Secrets to Effective Learning: Study Techniques That Guarantee Success

One of the most important skills a person needs, which is not taught in school, is the skill of learning. How can one efficiently and rapidly acquire new knowledge? Learning new subjects efficiently using study techniques helps avoid extended hours of sitting and sleepless nights. Study techniques make it easier to remember and transfer information from short-term working memory to long-term storage in the brain.

The Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a well-known and popular time management method that helps make studying more efficient while ensuring that the brain doesn't burn out. The first phase of this technique involves a continuous 25-minute study session during which you focus solely on your studies. Choose the task or topic you want to study and set a timer for 25 minutes. Various Pomodoro websites or apps, such as Pomofocus, can help you with preset timers for your convenience.

After the 25-minute study session, the next step is a five-minute break. Set a timer for five minutes and take a step away from your work. Do some stretching, listen to music, or gaze out the window. This allows your brain a moment to recharge. From personal experience, it's advised not to check messages or social media during these breaks, as this can either lead to extended breaks or leave your mind preoccupied with messages during the next study session.

After the break, start a new 25-minute session and get to work! After completing four Pomodoro cycles, it's recommended to take a slightly longer break, approximately 20 minutes, during which you can have a snack or browse social media. Often, after four Pomodoro cycles, the material you were studying has already been covered effectively due to the technique's efficiency. The effectiveness of this study technique lies in the ease with which individuals can fully concentrate for 25 minutes at a stretch, as opposed to a full hour. Moreover, the five-minute break is short enough to maintain the 'flow' state, a deep state of concentration, but long enough for the brain to rest. The Pomodoro Technique allows you to break down even complex topics into smaller, manageable parts, making it easier to start studying.

Active Recall Technique

The active recall technique may demand more effort, but it is highly rewarding in terms of learning outcomes. This study technique is based on the principle that it forces the brain to retrieve previously learned information from deep memory to the surface multiple times, creating a strong memory trace in the brain and transferring the information to long-term storage. In other words, this technique involves answering questions from memory. According to a 2013 meta-analysis by Dunlosky and others, active learning is one of the best study techniques available.

The active recall method can be used in various ways. For example, when taking notes, it's advisable to write review or application questions under important sections. When it's time to review, go through the reviewing questions to determine which ones you can answer. If a question is easy to answer, highlight it in green and review it a week later. If a question was somewhat challenging or you forgot some details, highlight it in yellow and review it after three days. If you couldn't answer a question, highlight it in red and review it the next day. This was just an example; you can adjust the intervals according to your preferences. The same model can be used with flashcards, practice tests, and images. The key is to stick to your plan and be honest with yourself, ensuring that you review the most challenging things.

The Feynman Technique

This technique is named after the famous physicist Richard Feynman and helps you learn complex concepts and subjects deeply and clearly. This technique is straightforward. First, choose the topic or subject you want to learn and go through the material.

Next, explain the topic in simple and clear terms, as if you were teaching it to someone who knows nothing about it. You can explain it to a friend, family member, or even a stuffed toy. Use simple language and avoid complex terms. This helps you understand the fundamentals of the topic and, at the same time, identifies areas you can't explain in your own words. After explaining the topic in a simple manner, move on to the third step, which is revisiting what you could and couldn't explain. This way, you'll identify gaps in your knowledge and weak points.

Finally, once you've identified gaps in your knowledge and weak points, go back to your source, such as a textbook or lecture, and study it again. Pay special attention to the challenging parts that you noticed during your explanation and seek additional information as needed. Afterward, return to the explanation phase until you are confident that you thoroughly understand the material you're learning.

However, fine-tuning study techniques alone is not enough to enhance your studies. Other factors must also be optimal for studying. The study environment and atmosphere play a significant role in how long you can maintain your focus while studying. It's advisable to choose a quiet and comfortable place for studying at home, and if such a place isn't available at home, heading to a local library is a good alternative. Listening to music can also help with concentration, but it should be done sparingly and thoughtfully so that it doesn't distract from studying. This, too, depends on personal preference. It's also important to ensure that hunger doesn't interrupt your studies, so have some snacks ready to maintain a stable blood sugar level. Keeping blood sugar levels steady helps sustain your focus.

The study techniques listed above may seem like small things, but using them can make your learning more efficient. This means you'll have more time for other activities, and, at the same time, your studies will be more successful than ever. These study techniques can be combined, customized, and made enjoyable and unique to you, making it more likely for them to become a part of your routine. Wishing success to all in their studies!

-Aayush Khadka