Selecting Contextual Study Spots
Your study location also plays a pivotal part in stimulating your brain. Toppers choose unique study locations to improve their retention and concentration. From coffee shops to parks, they try to pick the centre that best suits their study style.
Reams of research have been conducted on how environmental context influences memory recall and recognition. They have found that consistent environmental context enhances recall.
If you are studying botany, then you can choose your garden as your study spot. That will be a contextual environment aiding you in understanding and retaining the fundamentals of the topic.
Walk and Talk Technique
This is a dynamic and effective studying strategy that has proven benefits in boosting memory and cognitive function. This strategy involves walking and discussing the concepts out loud. It is a well-known fact that physical activities have a significantly positive impact on the brain. This technique has efficaciously culminated exercise with verbal remembering. Reading the theoretical concepts utilising this strategy can uplift your comprehension and help you in retaining it for a longer time.
Creating Mind Maps
A structured mind mapping session leads to a burst of creativity and a way to memorise the technical concepts easily. High scorers also use illustrations and doodles. These visual aids enhance retention of concepts for long. Medical students usually employ all these techniques to remember difficult concepts. For instance, a nervous system can be memorised by structuring a detailed and labeled diagram with colour-coded sections that can help to remember it in an effective way.
Reverse Learning
Smart work over hard work is the mantra nowadays for high achievers. They start by skimming through the previous year’s question paper rather than directly reading from textbooks. This provides them with an in-depth understanding of the essential concepts and hence simplifies learning.
A Washington University research revealed the impact of retrieval practice on learning and memory. The study observed that it significantly enhances long-term retention more than repeated studying. This effect occurs even without feedback, though feedback further improves outcomes. Furthermore, retrieval practice helps in applying knowledge flexibly across different contexts.
Interleaved Practice Technique
Interleaving or interleaved technique comprises blending two subjects or types of problem in one study session. It contradicts the conventional study method which involves studying in different blocks or periods, and reinstates the effectiveness of studying similar subjects together in enhancing cognition. Additionally, this also amplifies the importance of understanding fundamental concepts and relating them to other concepts rather than cramming them.
For example, a student might alternate between studying algebra, geometry, and calculus problems in one sitting, which increases their potential to switch between concepts and apply knowledge in varied contexts.
