Dear First Year Student: Learn to learn

Learning is an exciting, longitudinal nerve-wracking experience. The latter is simply because we often don’t know how to approach this task. However, these are suggestions for better understanding what works best for you.

Take Notes

Some students prefer to rewrite notes from lecture slides. Don’t let this be a passive process. The process should involve rephrasing complex terms to simpler ones to assist one’s understanding. It’s not just about the notes; it is about the process of exposing yourself to the material repeatedly until it becomes a pattern registered in your mind. 

Practice Active Recall

Rereading material repeatedly is not the most productive way to learn. You may not even be solidifying connections; you are simply memorizing! Instead, practice active recall using flashcards or Anki- a smart flashcard tool that teaches you to practice active recall. Click here to learn more. 

Test yourself

Look for past assessments online or make your own to practice with! Testing yourself is the best way to know whether you understand something. When knowledge gaps are identified, you may go in and fill them with more practice; however, to detect the gaps, you must test yourself. 

Teach someone

If you are a master of your craft, you should be able to explain it to someone 5 years old. This means that you should be able to explain the material so simply and primitively that even a 5-year-old can understand. That’s when you know you really have a grasp of your stuff. There is no need to go looking for a 5-year-old; simply ask a parent, sibling, or friend for a few minutes of their time while you explain your concepts to them, and you will be strengthening your learning!

Do it every day

Persistence is the name of the game. The more you familiarize yourself with the material, the more comfortable you will become over time. Expose yourself to it again and again and especially after finishing a lecture on it. See what you learned and what the professor was trying to convey, have you got the message, is it clear? If not, go to the next step. 

Ask questions

Learning is enhanced when you ask questions. No question asked is ever time wasted. Please clarify your understanding, ask the question and see where it takes you, it will definitely help!

Podcast

I made a podcast on how to learn. I walk you through an Animal Physiology lecture and break down the process step by step through the use of etymology.

Click here to listen to it.