HOW TO STUDY
Even with the internet holding all the answers we could possibly need, some skills are still necessary to train. Being able to work hard, be creative and solve problems is still very much a human ability as well as an achievement. The same way artists are not stopping art because AI can do it, the same way photographers did not kill painting, we should not allow our ability to think and memorize to disappear just because there is an easier way. Training your brain to stretch and do MORE makes us stronger humans. Do it for the human race!
Spaced Practice: small daily sessions
Study in short bursts over several days, not one long night of cramming.
This makes your brain store the information instead of just borrowing it.
If you study for more than 20 minutes, MAKE SURE to take a 5-minute break in between, doing something completely relaxing, like playing with your dog or making a sandwich. Some people prefer to extend this study block into 50 minutes and then take a 10 minutes break (that’s what I used to do!)
It has been proven that studying in bursts with breaks is the best way to study. If needed, put an alarm!
This makes your brain store the information instead of just borrowing it.
If you study for more than 20 minutes, MAKE SURE to take a 5-minute break in between, doing something completely relaxing, like playing with your dog or making a sandwich. Some people prefer to extend this study block into 50 minutes and then take a 10 minutes break (that’s what I used to do!)
It has been proven that studying in bursts with breaks is the best way to study. If needed, put an alarm!
Retrieval Practice: pulling it from your memory
Don’t just reread. Cover up your notes and try to write or say everything you remember about what you just read.
What did you get? What’s missing?
What did you get? What’s missing?
Mix Learning Styles: words and drawings
Mix visuals with notes: draw diagrams, use color, label processes. You don’t have to be “good” at drawing, as long as YOU understand it.
Your brain remembers more when it has two ways to hold onto an idea.
Your brain remembers more when it has two ways to hold onto an idea.
Chunking
Break big topics into 3–4 smaller meaningful groups.
For example, in reproduction, you have mitosis; mitosis has 4 phases, so you can learn them as a set. Use rhymes, songs or silly stories to link ideas.
For example, in reproduction, you have mitosis; mitosis has 4 phases, so you can learn them as a set. Use rhymes, songs or silly stories to link ideas.
Teach It Back
Teach the concept to someone else (a friend, a sibling, your mirror, your pet).
The more you talk it through, the more you realize what you understand, and what's missing!
The more you talk it through, the more you realize what you understand, and what's missing!
Mrs J’s Method
When I was growing up, we had to take our own notes. I used to write extremely fast but almost impossible to read. So I got home every day and rewrote all my notes onto a new, delicious book, with colours and sketches. We had class from 7:40 AM to 5:30 PM, so it took me about an hour to rewrite everything from all classes.
Then I forgot about this until the day before the test, when I crammed everything all over again using all the techniques above! I even said parts that were part of a process (like mitosis) all over again to my dog in my own words. Then I created little cue cards with the hardest words.
On the morning of the quiz, I would look at my cue cards. When I got the test back with an awesome mark, my friends would ask me if I studied hard, and I would say “I just crammed the night before” – but the reality is, the time I spent every night to rewrite the things I learned was studying, and maybe the best kind, as I was using three skills: reading, writing and drawing.
Then I forgot about this until the day before the test, when I crammed everything all over again using all the techniques above! I even said parts that were part of a process (like mitosis) all over again to my dog in my own words. Then I created little cue cards with the hardest words.
On the morning of the quiz, I would look at my cue cards. When I got the test back with an awesome mark, my friends would ask me if I studied hard, and I would say “I just crammed the night before” – but the reality is, the time I spent every night to rewrite the things I learned was studying, and maybe the best kind, as I was using three skills: reading, writing and drawing.
Can you create and follow a study plan?
Think of a way you could adapt any of the ideas above into your daily routine.
Even 20 minutes of studying a night is worth a lot in the long run. Make sure to schedule your breaks as well.
Some people study Saturday and Sunday, but those in my opinion are only to be used as needed. I only studied on a weekend if I had a test on Monday.
Ain’t nobody got time for that!
What will your week look like? Download the file below to help you plan.
Even 20 minutes of studying a night is worth a lot in the long run. Make sure to schedule your breaks as well.
Some people study Saturday and Sunday, but those in my opinion are only to be used as needed. I only studied on a weekend if I had a test on Monday.
Ain’t nobody got time for that!
What will your week look like? Download the file below to help you plan.
