Studying smarter, not longer, matters now more than ever, with students in many countries having to manage their time and study more on their own.The good news:Science points to ones that really work.
Use pictures. Pay attention to drawings, graphics, chart and other visual aids in your class materials, psychologist Mark McDaniel says. " And if there aren't pictures, creating them can be really, really useful. "
Find examples. Abstract concepts can be hard to understand. It tends to be far easier to form a mental image if you have a concrete example of something, psychologist Cynthia Nebel says. For instance, sour foods usually taste that way because they contain an acid. But if you think about a lemon or vinegar, it's easier to understand and remember that acids and sour go together.
Psychologist Nate Komell "definitely did cram（临时抱佛脚）"before big tests when he was a student. He still thinks it's a good idea to study the day before a big test. But research shows it's a bad idea to cram all your studying into that day. Instead, allow time between study sessions and you'll learn and remember material better.
Dig deeper. It's hard to remember a string of facts and figures if you don't push further. Ask why things are a certain way. How did they come about? Why do they matter? Psychologists call this elaboration. It's "asking a lot of how and why questions about it," Nebel says.
Try adding just one new study skill each week or two. It may seem odd at first. But, by the time week two rolls around, it becomes a normal thing.
| A. Reread books and notes. B. Space out your studying. C. They really boost your memory of the material. D. Yet many students have never learned those skills. E. In other words, don't just accept facts at face value. F. On its own, that concept might be hard to remember. G. It's like telling students to learn to swim by "just swimming." |
