Listening or reading something is
just listening or reading. It’s not real learning. Real learning comes from
making mistakes. And mistakes come from implementation. And that’s how you
retain 90% of everything you learn.
just listening or reading. It’s not real learning. Real learning comes from
making mistakes. And mistakes come from implementation. And that’s how you
retain 90% of everything you learn.
Simple steps on how to
retain 90% of everything you learn
retain 90% of everything you learn
Spaced repetition: Review material over and
over again over incremental time intervals. Review your materials
intermittently to slow down the deterioration of your memory as time passes.
over again over incremental time intervals. Review your materials
intermittently to slow down the deterioration of your memory as time passes.
Active reiteration: To really embed the facts you are reading into your mind, teach
them to someone else.
them to someone else.
By teaching, you are forced to
summarise, condense, investigate, and draw conclusions – promoting a deeper
personal understanding. Explain concepts in the simplest terms possible to anyone
who would listen, a fellow classmate, roommate or to empty beer cans.
summarise, condense, investigate, and draw conclusions – promoting a deeper
personal understanding. Explain concepts in the simplest terms possible to anyone
who would listen, a fellow classmate, roommate or to empty beer cans.
Directed note-taking: Ask yourself what you
don’t understand about a certain topic. Really get to the root of the problem
and dig your way out of it.
don’t understand about a certain topic. Really get to the root of the problem
and dig your way out of it.
First, spot the problem areas. Second,
design a question which addresses this area. Third, answer your question. Use
all your lecture notes, library books, and even Google Search. Don’t move on
until you are confident with your answer and rest assured, you will understand
the concepts better by going through this route.
design a question which addresses this area. Third, answer your question. Use
all your lecture notes, library books, and even Google Search. Don’t move on
until you are confident with your answer and rest assured, you will understand
the concepts better by going through this route.
Reading on paper: Paper removes one of the
top factors for students losing focus: distraction. Without the Internet, there
won’t be an infinite number of websites tempting our eyes away from much-needed
study time and breaking our focus, which is crucial to retaining memory. Unlike
computer screens, reading on paper also helps with spatial memory – you can
recall a certain bit of information by where it was placed on a book.
top factors for students losing focus: distraction. Without the Internet, there
won’t be an infinite number of websites tempting our eyes away from much-needed
study time and breaking our focus, which is crucial to retaining memory. Unlike
computer screens, reading on paper also helps with spatial memory – you can
recall a certain bit of information by where it was placed on a book.
Time your study: If you have to cram, do it smartly. Set 25-30 minute chunks of
intense study and rest for five minutes after. After all, our ability to retain
information tapers after 30 minutes anyway.
intense study and rest for five minutes after. After all, our ability to retain
information tapers after 30 minutes anyway.
Sleep and exercise: Our
brain absorbs information best right before sleep or right after exercise.
brain absorbs information best right before sleep or right after exercise.
Research have shown that those who
study before sleeping or napping have higher memory recall or higher activity
in the hippocampus, the part of the brain which forms new memories.
study before sleeping or napping have higher memory recall or higher activity
in the hippocampus, the part of the brain which forms new memories.
