Mastering the Learning Process

How Memory WorksTo increase the effectiveness of your studying and learning, you must understand the science behind memory.

Understanding How We Learn

• Contextual Clues for Memory Recall• Your brain is constantly taking in

what is around you

• Using triggers

• Don’t create rituals for studying; Challenge your brain to recall information

• Space Studying Out• Space out studying in shorter chunks, and repeat this over time for the

largest return on investment

• “You’re not spending any more time. You’re not working any harder. But you remember for longer.” – Mary Roach

• The farther you are from a test, have longer study intervals. The closer you are to a test, have shorter intervals.

• Pomodoro Method

Understanding How We Learn

Test Week 5

Week 1:Initial learning –

Chapters 1-2

Week 2:Review Chapter 1-2Add Initial Learning

Chapter 3-4

Review SAME material at least 1 more time in week 1

Review SAME material at least 1 more time in week 2

Review SAME material at least 2 more times in week 3

Week 3:Review Ch. 1-4; Initial

learning Ch. 5-6

Week 4:Review Ch 1-6

Review SAME material at least 3 more times in week 4

• Testing As Part of Studying• Testing means practicing the concepts

without any study aids

• Testing yourself earlier in your study routine will also confirm for you what you don’t know, and allow you time to review this material.

• When you study, then test yourself, you are more likely to remember the material later.

• How can you test yourself?

Understanding How We Learn

• When Reviewing Material• The more multi-sensory techniques you use to learn

information over time, the more neuro pathways you build.

• Examples of multi-sensory techniques:• Visual

• Cornell Note-Taking• Doodling

• Verbal/Explanation• Teaching Others• Study Groups

• Associations• Efficient Repetition• Organization• Mnemonic Tricks

• Take a break! A syn-nap

Understanding How We Learn

• Things to Avoid

• Re-writing the same thing over and over

• Simple memorization and regurgitation

• Cramming

• Sticking with the “flash cards” model.

• Moving on when you don’t understand something

• Going to class without a clue as to what will be covered

• Not going to class

Understanding How We Learn

Time/Priority Management

• “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” – Stephen Covey

• This is really more about managing all of your priorities to accomplish your goal.

• You must be intentional with your time, study habits, and what you are prioritizing.

• You don’t have to be a student 100% of your day! But you do need to plan so you can accomplish everything that’s important to you.

• Let’s start with the BIG PICTURE – Backwards Planning (see handout)

• Plan now for the super stressful weeks. What can you do not to mitigate the impact of those weeks?

• The more you do now to plan your future weeks and semester, the more likely you will be able to handle things when you are very stressed.

Time/Priority Management

• Set Milestones and Goals

• Goal Mapping (handout)

• At each milestone, reflect and re-assess your habits

Time/Priority Management

• After you do backwards planning and set your goals, you will need to incorporate strategic decision making and planning on a daily and weekly basis

• There are many ways to do this. At a minimum, you will need a basic organization tool that you use daily and week. This could be:• Planner (hard copy)• Calendar on your wall• White board• Post-it notes• Simple notebook to plan your day(s)• Electronic calendar or app • To-Do List• Personal Kanban• Priority Grid• Other methods – what do you use?

Time/Priority Management

Get Started

Your task is to complete the following by next class:

• Backwards Planning for the Semester

• Set at least one milestone that occurs before the end of the semester and complete goal mapping for at least one goal.

• Pick a time/organization method and use it daily/weekly (planners, Kanban, Priority grid, etc)

• Pick a study technique and use it daily/weekly (spaced intervals, Cornell method, teaching, Pomodoro, etc)

Online Resources:• Learning

• Doodling for Learning• Ted Talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/sunni_brown • Article: http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1882127,00.html

• Cornell Method for Notetaking: http://goo.gl/WDMuni • Studying, General

• Article – Teach as part of the learning process: http://goo.gl/LuviDu• Article based on the How We Learn book: http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/08/25/how-does-the-brain-

learn-best-smart-studying-strategies/ • Online tools for better attention and focus:

• http://99u.com/articles/6969/10-online-tools-for-better-attention-focus • http://collegeinfogeek.com/resources/

• Time/Priority Management• Building Your Own Productivity Style: http://lifehacker.com/5828033/how-to-build-your-own-productivity-style-by-

remixing-from-the-best • Pomorodo Method:

• http://pomodorotechnique.com/ • http://lifehacker.com/productivity-101-a-primer-to-the-pomodoro-technique-1598992730 • http://www.moosti.com/

• Personal Kanban: • http://goo.gl/vjuE9V • http://yeswekanban.net/

• Getting Things Done Philosophy• http://lifehacker.com/productivity-101-a-primer-to-the-getting-things-done-1551880955

• Mastering Your To Do List: http://lifehacker.com/5986867/david-allen-explains-how-to-master-your-to-do-list • Prioritizing

• Article: How To Prioritize When Everything Is Important: http://lifehacker.com/5877111/how-to-prioritize-when-everything-is-important

• Priority Grid: http://www.usgs.gov/humancapital/documents/TimeManagementGrid.pdf • Motivation

• Ted Talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation?language=en