Effective Learning - Part 2 of 3

Remember our definition of learning: learning requires varied and repeated exposure spread out over time.

The previous blog looked at a variety of strategies you can use to work with the material you want to learn.  This blog will examine the idea of repetition. When you first encounter information, you are using your short term memory or working memory.  When you are taking an exam or recalling the information in other situations, you are retrieving it from your long-term memory.   It takes multiple exposures to the information in order to get the information into your long-term memory.

Here are some ideas:

* Review your notes after every class (make corrections, add information to make more clear),
then do something else with the information to begin to learn it.

*At least once a week, review all of the notes that will be on the next test.  Again, do more than just reread.  This is a major point of repetition.  While reviewing and studying notes after each class is important, you need to extend this so that you are working with the information as many times as possible before the exam.

*Be sure to go to all classes – this, obviously, is an additional exposure.

*Take advantage of all extra study opportunities – SI, review sessions, tutoring, study groups.

The more you hear, read, think about and work with the information, the more solidly it will be embedded in your long-term memory and the easier it will be to retrieve it for the exam.

Next blog – Distributed Practice.

First Semester Success: Study Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is now available at wordassociation.com, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.