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Forgive me whilst I spout off for a moment...

By DenverWW

Niece-y.

Okay, okay, okay. Here's the situation. I know you're ready and anxiously awaiting the start of your next chapter. BUT, before you pack up, put your energy, confidence and inspiration into that magic box to carry along with you, and head off into the wide open spaces of University, just give me a moment. Let me spout off, aka share, some revelations from my class about learning this semester. 

Everything your teachers told you about how to study and succeed MAY have been wrong.

No joke, it's true.

All the note-taking, all the highlighting and re-reading and memorization may only be making you feel like you know what you're studying and therefore, what you're talking about. Scary, right? I did a double take this semester in my program, too. Why? Because I have always done all of those things throughout my years in school and so far, I have been quite successful. So, I'm not necessarily telling you to stop doing those things, but I may be able to give you a few tips to save some time and help your learning last longer.

INTERLEAVING

Strange word that really means mixing things up. When you're learning don't lump all of your learning about one topic into one time and place before moving onto the next thing. Studying various topics or subjects at the same time helps us remember things better. It makes our brains work harder to make sense of the information and sort of helps us to compartmentalize the learning. So, mix it up. There's research.

SPACING

While you're mixing it up, take breaks and even make sure you sleep. Cramming before an exam - though it may make you feel like you're accomplishing a lot over a short period of time - doesn't work as well as we hope. Spreading the learning in smaller chunks along the way actually helps us retain the information for longer. And, when we learn then sleep. Voila! We keep the learning longer. Again, actual research. Look it up. 

QUIZZING

Forcing yourself to ask questions about your content that might help make connections to what you already know or other learning, or recall information about a topic really helps your brain cement the learning. Jot some questions down while you're studying that will help jar your memory. It works. Also, research.

I'm so proud of what you're about to go out into the world to do. I'm excited (even though your parents might not be, or can't really articulate right now) about what you will learn about yourself and others and about things and our world when you get to University. And hopefully, since you let me spout off (see above info), you'll be able to draw from your learning for far longer than your quickly aging auntie.


Go get 'em!

Write often.

love-love.


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