5 ways to enhance learning

We all know that we should use smart study strategies for learning but what is the science

behind effective study strategies? The tips below come from scientific studies that examine the

difference between memorizing for short term and learning for the long haul.

Here are 5 ways to enhance learning

1. Quiz Yourself Daily

Studies have shown that the

 best way to remember the information you've read or studied is to test yourself. Why?.... seems that the mere act of pulling information

out of your brain and tucking it away again works like a sort of "body-building technique" for

memories. Through a process called retrieval practice , it seems that information becomes

sturdier and more embedded as we exercise it.

2. Reduce Your Cell Phone Use

It should come as no surprise that spending too much time on the cell phone can affect your

grades. But the relationship between phones and

grades is not simple; it’s not just a matter of time spent wisely (or not).

Studies show that there is a relationship between cell phone use, anxiety, and student

performance. Increased time on the phone seems to be linked to increased feelings of anxiety, and

that leads to lower student performance.

Another relationship has been noticed between

increased time on cell phones and a decrease in physical activity. Students who spend more time

on phones, in other words, tend to be less active - which also causes a buildup of stress and

anxiety.

In fact, science also suggests that students who take part in aerobic exercise benefit from better

long term memory.

3. Stop Trying to Memorize

Mnemonic devices are handy when you need to memorize a list of items that you intend to recall

in the next day or two. Memorization is a skill that comes in handy for short term memory. But short term memory is only good if you’re cramming for a test and you don’t care about

learning. Long term memory is the goal for truly learning from the material that you cover in class.

A recent study shows that memorization impairs

your ability to recall details - and that can be a problem if you’re taking a test with essay or

multiple choice questions!

To commit information to your long term memory, you will need to venture beyond memorizing facts. You must strive to gain a meaningful understanding of concepts beyond the words and names on your list of terms. This

leads to true learning - as opposed to short-term memorization. Long term memory comes from getting active with material and studying the same information several times over a few weeks.

4. Use Music and Actions

The more active you become when it comes to studying, the more you will be able to commit the information to memory. If you’re studying foreign language (or any other subject that requires you to learn new vocabulary ) it seems

that singing is helpful. Singing new vocabulary and definitions taps in

to your auditory learning skills and helps you recall more readily, according to one study. It’s

certainly worth a try!

Another study shows that you can benefit by taking your class notes by hand instead of using a keyboard to type your notes. The act of writing words out by hand enhances the comprehension

of concepts. In one study, students who took notes on a computer could recall facts as well as

those who used hand-written notes, but they could not grasp concepts nearly as well as the

pen-and-paper students.

5. Use a Sleep Strategy

Common sense tells us that students need to get enough sleep to perform well in school. But

there are some surprising findings when it comes to how and when we sleep, as it pertains to our

ability to learn. It’s not about the amount of sleep you get, necessarily. The timing of your

sleep patterns also matters.

Consider the following findings about sleep and study:

A regular bed time is important, but students with later bedtimes have lower grades than students with earlier bedtimes. When you sleep right before study time, the information seems to sink in as you sleep and soak into your long term memory. Sleep actually reinforces learning. The information will transform from short term

memory to long term learning if you go straight to bed after reading. However, if you start reading Facebook posts or do any pleasure

reading between study time and sleep time, you clog your brain with useless information and

stop the potential for learning while sleeping. Study and then go straight to sleep: that’s the

key!