Learning Tips from Mrs. Disorbo

By Emily Junaedi, 2027

Published 12/26/24

Are you often stuck with how to start studying for a test? Perhaps you have tried flashcards or rereading this unit’s chapters. While these may seem quick and easy at the moment, there are techniques you can use to make these methods efficient and impactful. Mrs. DiSorbo from the history department shares her many study and note taking tips that may help you be better prepared for your next assessment.

Reading Your Textbook

When reading from your textbook, most people either skim over the words or copy down notes, neither processing the concepts. Mrs. DiSorbo suggests practicing active reading strategies like previewing the chapter. Try reading the introduction instead of skipping it this time. Look at the titles and headings. Take note of the images, vocabulary lists, key figures, chapter summaries, and review questions. Beginning at the end, like seeing the chapter questions and bolded terms, can show you what you are expected to know.

Another recommended strategy is to write down all prior knowledge about the topic and any questions you have about it. In doing this, you can see if your prior knowledge is correct and focus on having your questions answered, making you more engaged in the reading. You can also make predictions about what you think will happen later in the reading after previewing.

While reading, figure out the main idea. This can typically be found in the first couple of sentences of a section. Turning the headings into questions can be particularly helpful because it gives you something to look for as you read. You can try reading an entire section before going back and taking notes but since this might be time consuming, you can try skimming for keywords before taking notes. After each section, stop and write down the big idea/summary.

Flashcards

Mrs. DiSorbo stresses the importance of recall and being able to find the links between concepts. She describes the process of the five sided flashcards, which exercise critical thinking and active recall, and promotes handwriting them. Two sided flashcards only provide the term and a definition, simply memorizing a fact. But it is extremely helpful to utilize five sides in order to analyze the impact of a term. If you don’t want to put all five sides onto one flashcard, you can always split it up among five index cards.

1. Term/concept

2. Definition

3. Example, picture, story

   • Associating a picture, for example, will assist with recall. Whenever you see the term appear on a test, you can immediately think of the picture and remember other facts about it

4. Similarities to other terms

5. Differences to other terms

   • This goes hand in hand with similarities and both help especially with “compare and contrast” MCQs/essay questions.

When we created these flashcards, Mrs. DiSorbo often would advise us to add the sides “cause” (of the term) and “significance” (of it). I personally found these two sides very helpful during tests.

Techniques Ranked

Mrs. DiSorbo sent me information about the data from a team of scientists who performed a study to find data on the most effective learning techniques. The most strongly supported by the collected information was spacing and retrieval practice. Keeping your learning spaced out over the course of a couple days rather than cramming during a single night keeps most of the information intact. Retrieval practice is quizzing yourself or having someone quiz you. It is helpful to do this after a lesson or a textbook reading, any time you are learning new information.

The data moderately supported elaborative interrogation which is when you ask why something is the way it is. It will integrate new information with prior knowledge. Another method supported by a similar amount of data is self explanation. It requires you to explain concepts to yourself mentally and then rearrange and organize it to make sense to yourself.

Two strategies that were weakly supported were mnemonics and rereading chapters. Mnemonics is when you associate a concept/term with another word, picture, or rhyme. Though it is not particularly useful in concepts that require critical thinking, if you are simply memorizing a fact, mnemonics can be helpful. It helps with learning languages as well. Rereading a chapter will not have that many direct benefits either but it does help with spacing.

The next time you are studying or taking notes, keep these tips in mind because they may just help you on your next test.

Links

How to Take Notes in Class: The 5 Best Methods

9 Best Scientific Study Tips

Why You're Probably Studying Wrong

10 Ways to Avoid Making Stupid Mistakes on Exams

10 Study and Test-Taking Tips for Earning an 'A' on Your Next Exam