Learning How to Learn: Learning Science and Study Skills
Read Time: 6 minutes
Author: Lorin Harris
Introduction
College is the perfect place to begin to understand who you are as a student--how you learn, your style of working, communication, peer connections and more. Once you step foot on campus, you may find that the student you were in high school and the styles it took for you to earn the good (or poor) grades might not be well-suited for what you face in college. A common phenomenon that I have found is that many driven and motivated students see an incongruence of how they have always managed studying and learning when they begin taking college courses--it just might not work as well as it always has. College is all about adjustment, and that is no different when it comes to study skills and learning science.
What is Learning Science?
To define it simply, learning science is a sub-field of study that aims to understand the ways in which we successfully learn, teach and understand material. Even things that feel like they’re common sense, like studying, have critical cognitive pieces that make drastic differences in our levels of understanding and academic success. Any kind of science narrows in on the study of how something works fundamentally, and its applications in everyday life. Learning science is a powerful tool to dabble in, especially as a college student, because recognizing what patterns of learning work for you cuts down time spent on trial and error for classes, projects and exams. Understanding what kind of student you are and what works for you allows you to neatly fit studying and academic activities into your schedule so that more time can be spent enjoying college, taking care of yourself, socializing and participating in extracurricular activities. Learning science allows you to realize you don’t need to lock yourself away in the library every day to do well in school--it’s all about balance! Here are some books that not only detail this even further, but are enjoyable and stimulating to read in your free time:
Helpful Reading Materials
“How Humans Learn,” by Joshua R. Eyler explores the science and psychology behind effective learning strategies. Through engaging storytelling and research-based insights, Eyler explains the complexities of the learning process, offering practical advice and tools for educators and learners alike. The book challenges traditional notions of learning and offers a fresh perspective on how we can optimize our learning experiences both in school and in life.
“Uncommon Sense Teaching,” by Oakley, Rogowsky and Sejnowski is a book that shares practical tips and insights on how to teach in a way that goes beyond the norm. It's all about thinking outside the box and finding creative ways to engage students. This book offers fresh perspectives and strategies to make teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and learners.
“How We Learn” by Stanislas Dehaene is a book that explores the fascinating process of learning. It's all about understanding how our brains soak up new information and skills. This book is packed with interesting insights and tips to help you learn more effectively. Whether you're a student or a lifelong learner, "How We Learn" offers practical advice to optimize your learning experience. It makes neuroscience more palpable for a college audience and even beyond that.
“Powerful Teaching: Unleash Science Learning" by Agarwal and Bain is a book that explores effective teaching strategies to enhance science learning in the classroom. It delves into research-backed methods and practical approaches that educators can use to engage students, promote critical thinking, and foster a deeper understanding of scientific concepts. The book emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive learning environment and provides valuable insights for educators looking to make their teaching more impactful and engaging.
"How Learning Works: 7 Powerful Teaching Strategies" provides practical and evidence-based techniques for educators to enhance student learning outcomes in the classroom. This book offers valuable insights into effective teaching methods based on the science of learning.
Study Skills
Reading and researching about learning science provides a great foundation for understanding not only material, but how your study habits affect your performance. By having that background of understanding how our brains work and where the biggest chances of success are, it’s subsequently easier to manage how we best learn and capitalize on that. It may be common sense that studying includes reading or reviewing notes, but there are many misconceptions about cramming material and long-term learning. Learning to study is using Psychology to maximize our cognitive abilities, and like a sport or hobby, it’s something you can get better at. Here are some tips for studying that come straight from learning science:
1. Concept Map from Memory
Concept mapping is the idea of rewriting notes and reorganizing material into ways that are easy to understand (like drawing, listing, quizzing, etc) from memory alone. Simply copying down concepts from notes with exact definitions won’t build strong memory, but mapping out concepts from understanding and memory alone is an effective method of “self-quizzing” that allows you to explain yourself and what you understand. It is also a great way to highlight what you might not understand, as if you are trying to map out a concept and you can’t write anything about it or explain how it works, it’s a nudge to review (Stringer, 2019).
2. Chunking Study Time
Many people think if they study all day before a test, they’ll be well prepared. However, consecutive time spent does not always equal the best recall. There has been a plethora of research done on chunking study time--chunking is breaking something up into small groups or patterns that are easy to understand. For example, memorizing a phone number would be done by chunking and learning a few numbers in a cluster together. In studying, chunking would be taking a short amount of time on a cluster of information with breaks inbetween. Studying in shorter blocks with breaks between sessions is better than cramming, as taking “brain breaks” allows time for your brain to process information and reduce exhaustion.
3. Utilize active recall
Active recall is the process of actively stimulating your brain for information and understanding--it differs from recognition, which doesn’t get to the deeper understanding of a concept and can lead to a false and more shallow sense of knowledge and memory. Instead of truly knowing the information on a given topic, we just recognize it, which is where students fall short in application questions which are prevalent on college exams. For example, you may recognize that Darwin studied natural selection from your notes, but when the exam asks you “If Darwin was studying this group of birds, which bird beak is best suited to the environment with chances of survival to pass the gene on to offspring?” You may realize that you only recognize that natural selection is associated with Darwin and it has something to do with the question--but the deeper understanding isn't there. In active recall, you quiz yourself with more open-ended questions to force your brain to come up with what it knows from scratch--asking “What function does the Hypothalamus serve?” or “Why was the battle of Midway significant?” allows the brain to practice retrieval that ingrains deeper memory and learning of the topic itself, not just recognizing it and reviewing it passively. How much and how often you “test yourself” using this technique has proven, cognitively, to be some of the most effective methods of truly retaining information and being able to apply it. (Brainscape Academy, N.D.)
Closing Thoughts
Much learning can be done outside of the classroom in college--we often don’t consider learning how we learn, but this has a large benefit for students and beyond. Getting down ideas about learning science and study skills act as foundations for academic success in the future, and it just makes life easier as a student. These things constantly change and adapt, especially with each new semester and class, so it’s important to stay proactive and adjust when needed. Squeeze every cent out of your education and capitalize on all things academic!
References
Stringer, H. (2020). Six research-tested ways to study better. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psychology-teacher-network/introductory-psychology/study-better
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