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Help Your Brain Learn
Understanding how your brain learns can boost your memory and make it much easier to retain information. Here’s how interest and concentration can help you learn. Follow These Quick Links to Individual Articles in the Studying Tips Article Series.
Study Skills Quick Links:
Make a Conscious Effort to Remember
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find connections: between your life and what you are learning
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find a peaceful space: do not study in a location full of distractions
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focus on the material: study with the intention of learning
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develop broad interests: the more you know the easier it is to learn
Be Selective & Categorize
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what's important? determine what the central ideas or concepts are
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make a list: write these main concepts down
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group like items: group similar ideas into categories that make sense
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make an outline: have main topics with each containing its related subcategories
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use the outline as a study guide to help you focus on the right stuff
Studying Tips: Say It, Hear It, See It
Strengthening Neural Connections
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say it: explain the concept that you are trying learn outloud to yourself, or a friend
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see it in your mind: try to visualize what you are learning
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see it on the page: use the textbook or look online for graphic images or diagrams related to the subject matter
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this seems familiar: ask yourself "What do I already know that is similar to this new material?"
Give It Time…After Time, After Time
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read the related textbook chapter before lecture
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after lecture, rewrite/reorganize your notes
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read the related text chapter again after lecture
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do brief study sessions, spread out over time
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flash cards are a great way to study on the run
Genetics Sample Science Tests Organic Chemistry Inorganic Chemistry Cell Biology Immunology
Sources
Hopper, C. (2003) Practicing College Learning Strategies, 3rd edition, Houghton Mifflin.
