Techniques to Maximize Your Studying

Interval Studying

How’s this for a fun fact? Studies show that the first time you hear or study
something new, you increase your chance of retaining what you’ve learned
if you review the material within 24 hours. If you continue to review the
information in the following days, you will retain it even more.
With time management, we spoke about interval studying as opposed to
cramming. We suggested you try alternating 25-minute study blocks with 5-
minute breaks. But there’s a second study interval we want you to consider
and that’s the gap in time between learning new information and reviewing
it. Experts advise that students review material close to the date it was
originally learned. This means that if you learn something new on Monday,
and the quiz is Friday, you should begin your review no later than
Wednesday. Don’t leave it to the night before the test to start your review.

Memory Consolidation

Consider reviewing the material one last time right before bed. It might
seem odd, but there actually is some science that suggests that studying
when you’re tired or just before bed can actually help your brain retain new
information. There’s something called the memory-consolidation process
which works during sleep. This means that reviewing study materials
before bed can help your brain absorb knowledge. That makes learning
sound like a dream!

Active Recall

Another method that works very well for some people is called “active
recall.” To try this technique, read some material that’s been assigned to
you, then close the book and recite everything you can remember. This
technique may help you commit things to memory. People who advocate
this method suggest you read and repeat the material until you’ve got it
down pat.

Flashcards

Flashcards rely on the active recall technique. This system enforces

learning through repetition. A student moves through the set of flashcards
again and again until they are all answered correctly. Flashcards can be
particularly effective with subjects that involve dates and facts, foreign
language drills, vocabulary words, as well as medical and scientific facts.

Engagement Strategies

According to researchers at Stanford’s School of Medicine, the ability to

concentrate during silence or listening to music while studying is left up to
personal preference, but many agree that playing certain types of music,
such as classical composers, for example, can help students engage the
parts of their brain that helps them pay attention. But, don’t set yourself up
for distraction by listening to your favorite dance music. Use your break
time to listen to the popular music you love.
Experts also tell us that mixing up your work environment by periodically
shifting your study location can help you work better than sitting at the
same desk in the same room time and time again. While great study habits
are the goal, your study routine and habitat benefits from change. Don’t be
afraid to mix it up!

A Different Point of View

If your course does not provide a practice exercise, you can always create
one for yourself. We’re talking about a little bit of role reversal here.
Research shows that students had better memory and recall abilities when
they learned new information if they anticipated having to teach it to
someone else. This makes sense when you think about it: teachers are
charged with not only learning information for themselves but also with
clearly explaining it to others. So, go ahead and take on a “teacher” role. In
the process, you might be amazed by how much you know!

Study Habits to Avoid

Avoid Cramming

In his book, “How We Learn,” New York Times science reporter Benedict
Carey, tells us to relax, take a break, get a good night’s sleep and stop
cramming. Carey tells us to study smarter, not harder. He’s uncovered the
scientific basis of how learning actually occurs. The good news, he reports,
is that napping is not an hour or two of lost study time; sleep actually
enhances learning. Breaking up study times across several days beats
cramming.  

Beware of Overlearning
Once you’ve mastered interval learning cycles and had some success with
your studies, you may be tempted to try to accomplish even more, but be
aware of “overlearning.” Researchers from the University of South Florida
and UC San Diego both found that the law of diminishing returns quickly
sets in during overlearning. Give yourself a break! Pay attention to your
rhythms and when you feel tired, stop and refresh.

Avoid Multitasking

Multitasking isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, at least not during study time.
Texting, visiting, or watching an episode of your favorite show while
studying is just not worth it. A University of Connecticut study showed
multitasking during studying for what it really is: detrimental to your grades.

Reducing Stress

We all know that stress is not good for our health, but did you know that
stress actually hinders learning? The University of California at Irvine
researchers found that even a few hours of stress can cause the release of
hormones that disrupt the memory forming process. There’s yet another
reason to take breaks, exercise, or do other things that lower your stress
level and help your studying.
Being prepared is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety.
A study in Science Magazine showed that students who took a practice test
after learning the course material retained 50% more of the information a
week later than their peers who did not.

Review

Here is a quick summary of the study tips that we’ve covered in this
section.

1. Review new material within 24 hours

2. Do not cram at the last minute!
3. Consider studying right before bedtime
4. Study smart, not hard
5. Practice “active recall’; use flashcards
6. Mix up your study routine
7. Do not multitask while studying
8. Reduce stress by taking breaks
9. Remember, practice makes perfect!
10. Teach yourself