Better Study Habits

“Variety's the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavor”

- William Cowper (English Poet, 1731-1800)


Everyone, young and old, sometimes needs to study. It may be homework, learning a language or work rules and regulations. And most of us are doing it wrong according to the New York Times.

According to the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest, we are not limited to specific learning styles. The concepts that some are “visual learners” and others are auditory; or some are “left-brain” students while others are “right-brain” is bunk they say. Research has not found evidence of this. The same journal also claims that there is no perfect teaching style - students learn successfully from a variety of teaching styles.
Personally I disagree. I am much more perceptive of visual information than I am with audible instructions.

Another interesting claim is that it's better to study in different locations. Otherwise the information you learn becomes imprinted with the background colors, noise, lights, etc of your study area and those clues won't match the test room making the information harder to retrieve. Memory is made stronger when acquired under different backgrounds.

Another new trick - mix up your study material. The brain becomes lazy with repetition so mix English with Math or studying verbs with reading and speaking practice. "Musicians have known this for years, and their practice sessions often include a mix of scales, musical pieces and rhythmic work."

While cramming may help for a test the next day, information quickly obtained is quickly lost. For longer retention review the material an hour of study tonight, an hour on the weekend, another session a week from now, then a month out, etc. Dozens of studies have found such spacing improves later recall.

Bottom Line

It pays to learn good learning habits.