Learning and Note Taking

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Subpage 1: LEARNING AND NOTE TAKING:

To keep your notes focussed and avoid either writing down EVERYTHING or NOTHING, try using this note-taking format:

Note Taking Format

A useful note-taking tip I came across on reddit:

Tip from Reddit

FIND THE INFORMATION YOU WANT, FAST:

There are ways to get Google to do all the work for you. Here’s how.

LEARN EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY:

It isn’t a good idea to try learning for long stretches of time without a break, even though by the time you’ve got started you might be terrified of pausing in case you never start again! Trust me, I know that feeling.

The most effective time is 20-40 minutes, followed by a 5 minute break. Generally, 25 minutes work then 5 minutes break works very well. This is called the ‘pomodoro’ technique and there are lots of apps out there (just search ‘pomodoro’) that help you use it for study.

Most people learn best by active involvement. Just looking at the material to be learned is as much use as putting a book on your head in the hope that it will sink in (which I can confirm doesn’t work)! Here’s the most efficient way to absorb that information for different scenarios:

Reading for a test the next day:

1) Skim the text.

2) Now read the text, noting the main points.

3) Then use the main points to make spider notes, developing secondary points from the main ones.

4) Check with the text to see if you got it right.

5) Next morning, spend 2 minutes looking at your main points again to refresh your memory.

Learning formulae, etc. by heart:

1) Write them down. If the material is easy, do them in groups of up to 7 at a time.

2) Say each one aloud. Chant each one in a rhythm, as you would do when remembering a telephone number.

3) Cover up where you’ve written them down and try to write them out again.

4) Write chemical formulae on small cards, with the names on the back. Spread them out on the table, and use them to test yourself

Learning for exams:

* Plan in advance. Make a list of topics within each subject

* Fit topics into one or more 25- minute “time chunks”

* Use the techniques suggested above to revise each topic.

* Have another look at your key words notes or spider notes the next day, then after a week, and again just before the exam to keep the information in your memory.

When you can’t get yourself to study but still need to revise, go and teach the topic and what you need to know about it to someone else. If you have a mentor or study tutor they might be a willing volunteer!

Also see ‘Subpage 4: AVOID HAVING TO REVISE OR RE-LEARN LATER ON’ page for more tips.