4 learning techniques to succeed in your course
Even though it’s a little sad to admit, back to school is definitely here! Time to put away your sunscreen and swimsuit and get out your pencil case and planner. This year, it’s decided, you’re going to do everything you can to completeyour high school coursesand get your high school diploma. Congratulations on deciding to change your destiny!
At ChallengeU, we know that going back to school can sometimes be intimidating. To help you out, we’ve put together 4 study techniques to help you learn, memorize, and succeed in your course.
Learning technique 1 – The Pomodoro Technique
PO-MO-DO what ?
This time management method, developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s, allows you to increase your concentration for a limited period and thus improve your productivity. Do you struggle to stay focused without getting distracted or to work for long hours? The Pomodoro Technique is for you!
To apply it, follow these 5 simple steps:
- Decide on the task you want to complete and write it down on a piece of paper. For example: finish chapter 2 of my course (P.S.: you are advised to set SMART goals).
- Set an alarm for 25 minutes on your cell phone or an online timer.
- Complete this task for 25 minutes until your alarm goes off. Important: You must work for 25 minutes without any distractions. We suggest putting your phone on silent and placing it out of your reach. Remember to write down or check off the completed task.
- Take a (well-deserved) 5-minute break. Use this time to stretch your legs, get yourself a refill of coffee, or pet your dog.
- Repeat the same sequence 4 times. The only difference is that after your fourth study session y, you can take a longer break of 20 to 30 minutes!
If you would like to learn more about the Pomodoro Technique, you can consult the website of its inventor(pretty much the best person to explain everything to you ); however, the site is in English.
There are even online tools to make it even easier for you:P omodoro Tracker!
Learning Technique 2 – Mind Mapping
Invented in 1971 by Tony BuzanAccording to an English psychologist, mind mapping (also called concept mapping, cognitive mapping, mind map, or even idea map in French) is the ultimate study method if you like visual representations!
In short, it involves creating a schematic representation of a central concept and associating all related notions with it.
And, since a picture is worth a thousand words (which is the whole principle of mind mapping), we suggest you watch this video:
A quick recap on how to create a great mind map :
- Place the central topic in the middle and symbolize it with an image or a word.
- Use keywords to summarize relevant information.n
- Arrange the secondary concepts around and connect them with lines or “branches”.
- Connect all the concepts to form a coherent whole.
- Add colors, designs, shapes: anything that can help make it attractive.
There are online tools for creating mind maps, such as the Mind Maps website. However, we strongly suggest you get a sheet of paper and your best colored pens to do it by hand. Because it’s much more fun to do, and you’ll also memorize your lesson at the same time!
If you’re looking for inspiration, go to Pinterest. There’ssomething for everyone!
Learning technique 3 – Explanation by someone else
Some more complex information can be difficult to retain. No matter how many times you read and reread the lesson, it just doesn’t sink in!
Good news, you can simply discuss it with a friend! In fact, two researchers from the University of Montreal have proven that we retain information better when we share it with someone. Basically, if you want to learn your lesson effectively, it’s advisable to discuss its concepts with another person.
By making an effort to summarize and communicate, you will rephrase the essential concepts of the course and thus internalize them. They will be more readily accessible in your memory when you need them (during the exam, for example). Furthermore, you will quickly realize your gaps in knowledge if you are unable to explain certain concepts from the course.
If you don’t have anyone in your circle willing to listen, you’ll certainly find a study partner on one of our Facebook support groups for ChallengeU students :
- Mutual support and motivation
- French Mutual Aid
- Maths Help Group
- English Mutual Aid
Learning Technique 4 – Flashcards
The good old flashcard method. And yes, even though it’s incredibly simple, there’s no better way to memorize a specific point (don’t worry, with ChallengeU youu hardly have to memorize anything!). The concept is child’s play: on the back of the card, you write one piece of information, and on the front, another piece of complementary information. This allows your brain to quickly make associations between two related concepts.
You can use it, among other things, to write: a question and its answer, a word and its translation in another language, a mathematical formula, or even key historical dates.
What’s great about this method is that you learn the first time by making the card. Even if there are numerous online tools to create your flashcardsWe recommend making them by hand to improve memorization. You can also have fun drawing them, using colors, and making them pretty to make the exercise more enjoyable! 🖍
Once you have all your flashcards, you can ask someone you know to quiz you, or even do it yourself (but be careful not to cheat!). Don’t hesitate to use both sides of the card. For example, look at the answer first and ask yourself what the question was. You’ll see, it makes all the difference!
What’s really handy about flashcards is that you can take them everywhere with you and use waiting times to study. You’ll see that they’ll keep you occupied on public transport, at the hairdresser’s, or even in the grocery store queue. So, you will study for several minutesper day without even realizing it ! If you want to go further and use your cards to their full potential, watch this explanatory video on the spaced repetition technique:
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