Learning How To Learn In 4 Powerful Steps
getty Learning how to learn can make a huge difference in how you approach education and retain information.
Have you ever noticed that some students seem to zone out in class and do just fine, while others have to fight to pass?
What about those students who seem to study in small increments and pass with flying colors, versus the students who study for hours and still fail?
Everyone assumes that the students in the former category were just smarter. But, that probably isn't true.
They just unknowingly worked with their brain instead of against it, which maximized their academic performance.
How do they do it? Can learning how to learn makes a difference when it comes to retention, accessing information, and yes, test scores, too?
Yes!
Here are 4 things you need to consider when learning how to learn best, for all academic genres and ages.
1. Time.
Study in 45-minute to hour-and-a-half blocks per subject. After that, take a break.
If you are to continue studying, change to a different subject.
2. Rhythm.
Do your best to get a rhythm of when to study.
Some people are better in the afternoon or evening. Other people prefer mornings.
Do your best to be consistent.
3. Use the "Learning State."
When in class, use the Learning State: The eyes up, zone out, peripheral vision technique.
Take notes. Make sure to write down any views the professor had or added to the material.
Use the Learning State before you pick up the pen or pencil for the exam, and stay in it for the whole exam.
At home, while in the Learning State, rewrite the key points from each class as bullet points with one or two sub-points. Do this daily.
The brain can only hold approximately seven things. If you focus on the big points, your brain will bring the smaller points along for the ride.
While studying in the Learning State, review your bullet-point lists and use the following brain pattern.
Hold your paper up high, so you have to look up! Read the bullet points out loud. Immediately drop your eyes and feel what the right answer feels like.
This gives multichannel access to all the information.
4. Body positions.
Avoid lying on your stomach at all costs! This puts the information in your kinesthetic channels, which are associated with access difficulties and learning disabilities.
Sit up or lie or your back to study, read, or review.
These may sound like incredibly simple techniques — and they are! They are also very powerful.
Anything that is truly viable must also be simple to use. Play with these and make the best of your learning skills!
Dr. Kim Redman is Canada’s Board Designated Master Trainer (training trainers and opening institutes) in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Hypnosis, Time Line Therapy®, and NLP Results Coaching. Pouring 30+ years as a Mystery School and Ancient Wisdoms initiate through the lens of quantum physics, psycho-neurobiology, quantum mechanical biology… and delivering with her dynamic onstage presence; fun, energy, and education converge for excellence.