Learning and Memory Techniques to Make Your Study Time More Efficient
1. Active learning: People learn more and learn better when they actively explore a topic. The
more you know about a subject, the easier it is to become interested in it. Give your interests a
chance to develop by exploring a subject.
2. Elaborate retrieval: People remember for a longer period of time when they structure
information rather than just repeat it over and over (Jacobs & Hyman, 2006, p.139). Try to relate
what you are studying to things that you already know while you make a mental note of what is
new material. Ask questions about the material you are studying and try to find relationships
between parts of the material. Think about how to relate new facts to old material that
interested you in the past.
Example: You have always been interested in world history. You are taking a psychology class.
Think about how the historical context in which the field of psychology developed relates to
what you know about world history. For instance, during World War II, the famous behavioral
psychologist, B.F. Skinner, was able to train pigeons to guide a missile by recognizing a target
and pecking at it. The missile changed course as the pigeons directed it with their pecking.
3. Make it personal: Think about how the material relates to your daily life. See if you can use the
class material in an example that you can imagine in your own life.
Example: In your anatomy and physiology class, you learn about an illness that a friend or family
member has. You think about how you can use this knowledge to help them become more
educated about their illness and/or raise awareness about the illness in the community/public.
4. Actively use your new knowledge: Ask questions about things in the book and lecture. Think,
talk, and write about the ideas and discuss difficult and questionable points with your peers.
5. Diversity of retrieval cues: People remember best when they use their 5 senses to help them as
they study. They process the material more fully and create more ways to retrieve the content
from their memory. While you study, talk out loud; make up songs about the material and use
mnemonic devices; imagine sights, smells, tastes and anything else to make the information
vivid.
Visit this link for some examples of mnemonic devices.
http://www.learningassistance.com/2006/january/mnemonics.html
Visit this link for a song to help you learn the parts of the brain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40EBLb1avhM
6. Sleep on it /Memory consolidation: Study right before you sleep and don’t allow any
interference to come between studying and sleep (no conversations, radio, TV, music, etc.).
People collect and strengthen their memories as they sleep, making the connections between
the pathways in their brain stronger. Space out your study sessions with time in between them
for sleep to help this process along. Don’t cram for tests unless there is no other option and if
you must cram, focus on the most important information.
7. Take short bites of time: People learn best when they study in small periods over a long period
of time. This is called distributed practice. Use index cards that can be pulled out anytime you
are sitting with spare time (short, but regular practice) versus sitting down with the textbook for
hours at a time without taking a break.
8. Do it out loud: Many people learn well by hearing information. Sit by yourself in a quiet place
and say the information you need to learn out loud to yourself. Give your notes to someone else
and ask them to read them aloud to you or ask you questions from your notes that you can
answer out loud.
Sources
Jacobs, L.F. & Hyman, J.S. (2006). Professors’ guide to getting good grades in college. NY: Harper Collins.
Author: Shirley “Mandy” Sexton, Ph.D.