Learning to Learn
Learning is clearly more than just study skills. It is a multi-faceted process, involving each individual learner. The current learning environment, and the interaction between these. We can also learn acquiring new, or modifying and reinforcing, existing knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. We can say that learning has taken place when we both understand something and can explain, teach or demonstrate it to other.
A new study says taking practice tests and engaging in distributed practice are the best way for learning. The methods that were least effective when it came to getting a good grade on the big test were: summarization, highlighting, keyword mnemonics, creating imagery for text and re-reading.
Ten different learning techniques were reviewed Dunlosky his team. Memory Improvement Basics, Keep Learning (and Practicing) New Things, Learn in Multiple Ways ,Teach What You've Learned to Another Person, Utilize Previous Learning to Promote New Learning, Gain Practical Experience ,Look Up Answers Rather Than Struggle to Remember, Understand How You Learn Best and so on.
As for me, gain practical experience is the best way for learning. The practical testing is often seen as a necessary evil for studying. Traditionally, testing consists important assessments. There is an extensive literature demonstrating, the benefits of testing for learning. All testing seems to result in benefits. Unlike many of the other techniques mentioned, the benefits of practice testing are not modest. Research has found that though multiple choice testing is indeed effective, practice tests that require more detailed answers to be generated are more effective. Importantly, practice testing is effective when we create the questions ourselves. Students can create flash cards. Alternatively students can use a system which involves noting questions in a column next to their notes as they learn. The finding is also great news for students – as practice testing actually takes up much less time than other methods such as rereading, which practice testing far outperforms. If we want to remember something for a week we should space our learning 12-24 hours apart. It does seem however that the distributed-practice effect may work best when processing information deeply – so for best results we might want to try a distributed practice and self-testing combo.
References :
Neurobonkers. (February 21, 2013). How to learn!
www.bigthink.com
Time Management
Time management is recognized as a critical factor for determining success in college. High-performing students tend to make a conscious effort to plan and manage their time. Perhaps the main reason more students don’t focus on time management is that it’s not trivial and takes real effort. My first step in time management is to become aware of how we are currently spending our time. Once this determination is made, regardless of...
