Strategies

Time management strategies 

• Pomodoro technique:  The Pomodoro technique (with a 25 minute full-focus studying block followed by a short and long breaks right after) is efficient in managing attention. It works by creating small time constraints to enhance learning while also preventing burnout.

The application www.pomofocus.io is a great way to start! 

• Eisenhower Matrix (the urgent-important Matrix): Organize your task list into four separate quadrants, sorting them by important vs. unimportant and urgent vs. not urgent. Delegating tasks and deciding on what should be done now reduces stress and motivates you to act.

• Parkinson’s Law: Parkinson's Law is a concept arguing that time spent on any specific project gets longer as we have more time on hands. In example, if we don't set a deadline for an 8 page essay, and if we have 8 hours in tota to do it, we tend to use the entirety of that 8 hour block even if the act of writing can actually take 3 hours instead. To prevent this, time-blocking and setting attainable but efficient deadlines is essential.

• Time Blocking Method: Boost your productivity by dividing your day into specific blocks of time. Some students prefer doing this by making repeating calendar events for each activity, like studying or sports.

• Eat that frog Technique: Tackle the most challenging tasks in the morning so that the other tasks will feel lighter and easier throughout the day.

Memorization strategies

If you feel like you do not have a strong memory skills, using our memory tricks will help you expand your working memory and access long term memory. Since students learn and retain information differently, there are many strategies to fit a range of learning styles and preferences. Here are some simple tips to try:

• Pay attention to getting information right the first time. 

• Before class, make sure to thoroughly comprehend concepts, as it becomes difficult to recall fuzzy or unclear information. Read and reread the material, ask questions, and attempt to explain the concepts to others during review sessions.

• Establish a mental peg to retain information more effectively. This could be a rhyme, a distinct image, or a sequence.

• Regularly check your concentration as you progress through the material, especially toward the end of every other page. If the content is dense with facts, definitions, or equations, consider testing yourself by identifying the main idea and restating it in your own words.

• Use the "erase to remember" technique. Write out the information you need to recall for an exam in pencil, and then gradually erase words as you commit them to memory. This process reinforces retention and recall.

• Spelling mnemonics or alliteration are great tools that aid in recalling lists or groups of information. You’ll just need to use the first letter of each word to create an acronym that’s easier for you to remember than the individual parts. As an example: the famous SMART goals? The easy acronym refers to (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based)

• Repetition helps information move from short-term memory to long-term memory. With each repetition, the brain becomes more efficient at encoding the information, making it easier to recall later and which at the end, boosts our confidence in our ability to remember, leading to more successful and efficient learning.

If verbal memorization techniques don’t work for you, you may be a visual learner. Here's some tips: 

• Flashcards: Flashcards break the information down into chunks that are easier to remember. They can be paper cards or they can be digital. You can use different colors, titles, and subtitles to make the information more memorable. On one side of the Flashcard, a question or hint is written, and the answer is written on the backside. Using the hint, we try to test ourselves and find the answer. This is a great way to memorize and learn concepts because it leverages Active Recall. So, when using software such as Anki (featured in our Study and Classroom Technologies page!),  you are leveraging the power of active recall to enhance your learning and improve your memory performance

• Mind maps: it’s a great tool for brainstorming and also helpful in visualizing information to remember later on. It also helps you discover relationships between each concept and structure information. If you don’t like writing on physical flashcards, try an app like Coggle or Inspiration to create virtual mind maps.

Note-Taking strategies 

If you find yourself struggling with note-taking, employing effective strategies can significantly enhance your ability to capture and retain important information. Just like with memorization, note-taking techniques can be tailored to accommodate various learning styles and preferences. Here are some methods to consider:

Cornell Method: Dividing the page into sections for key points, summaries, and cues, facilitating organized and effective note-taking. The Cornell Methods calls for summarizing key information after lectures, and making excerpts. 

SQ4R: A systematic approach involving Survey, Question, Read, Reflect, Recite, and Review to enhance comprehension and retention of information. It allows for finding shortcomings by self-testing, and then acting on these by studying. It can be used as a loop, by asking questions about what we just learned again to find more gaps in knowledge, until there aren't any.

Mind Mapping: For visual learners, mind maps are a fantastic approach. Start with a central concept and branch out with related ideas, using colors and visuals to create associations. This technique aids in grasping connections between different topics.

Outlining: A structured outline format can be beneficial for capturing hierarchical relationships between ideas. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to organize the content and make it easier to review later.

Abbreviations and Symbols: Develop a set of personal abbreviations and symbols to speed up note-taking. This can be particularly helpful during lectures or when you need to record information quickly.

Active Listening: Focus on actively listening to the speaker or reading the material, then paraphrase and summarize the key points in your own words. A good way to facilitate this is to learn important "signal words" to ground you back into lecture (such as "this is a sign of..." "there are x reasons..." "an important aspect is..." "this is important..." and similar) when you start getting distracted.

Highlighting and Color Coding: Use highlighters or colored pens to emphasize critical points, key terms, or concepts. Color coding can make it easier to identify essential information at a glance.