There is a myth that those who multitask get much more done, but the reality is that when you are trying to do multiple things at once, you are a lot less productive. Multitasking can make you distracted and shifts your focus, so you are less likely to learn. Ideally, don’t study and watch TV or look at your social media at the same time if you want to learn something new. Follow these tips to help stop multitasking: Log out of all programs with instant messaging.
Switch off your internet connection.
Close down all browser windows except for those related to what you are studying.
Clean your desk or study area, and remove the clutter.
Note Down Your Concerns
If you don’t acknowledge your concerns, especially towards an upcoming test, they can overrun the thoughts in your head and prevent you from retaining and recalling information. When your head is full of stressful thoughts, anxiety can have a hugely detrimental effect on your studying.
Studies have shown that journaling and writing down emotions and thoughts can improve learning and memory. Students in one study who spent ten minutes writing about their feelings surrounding a future exam showed a much better performance than those students who didn’t. If you are a regular worrier, this technique can be a fantastic tool.
Before you are about to sit an exam take a bit of time and write down any worries you may have, such as, “have I studied enough,” “did I study the right work,” “will my mind go blank” or any other questions you may have that are making you anxious.
You may think that talking to someone about your concerns would be helpful, but writing them down is more effective. It shifts the concerns from your brain to the paper, leaving you with a clearer head. When you speak to someone, it engages conversation and discussions that could leave you feeling even more anxious than when you started!
Self-Testing
For decades self-testing has been studied and analyzed, and the results have shown that it is crucial to self-test if you want to improve your learning. One study conducted by a university found that students who weren’t given any quizzes had lower results than those who were given the examinations.
Identify the key concepts you are learning and quiz yourself on them regularly. Quizzing will keep the information fresh in your memory and enable you to understand the material more effectively.
Reading Out Loud
While we know that to read faster, it is better not to read out loud;
there is a difference when it comes to studying new information for a test. When key facts or data are read out loud, the reader can not only see it, but they can also hear it. Of course, you don’t want to be reading out everything out loud, just the critical information.
Here are some tips:
1. Underline critical concepts or equations while reading your notes. Don’t try and memorize them; just underline them and go on to the next thing.
2. After all the notes have been read and underlined, now go back and read only the highlighted notes out loud. Read them at a slower pace and repeat them as many times as you feel you need to.
3. Now take a break for three minutes.
4. After the break, go back to each underlined note, cover it with something such as a hand or piece of paper, and test yourself whether or not you have memorized it.
5. If some of the concepts or equations have not been remembered, go back, and repeat all the steps from 1-4.
Taking Breaks
For effective studying, ensure you take breaks regularly instead of trying to study for hours on end continuously. Every 45 minutes or so, take a 10-minute break. It’s a good idea to get up and regularly move as well, rather than sitting in the same position for long periods. Not only does it help clear your mind, but it also promotes healthy circulation.
If you are likely to forget about taking breaks, set the alarm or timer to let you know when to stop and when to get back into it. Stay away from electronic devices like computers and cell phones during the breaks; otherwise, you won’t be relaxing.
Give Yourself a Reward
To help keep you focused on your studying, set yourself a reward for when you complete it. Rewards can be quite motivating, and you are likely to spend more time studying. The benefits don’t have to be a material item; it could be a favorite food or an outing. Something small. Then each time you start another session, set a different reward.
Process Focus
Many students or people learning new skills tend to focus on the outcome of the study rather than the actual process of learning further information. Instead of worrying about the results, focus on the methods of learning. Too often, we base our success on achievement, especially academically, instead of congratulating ourselves on learning something new.
Learning goals are more attainable and less stressful than performance goals, and you will learn a lot more when you are focused on how to learn the information rather than the grade or promotion you will get.
CHAPTER SEVEN
7+ Miracle Techniques to Speed Up
Your Learning Process
When starting out trying to improve your learning speed, keeping it simple is the way to go. The easier the material is, the easier it is for the brain to process the information and store it. Simple information runs through a single pathway in the head, so it’s quicker. When you are trying to learn complex information quickly, it can run through multiple pathways in the cerebrum, causing the process to be disrupted and the storage of the information compromised.
By splitting any complex information into smaller groups or sections, it becomes much easier for the head to store. Repetition can be useful with complex material, but make sure you take breaks in between repetitions. In the previous chapter, there is an excellent example of the length of breaks you should take when learning complex information.
A famous example of complex and straightforward information is as follows:
Complex
Question: What are the characteristics of the Dead Sea?
Answer: Salt Lake is located on the border between Israel and Jordan. Its shoreline is the lowest point on the Earth's surface, averaging 396 m below sea level. It is 46 miles long. It is seven times as salty (30% by volume) as the ocean. Its density keeps swimmers afloat. Only simple organisms can live in its saline waters.
Simple
Question: Where is the Dead Sea?
Answer: Border between Jordan and Israel.
Question: What is the length of the Dead Sea?
Answer: 44 miles.
Question: What is the salt content percentage of the Dead Sea?
Answer: 30%
As you can see, by stripping back excess words and looking at the information more straightforwardly, it’s easier and faster to learn. It also prevents you from getting bored while reading it all. Especially when there are statistics, numerals, formulas, and percentages involved.
Be careful when rounding numbers and volumes down when simplifying material as you can lose some vital information. For example, in the above information, the original length of the sea was 46 miles, but, when simplified, it was rounded down to 44 miles. If you need to round numbers up or down, change the questions so they are more specific.
Cloze Deletion
If you are struggling with the minimum information principle, the cloze deletion method is often easier to start with. However, even those who have advanced experience with faster learning techniques often still use the cloze deletion. So what exactly is cloze deletion?
Cloze deletion is a speedy and effective technique for converting knowledge from textbooks into knowledge that can be used in spaced repetitions. When using cloze deletion, three dots replace missing parts of a sentence. This is referred to as incremental reading. An example is, ‘’John…was a country music star’. You are simplifying the information, and your intellect will fill in the blanks.
