semester!
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First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (of Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com, barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com.  Click on the upper right link.