This was originally for an article writing assignment, but I thought “why not write something I can also post on my blog?” so here are three study methods that I haven’t seen a lot of in the studyblr community but are definitely worth mentioning.
The Leitner System
Flash cards have remained one of the
most popular ways to study. Some people use them to memorize vocabulary,
remember answers to specific questions, or even associate dates with events.
Although the use of flash cards is convenient, their effectiveness has been
reduced due to most people’s habits of prioritizing each card equally and
therefore spending too much time memorizing the information on them.
The Leitner System, created by a German
popularizer of science named Sebastian Leitner, is a more efficient method of
studying that implements the concept of spaced repetition. All the cards start
off in one pile. You would first scan through these cards, then test yourself.
Each card you answer correctly goes to a second pile, while those you answer
incorrectly should be revised then placed at the bottom of the pile. When you
review the cards in the second pile and get them correct, they will be promoted
to a third pile. An incorrect card will always get demoted to the first pile,
even if they had previously been promoted to the last pile.
The reason why this method is so
effective is that you end up reviewing the first pile of cards more frequently—the
cards you don’t know very well. Some people choose to review their Stack 1
cards every day, Stack 2 cards every other day, Stack 3 cards once every three
days, and so on.
Once all your cards have been promoted
to the highest box, study them thoroughly and then start over. The continuous
revision trains your speed so that you may reach fluency, which allows you to
recall the information faster.
Timed Memorization
The name tells it all: you memorize a
certain text within a time limit, normally around five to ten minutes depending
on your fluency and memorization abilities. When the timer starts, you begin
memorizing. When time is up, you flip to the next page, even if you haven’t
finished the previous page yet. Continue until you’ve gone through all your
material.
Timed
memorization helps you to discipline yourself because your brain thinks
that there’s no time for messing around; you have to do this here and now. Make
sure to repeat the things you missed and revise everything frequently. This
method is actually one of the most effective for cramming as it gives a better
coverage than if you spend a whole half hour memorizing one subtopic.
The Memory Palace or Mind Palace
Sound
familiar? In BBC’s Sherlock, the ‘highly functioning sociopath’ uses this
method to remember vital information and facts. A mind palace is a systematic
arrangement of information, each detail corresponding to a specific object in a
familiar place. To ensure that you really remember everything, the objects have
to appear shocking and conspicuous.
Here’s an
example: if I wanted to memorize “crimson, 11, delight, petrichor (the smell
after rain)”, aside from imagining Amy Pond or the Doctor saying it, I would
first choose a place, let’s say my school. I’d imagine myself walking up to the
front gate and seeing that the entire building has been painted the color of
blood—crimson. The building would then rise as though it were lifted from the
earth and crumble into rubble, controlled by Eleven, the character from
Stranger Things. Now, since I can’t really picture delight specifically, I’d
probably end up visualizing a colossal sign that simply reads “delight” posted
in front of my school. As for petrichor, I’d imagine curves rising out of the
puddles on the asphalt after a rainy night, a visual representation of the
smell of the rain. Of course, these visualizations have been created to suit my
memory. (I wouldn’t know if you watched Stranger Things.)
I used this
method when memorizing case studies for geography, although I chose to
visualize fictional places from television series and cartoons. Some people do
opt to create artificial places, but these often become blurry and are easily
forgotten.
As with any
study method, repetition is vital to storing the information in your long-term
memory. Visit your “palace” as often as you can. Soon enough, you’ll remember
the data as well as you remember the place associated with the data.
So there you have it, three lesser known methods of studying that have proven to be immensely efficient. Now, there is no “correct” way to study, but there are methods that can ease your learning process.
take time to figure it out 