To retain what you learn over time, you need more than just studying for tests. Many aspects, such as your interest, focus, practice, organization, and evaluation, influence your retention.
In this article, I’ll share some useful advice and interesting perspectives for improving your retention patterns in studying and show you how to measure your current retention level, recognize your advantages and disadvantages, and use some scientific methods to improve your memory and learning.
How to Identify Your Retention Patterns
The first step to improving your retention is to know where you stand. How well do you retain what you study? How do you know? What are the factors that influence your retention?
One way to assess your retention level is to test yourself on the material you have learned. You can use self-testing methods, such as flashcards, quizzes, or practice questions. You can also use recall exercises, such as summarizing, explaining, or teaching the material to someone else. Another option is to use spaced repetition software, such as Anki or Quizlet, which helps you review the material at ideal intervals based on your performance.
When you test yourself, be honest and realistic about your results. Don’t rely on your subjective feeling of familiarity or confidence. Use objective measures, such as accuracy, speed, and completeness. Compare your results with the expected outcomes, such as the learning objectives, the criteria, or the feedback.
As you test yourself, you may notice some patterns in your retention. For example, you may find that you forget quickly, or that you retain only superficial information, or that you remember well but not apply. These patterns may indicate some strengths and weaknesses in your retention, as well as some possible causes behind them.
For instance, if you forget quickly, it may be because you don’t review the material enough, or because you don’t pay attention to the key points, or because you don’t connect the material to your prior knowledge. If you retain only superficial information, it may be because you don’t process the material deeply, or because you don’t use different modes of learning, or because you don’t relate the material to your own experience and interests. If you remember well but not apply, it may be because you don’t test yourself on different types of questions, or because you don’t transfer the material to new situations and problems, or because you don’t reflect on your learning process and outcomes.
How to Improve Your Retention Patterns
Once you have identified your retention patterns, the next step is to improve them. How can you enhance your memory and learning? What are some effective strategies to boost your retention?
There are many strategies that can help you improve your retention, based on the scientific research and the best practices in the field of learning. In this article, we will introduce some of the most useful and proven strategies, and organize them into three categories: before, during, and after studying. For each category, we will explain the rationale and benefits of each strategy, and provide some concrete examples and tips for implementation.
- Before Studying
Before you start studying, there are some things you can do to prepare yourself and set the stage for effective learning. These include:
– Set a small and specific goal for each study session. For example, instead of saying “I will study math today”, say “I will solve 10 problems on quadratic equations today”. This will help you focus on the most important and relevant material, and motivate you to achieve your goal.
– Review the previous material and preview the new material. For example, before you read a new chapter in your textbook, skim through the previous chapter and the summary of the new chapter. This will help you activate your prior knowledge, fill in the gaps, and anticipate the main ideas and questions.
– Plan your study time and environment to minimize distractions and maximize focus. For example, choose a quiet and comfortable place to study, turn off your phone and other notifications, and set a timer for 25 minutes of uninterrupted study followed by a 5-minute break. This will help you avoid procrastination, maintain your attention, and enhance your concentration.
- During Studying
During your study session, there are some things you can do to process and encode the material in your memory. These include:
– Break down the material into small and manageable chunks. For example, instead of trying to memorize a long list of facts or terms, group them into categories or patterns, and use mnemonics or acronyms to remember them. This will help you reduce your cognitive load, increase your retention, and improve your recall .
– Focus on one chunk at a time and repeat it until it becomes automatic. For example, instead of switching between different topics or subjects, stick to one topic or subject until you master it, and review it several times with increasing intervals. This will help you consolidate your memory, strengthen your neural connections, and prevent forgetting.
– Use different modes and methods of learning, such as reading, writing, listening, speaking, and visualizing. For example, instead of just reading your notes or textbook, write summaries or outlines, listen to podcasts or lectures, explain the material to a friend or a recording, and draw diagrams or charts. This will help you engage multiple senses, activate different brain regions, and encode the material in various ways.
– Relate the material to your own experience and interests. For example, instead of just memorizing facts or formulas, think of examples or applications that are relevant to your life or goals, and make connections between the material and your existing knowledge or beliefs. This will help you personalize your learning, increase your interest and motivation, and enhance your understanding and retention.
– Ask questions and seek feedback from others. For example, instead of just accepting the material as given, challenge yourself to ask questions that test your comprehension, analysis, and evaluation, and seek feedback from your teachers, peers, or online sources. This will help you clarify your doubts, correct your errors, and deepen your learning.
- After Studying
After you finish studying, there are some things you can do to review and apply the material in your memory. These include:
– Summarize and review what you have learned. For example, after you complete a study session, write a brief summary of the main points and key concepts, and review it later in the day or the next day. This will help you consolidate your memory, reinforce your learning, and enhance your recall.
– Test yourself on the material and check your answers. For example, after you review the material, quiz yourself on the most important and difficult aspects, and check your answers against the correct ones. This will help you assess your retention, identify your gaps, and improve your performance.
– Space out your review sessions over time. For example, instead of cramming all your review in one day or week, spread it out over several days or weeks, and increase the intervals between each review. This will help you optimize your memory, prevent forgetting, and enhance your retention.
– Apply what you have learned to new situations and problems. For example, instead of just repeating what you have learned, use it to solve new or different types of questions, or to create something new or useful. This will help you transfer your learning, generalize your knowledge, and deepen your understanding.
– Reflect on your learning process and outcomes. For example, after you apply what you have learned, think about what worked and what didn’t, what you learned and what you still need to learn, and how you can improve your learning in the future. This will help you monitor your progress, adjust your strategies, and enhance your learning.
