7 EFFECTIVE WAYS TO REMEMBER THE LEARNT CONCEPTS AND TECHNIQUES FOR A LONGER TIME

 Whoops!!! I forgot it again. 

I am not able to recollect what I studied?

I am totally lost. 

I am blank and so on …

These are the common words that we normally hear from the students in day to day life. 

Remembering a concept and the techniques learnt in the classroom is a major challenge faced by learners.This happens because  a learner is surrounded by so many distractions that he hardly gets time to pay proper attention towards the studies and exams. These distractions pull the learner away from the charm of learning thereby creating zero interest for the learner in whatever thing they study.

MAJOR SOURCES OF DISTRACTIONS FOR A LEARNER:

1. PEER GROUPS: Bad friend circle pulls us away from accomplishing our dreams. It makes us fall prey to all bad habits, thereby distracting us from studies.

2. SOCIAL NETWORKING: Social Networking is the biggest attraction for youths. It kills away most of the time where students can actually do some productive things.

3. LACK OF INTEREST: Lack of interest for a specific subject or specific topic leads to zero concentration and attention on the topic being taught, thereby creating distraction for a learner.

4. MOOD SWINGS: Learners in the Adolescent and Adults stage goes through severe Mood swings, wherein it keeps the learner distracted from their goals and they tend to procrastinate the priorities.

5. LOVE AFFAIRS: Falling in Love is common in youth, which massively affects the mental stability of a learner towards the achievement of their goals thereby creating distraction for the learner.

These are the major distractions which come along the way of a learner that reduces or diverts a learner from his or her actual academic goal.

Here is the list of 7 Best Effective ways to remember the learnt concepts and techniques better for a longer time:

1. 3 - STEP READING:

The very first step in remembering a concept better is to read the passage or content 3 times. 

READ: First, you read it to get accustomed to the new words and the sentences given.

UNDERSTAND: Second, you read it slowly and steadily line after line and try to sync with the hidden meaning of those lines thereby understanding the passage easily. 

APPLICATION: Third, and the last step is after having understood the passage or paragraph, try applying the concept learnt in day to day life. That is Application of the concept learnt. For Eg: If you have read about Germination of Seeds, then in order to remember the concept better try to do it practically and observe the different changes in the seed and the different parts that appear from sowing in the soil till the germination of the same.

2. PREPARE CONCEPT MAP OF ENTIRE CHAPTER OR TOPIC:

After reading the chapter using the 3 - Step Reading method, try to prepare the concept map of that chapter in detail as to what are the different topics and sub- topics that the chapter will deal with. This will ensure that you get clarity about the chapter and the different topics discussed in there with its depth.

3. AVOID ROTE LEARNING: 

If you want to remember a certain topic perfectly, then the best key is to avoid rote learning. Rote learning allows the learner to remember the concept only for a specific amount of time, that is for a shorter duration of time but not for a longer duration wherein you can recollect it anytime and anywhere.

4. SIMPLIFY A TOPIC BY FLOW CHART OR DIAGRAM:

One can easily remember a concept better if you simplify it more by creating a diagrammatic representation or a flow chart to show the sequence of the process. By doing this it ensures better understanding and quick revision too as and when needed.

5. PREPARE SMALL CHITS OR WRITE ON POST - IT NOTE PADS:

There are certain topics that are quite volatile and we tend to forget even after practicing for several times. Specially the Diagrams, The Cycles, The Mathematical Formulas, The Historical dates and events etc. In order to remember this with perfection, try to write or draw on normal size Post-It pads and stick it in your room,especially at the place where you spend your maximum time. For Eg: If you tend to spend your maximum time in front of a mirror, stick it there so that everytime you come across your mirror, you can see the pasted notes and recollect the topic much better.

6. MAKE QUICK  NOTES BY USING DIFFERENT COLOUR PENS:

Colour adds value to the notes that you make and ignites a positive spirit in a learner to learn with full energy, ignoring boredom if any for that specific topic. Colourful notes bring in better clarity and interest in a learner thereby helping to understand the topic better. 

7. OBSERVE THE SURROUNDING KEENLY AND CORRELATE:

Every person born on the earth is a leaner till the last breath. But the one who observes the surrounding well and correlates it with the content learnt, will retain that knowledge with better understanding and never forget the concepts learnt Generate a habit of observing the things around you keenly and increase the retention power.

Tips and Tricks are many but all that matters for the learner is that you give 100 percent in everything that you do and you will definitely come out with flying colours. The lesser the distraction,the more the concentration and better the learning.

 

HAPPY LEARNING!!!

By Shobha Joy Gaddam

(Academician & Educator)