Some suggestions for increasing your success in college.
Psychologists have studied how the human brain learns. Here are some
suggestions to improve your performance.
Use active learning techniques whenever possible. These are techniques
that require you to DO SOMETHING such as talk about the material, write
about the material, draw a picture of the material, handle the material. I
even use to use art to remember things, by drawing big diagrams. THE LEAST
EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEARN FOR MOST STUDENTS IS JUST READING SILENTLY.
Getting information out of a text book is difficult for many students. They
will read the text then immediately forget what they read. A good technique
for doing this is to take notes in outline form as you read the text. Writing
an outline of the information in your own words uses your brain in a more
integrative way, and reinforces memory. It is also a good check on
comprehension. Ask questions as you write. If you dont understand something,
or it seems to contradict previous information, you can make a note of it and
ask a question of your instructor or in your study group. In any case, just
the act of writing tends to help you remember it.
Note-taking during class often serves the same function of reinforcing memory.
Another way to use active learning is to break out the questions on the study
tips into flash cards with a question of one side and an answer on the
other. Then orally drill yourself on the questions and answers. This seems
sort of time consuming but it does work. Writing the cards is one sort of
drilling. Reading the answers aloud is another.
Study groups are another active learning technique. All studies of college
success indicate that students in study groups perform better in college and
are less likely to drop out. Study groups can compare their answers, drill
each other on material, ask and answer questions. All this oral engagement
is good technique for remembering it all. Good study groups need to stay
focused, so avoid groups that are too large, and don't include members who
are not serious about learning the material. STudy groups make study more
fun and social, but avoid the trap of using them for too much entertainment
and general socializing. They need to stick with their primary purpose.
Association:
Associative learning techniques are good for stimulating memory. You use
word cues which already mean something to you to stimulate the correct
memory. It is easiest to show you by examples:
When I was learning the cell parts, I found it difficult to separate the
function of centromeres and centrioles in my memory...I confused them. They
sound alike and are both in the cell. So I looked at the words. They sound
differently. Centrioles have a long oH sound. During prophase the move to
opposite ends of the cell which are also called the poles of the cell..so i
made a rhyme...centrioles go to the poles...Now centromeres are in the
middle of the chromosome. Middle has an m and so does the word centromere.
So centromeres are in the middle of the chromosome...That is an example of
association.
Here are some more.
One student told me he remembered what Robert Hooke did by associating Hooke
with fishing....he fishes with a hook and he uses a cork bob...So Hook
studied cork cells....do you see how it works?
The associations you use do not need to make any sense to anyone but you.
Just so they work.
The human mind finds it easier to remember rhyme and beat...its why lyrics
are not a problem for us.
Another associative technique is to visualize...ski racers do this to learn
a course. try visualizing what you are learning. You may even try to build
simple models using objects around the house to represent what you are
learning.
Games: Drilling facts in can be more fun in a game setting. Try playing a
game with a study partner. Put questions on one side of a card and the
answer on the other. Vary the difficulty. Turn all the cards answer side
down on a table. You flip a coin to see who starts. you point to a card and
say the answer. Then look at it to see if it is right. If right show it to
your opponent to confirm it is right and you keep the card and get one
point. If wrong, no point and you put it down again without showing it to
your opponent. The other guy gets to try. You keep your turn as long as you
keep getting right answers. You loose your turn when you are wrong.
Here are some further tips to increase your success when studying alone.
1. Adust your environment to keep you mentally awake and as rested as
possible.
A cool room keeps you awake better then a warm one, so adjust the
temperature down. Natural light is less tiring on the eyes...use it whenever
possible. At night use even room lighting rather then high-intensity spot
lights and general room darkness. Music should be low and non-intrusive...no
strong beats or intense lyrics...instrumental is best...elevator music if
you please if you must have music at all...quiet is often best. Sit upright
in a hard chair, do not lie down on a bed or couch...your body thinks it is
adjusting to nap and your attention is not as sharp.
2. Adjust your time of study. At what part of the day can you concentrate
the best...early morning , late evening, whatever. Try to capitalize on that
time. STudy in short bursts of about 20-30 minutes and take brief 5 minute
breaks to rest your mind, stretch your legs, get a drink, etc. Psychologists
have found that the ability to absorb new information begins a rapid decline
after 15 minutes are so...To get back peak performance you need inbetween
rest breaks.
Study consistantly through the course, rather then just a few days before
the big exam. THIS IS IMPORTANT!!! Cramming for an exam does not work at
all well if the course has a lot of new information in it (biology courses
always do). Mostly people blank out from shear fatigue in these cases. Get
a good nights sleep before the exam instead. Come in rested.
3. STay healthy. Exercise and good nutrition help the mind stay focused.
Don't neglect them.
4.I hope this helps you.
