Learning as a Process - Part 4 of 7

While "review" is just the beginning of the learning process, it is important both when taking lecture notes and in academic reading. 

With your lecture notes, you should review them as soon as possible after the class, definitely before the next class.  When you review you can do the following:

* Make any corrections needed
* Make sure your notes are clear - add more information if necessary.
* Highlight or do what is needed to be able to easily see the major topics and subtopics.
* Rewrite if needed.  For example, if your professor is not organized, you may need to rewrite your notes into some organizational format, perhaps one that follows the book.

With textbook reading, when you are done and before you move on to something else, take a few minutes to review what you have read.  This is important because it gives the information time to start to settle into your long-term memory.  You can review by doing the following:

* Reread your annotations (margin notes), separate notes or what you highlighted.
* Look at the Learning Objectives and see if you can remember the information.
* Look back through the chapter and reread the bold print.
* If there are "Terms to Know" at the end of the chapter, see if you can define those.

At this point, with either lecture notes or textbook reading, you can then begin the learning process.  One easy step is to test yourself with recitation.  Reread a section and then restate the information in your own words from memory.  If you can do this, move on to another logical section. If you cannot, reread or review and try again.

The next blog will look at moving information from your short-term to your long-term memory.
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First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.