Learning How To Learn Better: Study Strategies & Techniques

How Do I Prepare Better? Step 1:Know how you best learn. Step 2:Evaluate what you’re doing. Step 3: “Play” to your strengths. Step 4:Develop a plan of action. Step 5:Carry out that plan. Step 6:Decide what worked (or didn’t). Step 7:Adjust and begin at step 2 again.

How Do I Study? There are many different effective ways to study. You need to build a pool of strategies that work for you that you can use in various learning situations.

What is “learning” anyway? It involves: Getting information into your brain Thinking about your experiences Remembering Expressing your thoughts and feelings Making sense of the world around Adapting to new situations

What is “learning” anyway? When learning takes place you: Increase your understanding of material See patterns and connections Acquire skills Develop your ability to think critically Extend your knowledge beyond former limits Create new products (tangible and intangible)

How Do I Study? Let’s start a list of strategies that you can draw from that is based on the learning styles we discussed earlier.

Learning Styles Visual Social Physical Aural Verbal Solitary Logical

Strategies & Techniques for VISUAL LEARNERS Use pictures, graphs, charts, diagrams Use mind maps to plan essays and summarize notes or texts Use symbols, underlining, to emphasize key concepts Use color to distinguish things from each other Skim materials before lectures During lectures make “mental pictures” of what is said Pay close attention to all visual aids used Practice a system of note-taking Ask for and use any available visual resources Enhance memory by “translating” images into words

Strategies & Techniques for VISUAL LEARNERS Study paraphrased notes – not the textbook Watch a movie in Spanish with the subtitles on “Illustrate” your notes with images and graphs Draw “comic strips”

Strategies & Techniques for SOCIAL LEARNERS Contribute your ideas to group discussion Respond to what other say Help each other clarify, expand, understand Be responsible and prepared when you have committed to being part of a study group Set up goals; who will do what and by when? Engage in active listening (listening so that you can rephrase what has been said, even if you do not agree with it) Stay focused on the subject at hand

Strategies & Techniques for PHYSICAL LEARNERS Use your finger to point at things as you read Stop and physically write out notes as you go along (summarizing small sections) Draw diagrams or charts Take breaks and get up and move Use your body (gestures, movements) as you study Get up and walk around the room as you study (carry notes, books, etc.) Hold something in your hand that you can manipulate while you study (stress ball, etc.) Tap to a rhythm as you study Eat, drink, chew gum while studying

Strategies & Techniques for PHYSICAL LEARNERS Type or rewrite your notes “Write” words with your body “Illustrate” your notes with images and graphs Draw “comic strips” Use a yo-yo or toss a ball while you study

Strategies & Techniques for AURAL LEARNERS Listen to movies, songs, TV shows about the topic Have a debate with someone Make an audio tape of your notes and listen to it Create jingles or chants to help with memorization – the crazier the better State “problems” and “solutions” out loud Say words in syllables Make up rhymes to remember dates, etc. Study with a partner and discuss topics To learn a sequence, write it out first and then say it out loud Use mnemonic devices

Strategies & Techniques for VERBAL LEARNERS Read notes aloud Hear yourself talk Verbally interpret charts, graphs, images Talk to yourself as you read; ask questions to guide your focus and then answer them Summarize sections of chapters in your own words Generate a list of “study questions” as you go Create songs, rhymes, jingles as memory aids Read and discuss topics with classmates

Strategies & Techniques for LOGICAL LEARNERS Look for organizational patterns of chapters, processes, topics Develop an outline by using context clues (titles, etc) and fill in details as you read Make notes of key points at the end of each section of a chapter Know the specifics about what you should be able to do

Exploring Strategies How would each type of learner react in these situations? –Learning to ride a bike –Learning a new software program –Learning to play a new game –Learning algebra

Exploring Your Strategies 1.Think about the last time you learned something really well. How did you study? What, specifically, did you do? 2.Think about the last time you did not learn something well enough. How did you study then? 3.What “style” did each of those sets of learning strategies primarily belong to? 4.Based on your learning style profile (graph), explain what impact your chosen strategies might have had on your learning. 5.Think of a class that you’ve struggled in. Decide which type of strategies you used in this class. Look at your learning style graph. Do these strategies fall within your areas of strength? 6.Think of the last time you had difficulty learning something. List the kinds of things you did. Now think about your style profile. What might you now do differently?