Recitation - The Fourth Learning Ingredient

In the past I have told my students that there are three things important to learning:

Variety – Repetition – Spaced out over time

I’m going to add one more:

Recitation (restating in your own words from memory).

In addition to the first three it is important to practice recalling the information from your long-term memory – the same thing you are expected to do on the exam.  Some ways to incorporate recitation (and the other three factors) into your studying are:

·         After reading a section of lecture notes or in your textbook, close the book and restate the information back to yourself in your own words.

·         Study cards – read the front, think about the information on the back, check yourself.  Separate the ones you know from the ones you don’t know and keep going over those until you know them.

·         Quizlet (an app on your electronic devise) – expands the study card idea to make quizzes using the information you entered.

·         Online practice quizzes available with your textbook.

·         Make a practice test and share with friends.

·         Predict test questions, write them down and then write or outline the answers.  As you study cover the answer and practice answering the questions again a few days later.

Recitation is a very powerful learning tool.  You will see a difference in your learning and grades once you add it to your study routine.

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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.