Learning how to learn
To be human is to learn all throughout our lives; yet too many times we struggle to focus on whatever we choose to study.
Studying smart essentially means learning how to learn:
Be clear about why you want to learn
One of the best ways to get motivated to study is to be very clear about why you want to learn in the first place.
Make a list of the reasons you want to do well in your studies.
Understand the topic, don’t just memorise it
Understanding a topic is far more rewarding than memorising it. So this approach to studying is not only more effective – it will keep you motivated.
Make learning active, not passive
Passive learning is where you try to absorb information and knowledge. It’s based on the idea that you’re an empty vessel waiting to be filled.
But research shows that this isn’t the best way to learn.
We actually construct knowledge by integrating the new material with what we already know and have already experienced.
So if you want to learn a new topic quickly and effectively, use as much active learning as you can.
Examples of active learning are:
- Finding applications of the new topic in your own life
- Doing case studies where the new ideas or theories are put into a specific context
- Doing group projects
- Reviewing and commenting on the work of your friends
- Thinking of ways to apply concepts to problems you come across
Read key information out loud.
Focus on the process, not the outcome.
Students who succeed in school concentrate on learning the information, not on trying to get a certain grade.
Research shows that these students:
- Focus on effort, not the end result
- Focus on the process, not on achievement
- Believe they can improve – even in their weak subjects – as long as they put in the time and hard work
- Embrace challenges
- Define success as pushing themselves to learn something new, not as getting straight A’s
Throughout the process, don’t let the goal of getting straight A’s become an unhealthy obsession. After all, education is about more than getting good grades.
It’s about the pursuit of excellence. It’s about cultivating your strengths. And it’s about learning and growing, so you can contribute more effectively.
If you don’t feel like starting, set a timer for 5 minutes
Sometimes, the hardest part of anything is simply starting.
But the fear of doing something is almost always worse than the actual doing. Once you start, you’ll find it wasn’t as bad as you thought.
So if you don’t feel like getting to work, set a timer for 5 minutes.
You can tell yourself that once those 5 minutes are up, you can stop work.
But, in all likelihood, you would have got some momentum going, so you’ll continue.
I hope these words will inspire you:
“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”
Know Your Learning Style
We all have our own natural tendency for retaining new information, and there are four main learning styles:
- Visual learners learn best by seeing. They respond well to diagrams, color-coding, video, and patterns.
- Auditory learners learn best by listening. They respond well to audio cues like speech, music, rhymes, and other sounds.
- Reading / Writing learners learn best by reading and writing the material they need to study.
- Kinesthetic learners retain information best by doing. They enjoy role playing, building models, drawing diagrams, and making flash cards. They need to put concepts into practice in the real world.
Learn the same information in a variety of ways.
The research shows that different media stimulate different parts of the brain. The more areas of the brain that are activated, the more likely it is that you’ll understand and retain the information.
So to learn a specific topic, you could do the following:
- Read the class notes
- Read the textbook
- Look up other online resources
- Teach someone what you’ve learned
- Do practice problems from a variety of sources
Of course, you won’t be able to do all of these things in one sitting. But each time you review the topic, use a different resource or method – you’ll learn faster this way.
Learn by Teaching Your Class Material
Einstein said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”
Putting yourself in the role of teacher, whether with a friend or in a study group, will force you to structure and clarify the subject not only in your student’s mind but in your own as well.
If your audience asks a question that you find difficult to answer, even better. This will help pinpoint weak areas that you need to brush up on.
Don’t multitask.
The data is conclusive: Multitasking makes you less productive, more distracted, and dumber. The studies even show that people who claim to be good at multitasking aren’t actually better at it than the average person.
Effective students focus on just one thing at a time. So don’t try to study while also intermittently replying to text messages, watching TV, and checking your Twitter feed.
Here are some suggestions for how to study smart by improving your concentration:
- Turn off notifications on your phone
- Put your phone away, or turn it to airplane mode
- Log out of all instant messaging programs
- Turn off the Internet access on your computer
- Close all of your Internet browser windows that aren’t related to the assignment you’re working on
- Clear the clutter from your study area
Take notes by hand, instead of using your laptop.
If you want to learn how to study efficiently, write your notes by hand.
Scientists recommend this, and not just because you’re more likely to give in to online distractions when using your laptop. Even when laptops are used only for note-taking, learning is less effective.
Why?
Because students who take notes by hand tend to process and reframe the information.
In contrast, laptop note-takers tend to write down what the teacher says word-for-word, without first processing the information.
As such, students who take notes by hand perform better in tests and exams.
Write down your worries.
Will I do well on this exam?
What if I forget the key concepts and equations?
What if the exam is harder than expected?
These kinds of thoughts probably run through your head before you take an exam. But if these thoughts run wild, the accompanying anxiety can affect your grades.
Here’s the solution …
In one experiment, researchers at the University of Chicago discovered that students who wrote about their feelings about an upcoming exam for 10 minutes performed better than students who didn’t. The researchers say that this technique is especially effective for habitual worriers.
You Snooze, You Win (How More Sleep Improves Studying)
Never underestimate the importance of rest.
Ever notice how all-nighters make you so fatigued and forgetful?
Sleep is a critical step for converting short-term memory into long-term memory.
As with life, studying is a marathon, not a sprint. Your goal is to understand and retain the information so that it serves you well, both on exam day and in the practical world.
So don’t neglect your rest. And sometimes when you’re behind on a project, it makes more sense to catch some sleep and get up early to go at it again with a fresh mind.
Feed Your Brain Study-Friendly Nutrition
Your brain is like any other organ in your body, and responds well to nourishment.
Eat “brain foods” known to improve energy levels and focus for more effective study sessions.
On the flip side, avoid “brain poison” like sugary snacks or junk food. These foods spike your energy, which is great at first but not so much when the sugar crash hits.
Fuel your body well and it will keep your most important engine running.
How to Succeed in Life:
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