Adding Variety to Your Study Routine

Last week’s blog discussed the uses and benefits of study cards as an effective study strategy.  One key to learning is to do a variety of things with the information you want to learn so that you know it in a variety of settings and circumstances.  One of those is study cards, but there are many others.  In my classes I have students brainstorm and think about various ways to study that involve sight, sound and movement.  The more senses you involve the better you will know the material.  Here are some of their favorite ideas:

Sight

·         Add color – use different color pens, highlight you notes

·         Pictures/movies - watch movies about the subject, watch Kahn Academy so see a different person explaining a concept, draw or look at pictures

·         Diagram or chart out the information in a different format

Sound

·         Go to Supplemental Instruction or tutoring and hear someone else explain a concept

·         Form a study group and explain the information to each other

·         Read your book/notes out loud

·         Sing your notes to a rap beat (I had a student who did this and she was very successful!)

·         Talk through something you are struggling with to someone who knows nothing about the subject.

Movement (this can be large or small muscle)

·         Study cards because you can manipulate them

·         Drawing charts and graphs – small muscle

·         Record your notes and listen to them while exercising

·         Study notes in a different location than normal

·         Find a spare classroom and diagram the information on the white or chalk board

The idea is to interact with the information in a variety of ways in order to get it firmly implanted in your memory.   An added benefit is that the variety helps break up the studying and can be fun!  Next week we will look at the importance of repetition and studying over time.

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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.