Study tips

Ten ways to study.

• TIP-1: EFFECTIVE. Practice testing: self-testing or taking practice tests on to-be-learned material.
• TIP-2: EFFECTIVE. Distributed practice: implementing a schedule of practice that spreads out study activities over time.
• TIP-3: PROMISING. Interleaved practice: implementing a schedule of practice that mixes different kinds of problems, or a schedule of study that mixes different kinds of material, within a single study session.
• TIP-4: PROMISING. Elaborative interrogation: generating an explanation for why an explicitly stated fact or concept is true.
• TIP-5: PROMISING. Self-explanation: explaining how new information is related to known information, or explaining steps taken during problem solving.
• TIP-6: INEFFICIENT. Rereading: restudying text material again after an initial reading.
• TIP-7: INEFFICIENT. Highlighting and underlining: marking potentially important portions of to-be-learned materials while reading.
• TIP-8: INEFFICIENT. Summarization: writing summaries (of various lengths) of to-be-learned texts.
• TIP-9: INEFFICIENT. Keyword mnemonic: using keywords and mental imagery to associate verbal materials.
• TIP-10: INEFFICIENT. Imagery for text: attempting to form mental images of text materials while reading or listening.

From: Strengthening the Student Toolbox, John Dunlosky

Six strategies for effective learning.

• TIP-1: Space out studying over time.
• TIP-2: Practice bringing information to mind.
• TIP-3: Explain and describe ideas with many details.
• TIP-4: Switch between ideas while you study.
• TIP-5: Use specific example to understand abstract ideas.
• TIP-6: Combine words and visuals.

From: Six Strategies for Effective Learning