Study Less, Study Smart

Study Less, Study Smart #

Prof. Marty Lobdell

A youtube video showing an efficient way how to study by Marty Lobdell.

Below are the combined key notes taken by Daniel Vecera and Pratik Nagelia:

  1. Break your study time into 25-30 minute pieces. Then take a break for 5 mins and then get back to study.

  2. Have a study area. Always use the study area. No Netflix and Instagram allowed in this area. Don’t have an extra desk? Buy a special light to use only when you study.

  3. Understand concepts: What am I learning : fact or concept ? Grasp the concept so you can derive. Imagine the real-life use and connect the concepts to your past knowledge. Break meaningless things into meaningful parts. You understand something when you can tell it in your own words.

  4. If 3 is not applicable and you need to memorize some lists, use one of these: Association, Mnemonics, Acronyms, Coined Saying, Interacting Image in your head. Expand your notes after class : Give it depth.

  5. Recognition is much easier than Recollection: If you read your notes for the second time, you will feel like you know all of this stuff. But to check this, think about the concept you read 3 pages before and try to explain it. This proves to be much harder.

  6. Recapitulate your learning : Go teach someone else, it reinforces your learning. Active recitation. If you have nobody at hand, talk to a chair.

  7. Get as much as sleep as possible. Sleeping is the time you really learn. (Studying 12 hours and sleeping 4 is worse than studying 8 hours and sleeping 8.)

  8. After each class, give depth to your notes before your short-term memory gets erased.

  9. SQ3R : Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review. While starting, survey the chapter and ask questions.

  10. Memorization : 1) Mnemonics 2) Coined sayings 3) Interacting Images (Use visualisations)