If you are a student who struggles with remembering what you study, don’t lose hope; almost all of us are in the same boat! There are times when you study hard, but you don’t remember a thing the following day. This problem is not permanent, and one can overcome it effortlessly by staying determined and persevering.
So, are you someone looking for ways and strategies to overcome this “learning but forgetting’ problem? Don’t worry. As always, we are here to the rescue! Below, we will share the top 5 strategies from experts to never forget what you learn. These strategies will also help you do well in your academics and achieve excellent and high grades.
But first, let’s go through a few reasons why it is challenging for students to remember what they learn. Now, without making you wait any further, let’s dive right in!
Hermann Ebbinghaus, a famous psychologist of the late 1880s, came up with the concept of “the forgetting curve.” This concept includes the measurement of how much people tend to forget. Ebbinghaus discovered that students forget 56% of what they learn within an hour, 66% in one day, and 75% in 7 days.
This forgetting scenario happens because the human brain is bound to forget things when they are not memorized the right way. The human brain will automatically discard information that is not important for survival. After all, it is a brain, not a computer. Therefore, following effective learning and teaching strategies is crucial for students and teachers.
Now you get why you don’t remember things after you learn? Because you don’t do it the right way. Let’s move to the techniques and strategies for learning things more effectively!
As promised, below are five strategies and techniques that will help you never to forget what you learn. Read on!
The Seinfeld technique is one of the most simple and effective learning strategies, specially introduced for beginners. The main purpose of this technique is to end procrastination and focus on your targets and goals. In this technique, you need to assign a new task to yourself every day and then complete that task. The task can be a topic, a whole chapter, a quiz, or anything related to your academics.
You can start by making a to-do calendar with all your tasks and targets for one week. Once you complete one task, just mark it off the list. The core concept of this technique is to repeat the same cycle every day and never break the chain. Once your mind is familiar with the chain, it will get used to it, and whatever topic you learn will remain registered in your memory like it was always there.
If you are looking for a strategy that increases your productivity and memorizing skills, then the Promodoro technique is the best option. This technique was initially designed for working professionals, but now, it is widely recommended for students too. In fact, it can benefit the students a lot.
The concept of this technique is to break down a task, topic, or chapter into smaller and manageable segments. After that, you need to allocate different time slots to each segment. For example, study one segment for 30 minutes, give yourself a 15 minutes break and then move on to the next segment for another 30 minutes. This way, you won’t have to memorize and study the whole thing in one go and you will be able to take breaks in between. Also, smaller segments of information are easier to remember.
The biggest mistake students make while studying is to just read through the text, and not understand it. Yes, we know that focusing and understanding are not a piece of cake. But, that is where making Mind-Maps help. You need to draw and visualize mind-maps while you are learning any topic. You can do this by writing down the main concept first and then drawing interrelated links between them underneath.
Note down all the main examples, definitions, processes, and applications of the main concept in a concise form. You can also draw diagrams and images in your mind-map to remember everything about the concept. The Mind-Map method helps to memorize any topic or concept faster, and it also acts as the most effective and quick revision tool.
Here is an example of a mind map to give you an idea:
Next, we have another amazing and unique memorizing strategy; the 1 - 3 - 5 technique. According to this technique, you need to create a list of all the topics and concepts you need to work on. Then, pick one large or complex topic, 3 medium topics, and 5 super easy and small topics. After selecting, put those 1 - 3 - 5 topics in a group and plan to study them in one day. Then, do the same thing for day 2, day 3, and so on.
Study the big and complex topics first, then go for the medium ones, and then the smaller ones. This way, you won’t overburden yourself in one day. And honestly, learning 3 complex topics in one day is not humanly possible. This technique is for students who have exams approaching soon and need to study their topics fast.
Last but not the least, always make sure to clear all your doubts, confusions, and questions you have in mind. Some students are too shy to ask questions or they simply don’t bother asking their teachers or tutors for help. This is where they go wrong. No matter how hard you study and what techniques you use, you won’t be able to learn and memorize a thing until your concepts are not clear.
Therefore, always make sure to stay attentive in class, ask as many questions as possible, and clear away all your doubts about a topic. If you are unable to ask your teacher, a simple Google research about the specific topic would help clear your concepts too.
We have mentioned the 5 strategies to never forget what you learn above for students. However, if you are a teacher looking for some teaching tips to make your students memorize the concepts, we have something for you too. Here are a few easy peasy tips:
Nothing is impossible in this world; not even remembering your lessons. All you need to do is a little bit of hard work and dedication. We have mentioned 5 strategies to never forget what you learn for students, and 5 teaching techniques for teachers and tutors as well.
Just follow any of these strategies you find suitable and make your learning process more effective and efficient. If you still find difficulties in learning and remembering, you can always request a professional and private tutor from our website.
Our highly experienced and qualified tutors will teach you amazing strategies and techniques. So, what are you waiting for? Your professional tutor is just a click away!
