We live in a world that is constantly changing and it is essential to keep up with it if we want to be at our peak. This means that we have to constantly be able to learn and, even if most of us are not in university anymore, we still have to develop Your Learning Skills of self-learning because there is so much information available and it would be a pity not to take advantage of it.
Nowadays you can learn everywhere, in a classroom, in a library, on the beach, in the park and even in a portable shed. There are no limitations because there are many classes that are available online. But how can we make the most of our learning experience from Your Learning Skills? We have made a list that will help you do that for Your Learning Skills .
- Break up your study time in multiple sessions
Studies have shown that it is better to have multiple short sessions during the day than to have only one that is long. If you have to learn a 4-hour material, for example, it is better to break it in 4 sessions of an hour and not learn everything in only one session. The brain can make most of it if the sessions do not take that long.
- Get some rest
You have probably heard that it is better to learn something new before you go to bed because you will remember it better the next day due to the fact that the brain stores the information better during sleep. This is true; however, you have to take some important aspects into consideration.
When you learn new names, dates or formulas, it is best to go to bed early in the evening and wake up early in the morning so that you have the time to go over the material once again. Creative thinking, however, is consolidated by the sleeping session that takes place right before awakening, so try to wake up a bit later and go to bed late the night before.
- Self-testing
People often fail to pass exams because they learn the information they need to pass the tests, but they do not practice the actual testing. After you have studied the information you need, a good thing to do is to practice answering questions similar to the actual exam.
This will help your brain form neural connections for the answering of the questions and, during the exam, it will come up with the answers much sooner than it would if you hadn’t practiced. You will also train your brain to do the actual remembering task it will have to do during the exam.
If you have to take an exam that has multiple-answers questions, practice that. If during the exam you will have to write an essay, practice writing essays on the topics that you have to study for the test. This strategy will maximize your chances of getting a good grade.
- Take notes in handwritten form
First of all, take notes in either form you like, just take notes. This is essential because the brain gathers information by hearing what the teacher tells you, but then, when you write it down, you repeat the information. Studies have shown that handwritten notes are better remembered by the brain than notes written on a computer.
After you arrive home, read your notes again. If you have time, copy them and then try to write them down from memory. This is a great exercise that will make your brain repeat the information and also when you try to write them down from memory, you actually train your brain to recall the information you need, exactly like you will have to do during your exam.
