Students often employ techniques like highlighting key terms, summarizing content, and memorizing text passages to grasp learning materials. However, the effectiveness of these methods in promoting long-term retention is questionable. Research indicates that employing effective learning strategies is vital for academic success.
Effective strategies are those that enhance learning across various contexts and over extended periods. In a comprehensive review, Dunlosky et al. (2013) evaluated ten commonly used learning strategies, ranking them based on their effectiveness. The findings are summarized in the following table:
| Learning Strategy | Effectiveness Rating |
| Practice Testing | High |
| Distributed Practice | High |
| Elaborative Interrogation | Moderate |
| Self-Explanation | Moderate |
| Interleaved Practice | Moderate |
| Summarization | Low |
| Highlighting/Underlining | Low |
| Keyword Mnemonic | Low |
| Imagery for Text | Low |
| Rereading | Low |
Ranking Strategies By Effectiveness
For effective long-term learning, strategies like retrieval practice and distributed learning are highly beneficial. Retrieval practice involves actively recalling information, such as through practice tests or quizzes, which strengthens memory retention. Distributed learning, or spaced practice, entails spreading study sessions over time, allowing for repeated exposure to material, which enhances understanding and retention.
Moderately effective strategies include elaboration techniques like self-questioning and self-explanation. Self-questioning involves probing deeper into the material by asking “why” and “how” questions, fostering a thorough comprehension. Self-explanation requires learners to articulate the material in their own words, connecting new information to existing knowledge, thereby reinforcing understanding. Interleaved practice, which involves alternating between different topics or problem types within a single study session, helps in distinguishing between concepts and applying knowledge flexibly.
Implementing these strategies demands effort and dedication. However, many students are either unaware of these methods or reluctant to adopt them. Educators and academic support services, such as SBS Studies, can play a pivotal role in promoting these effective learning techniques. By integrating these strategies into study routines, students can enhance their learning outcomes and achieve academic success.
Useful Learning Methods
Fortunately, you’re not the first person to face the challenge of learning a large amount of information. Many people before you have come up with practical tricks and mnemonic devices to help with memory. While these methods can be very effective, they don’t work in all situations and may need to be adjusted based on your specific needs. Here are some tried-and-true techniques you can use to improve your learning.
Loci Technique
The loci technique is especially helpful for memorizing sequences, lists, or outlines, like the symptoms of a disease or historical events. The first step is to create a mental map of familiar locations. These could be places you’ve visited, like the route from your last vacation, or even locations in your own home. It doesn’t matter where the places are, as long as they are distinct and memorable. Once you have your mental map, you associate each keyword or piece of information you want to learn with a specific location along your “route.” For example, a volcano you once visited could represent a cooking stove, while a lake might represent a sink. Experts say this technique makes memorizing a list of up to 50 keywords much easier. However, this method requires some preparation and practice to be effective. Once you have memorized a route, you can reuse it for future learning sequences.
SQ3R Method
SQ3R is an acronym that stands for Survey, Question, Read, Recite, and Review. This method takes a very structured approach to reading and understanding a text. Start by surveying the material. This means you should look over the entire book or article before diving into the first chapter. Pay special attention to the table of contents to get a sense of the structure and flow of the material. The next step is to question: what do you expect to learn from this text? Look at the foreword, blurb, and headings to help guide your thinking. Formulate questions based on these expectations. For example: “Why does the theory of evolution explain the natural diversity of species?” or “Why do adjectives sometimes come before and sometimes after the noun in Italian?” Understanding the relationship between the text and your overall learning topic is important here. Next, move on to the reading phase. Go through the text section by section, paying close attention to any questions that have already been answered and areas that are still unclear. Once you’ve read the material, the recite step comes into play. Summarize the key points in your own words and write down the answers to your pre-formed questions. Finally, in the review phase, check if your summary is correct and revisit any unclear sections.
Distributed Learning
The “distributed learning” strategy involves breaking the material into manageable sections and repeating each one over time. The key here is not to simply reread the text during your repetitions. Instead, you should actively reflect on the material, reviewing key concepts and clarifying the most important aspects. This method helps reinforce your understanding and retention of the material over time, rather than cramming everything into one sitting.
Mindmaps
You’re probably already familiar with mindmaps from your school days. They are a simple and effective tool for organizing and visualizing information. Mindmaps start with a central idea or thesis, and then branch out to show the key points related to the topic. From there, you can continue to create sub-points branching off each key idea. While it’s possible to keep expanding the mindmap indefinitely, doing so can make it harder to maintain a clear overview. To avoid this, it’s often helpful to create separate mindmaps for important sub-concepts. Mindmaps are especially useful for visual learners, but they can benefit anyone because of their clear, visual representation of how different ideas are connected.
Tip: Structured Learning with Apps
Smartphones are a constant companion in everyday life, and they can also be a great tool for studying. There are many apps designed to help you structure your learning process. Whether it’s taking notes, creating to-do lists, or keeping track of deadlines, apps can help you stay organized. Plus, many of them allow for syncing across devices, so you can access your study materials from anywhere. This flexibility can make it much easier to stay on top of your studies, especially when you’re juggling multiple tasks.
By using these methods, you can improve your ability to retain information, understand complex topics, and approach studying in a more organized, efficient way. Whether you are memorizing long lists, trying to understand detailed concepts, or simply looking for a better way to manage your time, these techniques will give you the tools to succeed.
Also Read: Microlearning Techniques For Easy Learning – Helping International Students
