TOP 5 Most Effective Study Methods. Study Techniques Backed By Science!

I get it, you are sitting down for your 4th exam in a week. You sit there staring, reading notes but just feel like you are not absorbing any of the information you should be absorbing. Now you are stuck and just feeling unmotivated not wanting to study because you feel ineffective,"How can I study better?" you ask yourself. Let me tell you.

In this article, we will explore the top 5 study methods that will revolutionize your learning experience and help you excel as a student. These techniques, carefully studied and tested by leading learning scientists, are guaranteed to boost your productivity, improve your memory, and make studying a breeze.

5 Of The Best Study Methods

It is important to make sure you pick the best study method that suits your needs and your skills so from the list pick one that you think will best fit your studying ability. If that doesn't work cycle through each one and see which one is the best fit for you. Fun Fact: Researchers conducted a study that found that 83.6% - 84% of students rely on rereading, a study method that proves to be ineffective. These methods that are about to be described to you have been studied and tested by the top learning scientists Alright well, let's get into it. Here I will inform you of the top 5 best study methods to incorporate into your study session to make you a better, more productive, effective and successful student.

1. The Feynman Technique: Simplify Complex Concepts with Ease

Developed by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman (so if that doesn't give it legitimacy IDK what does), the Feynman Technique is a unique approach to learning challenging topics."It is based on a simple idea: the best way to learn any topic is by teaching it to a sixth-grade child"

The Feynman Technique involves explaining complex concepts in simple terms as if teaching a 12-year-old. Try the Feynman Technique yourself and practice teaching the concept to a child and dumbing down the idea that would allow a 12-year-old to understand it. For example, banish complex jargon and use vocabulary that would resonate with a 12-year-old.

*Sidenote You don't need a real 12 year old... just pretend you are explaining it to one

Once you practice explaining the concept to a 12-year-old look back and identify the parts of the concept you couldn't explain fully or where there were blanks in your explanation. Look back at your original material such as lecture notes or a textbook and fill in the knowledge gaps on a piece of paper (use a different coloured pen so that you can literally see your knowledge grow).

Continuously explain, examine, and refine your explanation until there are no knowledge gaps and can explain the concept fully to a 12-year-old. Congratulations you learned a new concept using the Feynman Technique. Because you are able to explain the concept in simple terms you are not just repeating different vocabulary or phrases that you learned about the concept but are using your own words and thoughts to explain the concept which results in you fully understanding the concept and being able to apply the knowledge to someone else using simple language.

"Anyone can make a subject complicated but only someone who understands can make it simple"

2. The Pomodoro Technique: Conquer Distractions and Boost Focus

For those struggling with time management and distractions, the Pomodoro Technique is the ultimate solution. Invented by a university student, Francesco Cirillio, who experimented with time to try to organize his study sessions. After test trials and experimenting for a while, he found the perfect ratio. That ratio is studying for 25 minutes no distractions and a 5-minute break whatever that may be. Use a timer to adhere to the cycles properly and allow for the technique to be the most effective.

*This method divides study sessions into 25-minute intervals, followed by 5-minute breaks

The Pomodoro Technique allows you to look at time as an ally instead of the enemy. By taking control of the time you spend on studying and using it as a strategy to amplify focus you can enhance your study sessions and become more focused and productive while doing so.

The Pomodoro technique boosts your focus and productivity by limiting the amount of time you are focusing and allowing your brain to have a quick break so that it can feel restored for the next 25-minute interval. The Pomodoro Technique creates more productive students by taking advantage of time and using time management skills to only do work when you feel focused and productive.

Once you get past four intervals take a longer break such as 10 minutes so that you can continue to study for longer because after a while your brain may need a longer rest period to continue to output effective work. It helps to completely shut down distractions such as your phone and avoid checking email.

1. Set your Pomodoro (25 mins, 5 min break)
2. Work on the task til timer sounds and record the completion of Pomodoro
3. Take short break
4. After 4 Pomodori take a longer break (10-20mins)
5. Record Pomodori to stay on top of your work and break sessions and make self-notes to understand when you are most productive.
6. Experiment with different times and see when you are more productive (15 mins on 5 mins off, 30 mins on 10 mins off) whatever works best for you.

3. The Leitner System: Master Flashcard Learning Like a Pro

This method of studying is perfect for students who need to use flashcards to help them with studying. The Leitner System method is in essence just using flashcards to learn concepts but with one fun little twist. Adding some boxes!

In essence, the Leitner System is practicing flashcards how you would normally practice them but having three different boxes or places to put your cards. You will begin by placing all of the cards in box 1 this box represents the cards you don't know. Go through all the cards in box 1 and the ones that you know put into box 2. After you have some cards in boxes 1 and 2 go through box 1 again and put any cards that you know into box 2. After that go through box 2 and put all the cards you know into box 3. The trick to the Leitner System is to have all the cards in box 3 (The "I know this card for sure box"). Rinse and repeat the cycle of going through boxes 1 and 2 and sometimes going through box 3 if you get any cards wrong put them into box 1 again and repeat the process. The trick is spaced repetition to allow your brain to learn fewer cards more frequently from each box and in turn understand all the cards in the end easier.

*Organize flashcards into three boxes, each representing different levels of familiarity. As you progress, cards move to easier boxes, ensuring efficient review and long-term memory reinforcement

You can use the boxes as an interval or based on time, for example going through box 1 every single flashcard run through, box 2 every 3rd run through and box 3 every 5th run through or based on time. Run through box 1 after 10 minutes box 2 after 30 minutes and box 3 every hour to make sure you understand the cards the best you can. The goal of the Leitner System is to have every card in box 3. Here is a visual representation of the Leitner system to better explain the process:

Quick Tip: Try and use the program Anki. Anki uses a similar technique of spaced repetition while ordering your flashcards virtually based on urgency. It is a really helpful app and I suggest you give it a try next time you are studying using flash cards.

4. Spaced Repetition: Optimize Memory Retention and Learning

Spaced Repetition is the 21st century's answer to cramming," This technique has gathered increasing popularity, and it’s not without reason. Spaced repetition manages to combine all the existing knowledge we have on human memory, and it uses that knowledge to create optimized algorithms for studying" (Tamm, 2023). By spacing out your learning sessions over time, you enhance knowledge retention and comprehension. This technique uses optimized algorithms based on human memory research to create effective study schedules.

Spaced Repetition is pretty much the complete opposite of cramming in all your studying the night before. Yes, I know you are going to say "I'm so busy I have to study the night before that way I remember better". You are wrong in two ways, first let me just have a peek at your tik tok hours... and second because actually spacing out your learning or memorization is a better strategy than cramming the night before, "Distributing, or spacing, practice is superior to massed practice (i.e. cramming)". It also shows that instead of just re-reading through your previous notes it is more effective to continuously test yourself, "Testing, compared to re-study, produces better learning and knowledge retention, especially if tested as retrieval format (short answer) rather than recognition format (multiple choice)" (Delaney, 2010).

The way spaced repetition works is for example, let’s say that your exam is 28 days away:

1. Session1: Study day 1
2. Session 2: Study day 7
3. Session 3: Study day 21
4. Session 4: Study day 27
5. Session 5: Exam day
6. Success!

It is important to understand how to use your study time and use it efficiently, time is your friend and not your enemy. By utilizing Spaced Repetition effectively you can study for less time and learn more. Spaced repetition is so effective because it bases its idea on the psychological theory of the spacing effect, "The spacing effect states that learning is more effective when studying is spaced out over time, as opposed to studying all at once" (Cepeda, Pashler, Vul, Wixted, & Rohrer, 2006).

So do your brain and your grades a favour and try to space out your study sessions instead of cramming it all the night before and try out the study technique of Spaced Repetition.

5. Active Recall: Test to Learn and Enhance Memory

"Not only should we learn for tests, but we should also learn by testing" (Tamm, 2023).

Active Recall is the last study method on this list of the top 5 study methods, but certainly not the least. Active Recall is the essential practice of 'testing to study' which basically means testing yourself on the information you learned and memorized already. It is quite similar to any sort of flashcard learning where you learn the flashcards but instead of just reading through, ask yourself the question and then try to actively recall the information you just learned. Active Recall also works best by testing yourself in any sort of method, such as online quizzes, having friends test you on your knowledge, and through test reviews.

This method is proven to help you memorize, retain, recall, retrieve, and learn content more effectively. A study was shown to prove that conducting just one practice test before the actual test resulted in students getting 17% better right after.

If you are studying for an exam, there is no better method than Active Recall. Since you are essentially testing yourself on the content you are learning multiple times you can see great improvements in your content recall. Especially if you practice active recall and spaced repetition at the same time you will see major improvements in your grades and as a result will be a better and more effective studier and student overall.

However, Active Recall takes a massive amount of mental strength, durability, and focus. Therefore, when you begin one of your Active Recall sessions crack open a Boost Coffee which contains proven supplements to support brain function, cognitive strength, and focus. Combine the two and you will become an unmatched and unrivalled student with only the best resources to help you succeed.

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing this journey through the top 5 best study methods! By incorporating these techniques into your study routine, you're taking a proactive step toward becoming a more successful and productive student.

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