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Texts, vocabulary, facts, numbers, contexts ... which learning methods you can use to keep all of what you have learned in mind before exams, lectures or discussions and how what you have learned is received is what you will read in this article.
It would be too good to be true if, like Mike Ross from the Suits series, we had a photographic memory and just had to read through or look at something once to reproduce it. That would certainly have made one or the other test in our life much easier. Sure, learning is not always fun and sometimes you despair of the learning process alone, suffer from it Stress and tend to procrastination. Therefore, you should question your learning methods once. If you have your Overcome listlessness want and yours increase productivity you will now get tips on which learning methods can help you.
In reality, our information processing and its reproduction usually look different than that of Mike Ross. There are countless learning methods for dealing with content and storing it in our memories. Before you find the best learning method for you, you should first look at the easiest way to absorb information. We will now take a look at how what you have learned arrives in your head and ultimately remains in your mind.
Learning methods: How do we get what we have learned into our memory?
With the term memory is the Recording, storage and reproduction of information meant. You take this with all of your sense organs in your environment and filter this information according to whether it is stored or not. The stored information is then solidified through retrieval and playback and stored in long-term memory.
Basically, memory can be roughly divided into three areas:
- sensory memory
- Working memory
- Long-term memory
The sensory memory, also known as ultra-short-term memory, is the first point of contact for information that you perceive with your sensory organs from your outside world. These are only saved for a very few seconds.
The Working memory, a type of short-term memory, can store and process 5-9 information units in the short term. The working memory enables you, for example, to carry out a certain task and, for example, cut vegetables while you are on the phone. It also enables you to learn something. The working memory is very active every day, for example when you are having a conversation on your own and giving an answer to your conversation partner. The hippocampus in your brain plays a major role here.
The Long-term memory stores information for several weeks, months or years. When information, memories and other contents are transferred from the short-term memory here, it is mainly the cerebral cortex that is activated.
Why do we remember some things better than others?
This is because your brain differentiates the information in terms of its relevance, whether it was an important event for you or, for example, was connected with strong emotions, such as a wedding, birth or a very important exam.
In conclusion, learning is about signaling your brain that the information to be remembered is important. To support this process, you can make connections to previously learned knowledge or try to build up an emotional level on the topic.
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Learning methods: what type of learner are you?
In order to find out the best and most effective learning method for you, you can first consider what kind of learner you are. In what ways can you process and remember what you have learned more easily and better? On the one hand, your senses play a role, but also your general strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, the right learning method is very individual and everyone has their own way of learning and understanding the content most easily.
These are the 4 learning types:
- auditory learner type
- communicative learner type
- motor learning type
- visual learner type
But you are not "the one" learner now! Rather, your learner is one Mixed form. Because Each of these learner types is in you, only they are different. Perhaps it will be easiest for you if you first read through texts for yourself and look at graphics and then share your findings in the group.
The auditory learner
If you are an auditory learner, you can best process content if you Hear or speak information. It is easy for you to listen to lectures or audios, take part in group discussions or even talk to yourself. Do you know that some people repeat exactly what you just said in a discussion? Then we often get angry. However, some people process information better once they say it in their own words. Such behavior does not have to mean that someone wants to "steal" your idea or does not listen to you. These types of learners are good at memorizing and have few problems with oral assignments.
The communicative learner
As a communicative learner, you are best at information process through language. This means that you can learn best when you exchange ideas with other people and work in groups or with a partner to deal with your tasks. As a communicative learner, you prefer to have information explained and discussed in order to understand and process it.
The motor learner type
For motor learner types, it is best when learning and understanding things when they carry out certain actions themselves. The independent learning by doing This type of learner finds it easier to retain information, for example by carrying out experiments and simulating facts. Just moving, like walking around, is also part of the motor learning type.
The visual learner
If you're a visual learner, you'll find it easier to learn if you See or read information and observe the course of action. For example, you also have better access to facts if the content has to be filtered out in the form of maps, graphics, symbols, images, diagrams, photos or videos. In addition, as a visual learner, you like to work with written documents, like to take notes and have information shown to you in order to process it. It is also important to you that you have a tidy learning environment so that you can concentrate better.
Which learning method suits me?
Of course, you just have to try out which learning method you can best learn with. Whether alone or together with other learning partners - you can also combine many of the following methods well.
1. Learning method: text work
You use a classic learning method that you probably still know from school with the Text work at. Especially visual learner types can learn well using this technique. It is effective here if you first read the text with an open mind in order to get a rough idea of what it is actually about. Then try to divide the text into sensory sections and write roughly on the side what this section is about. Next you can then go through each sensory segment step by step and Mark important points in color.
Feel free to use several colors for facts, other important information or questions, for example. Depending on the type of text, you can also create mind maps, diagrams and timelines.
When working on texts, it is also very helpful if you also have a short summary or bullet points write down the most important key messages. This learning method is also particularly suitable for preparing for lectures and prior research. If you are more of a communicative learner, discuss the topic with a friend, for example if you are studying together or working on the same thing. On the other hand, you can also ask a friend or family to help you study with a simulated lecture.
2. Learning method: memorization
Especially when it comes to learning a language or acquiring factual knowledge, it is important that you repeat this information over and over again. The best here are above all index cards. Instead of simply repeating them, you can buy or make a special box for index cards and divide it into, for example, 5 blocks. If you have reproduced the information correctly, you can put it in the second compartment - until you have reached the last compartment with all the cards. If you misrepresented a card, put it back in a slot.
When it comes to vocabulary, you can also distribute pieces of paper around your apartment so that you can learn words. It doesn't have to be the exact objects. Here you can also formulate questions or ask for other terms that you associate with the object or that reminds you of something. This helps your brain to recognize connections and supports you in learning.
It can also be helpful if you have a Tinker a story from the words and use them as a reminder uses. Some auditory learner types also hum melodies and songs to help memorize information.
3. Learning method: short units with the Pomodoro technique
The next exam is coming up and you don't even know where to start because there is just so much to learn. Everyone has probably been in this situation before. The fact that you sit at your desk from morning to evening and work uninterruptedly concentrated and focused is probably less likely. In the end, you can usually not remember that much of it. Treat yourself to important processing times! It is always important that you too in between breaks and don't cover too many topics at once. The brain can short information units process better than if you try to beat as much knowledge into yourself as possible.
At your Time management can you for example the Pomodoro method help. First you write down what your task is. Your first unit is to study your content for 25 minutes. To be truly productive, make sure nothing distracts you during this time. Create an atmosphere in which you stay focused. Then you take a 5-minute break, can snack on a few nuts, take a few steps, meditate or just get out and breathe fresh air. If you have done four runs, you can treat yourself to a longer break of up to half an hour.
For your 25-minute learning phases, you can also binaural beats be helpful in order not to be distracted by noises from your environment and to stay focused on the topic. We from ahead have a exclusive playlist for you on Spotify created to support you in your maximum concentration.
4. Learning method: taking notes
Writing notes is one of the most common learning methods. Many people make the mistake of taking notes for too long when using this technique! Try to select really concise keywords and get to the heart of the information. Try to avoid verbose sentences. If you find it difficult to take good notes, you can practice doing this by first writing your notes as usual.
Then take a close look at your key points and try to cross out unnecessary items and formulate the individual points more specifically. In this way you not only practice formulating your notes better, but also repeat the content at the same time and can memorize it better.
5. Learning method: group work
Whether at school, at university or at work - we all had to go through group work at some point in our lives. Some love it, others hate it because it can often get messy and some may elude the group. In order to work well together, tries to distribute the tasks to people who see their strength in a certain area and who also want to. If everyone works on their area of responsibility, everyone can introduce and explain their own part of the group - especially well suited for communicative learner types. Discuss, ask your questions and at the end bring everything together to bring a common thread into your project.
You can find out more learning methods in our YouTube Video from Pablo:
Summary
There are many learning methods. You have to try out which is the right and most effective way for you to process information and store it in such a way that you keep it in your long-term memory. But if you know your strengths and think about which type of learner is more pronounced than the other, you are one step closer to your best learning method.
You are probably familiar with many of the methods mentioned, but are you using them correctly? Text work in particular sounds quite banal at first. Some think it is enough to just read through a text once. Whether you actually process and save the information you have read, so that you can still reproduce it after a while - is probably less likely. Especially with new things, it is important that you repeat the new information more often and break it down in a way that you can understand.
If you want to achieve something, it always makes sense if you yourself set goals can. You can read here in the Academy how best to do this in order not to put it too high.
¹Pantothenic acid contributes to normal mental performance. Vitamin B12 helps reduce tiredness and fatigue.