Wellness Corner 41: Cognitive Science and Studying
Hey Falcons,
As the busy months of April and May are dawning on us, I want to share a few study strategies that are supported by cognitive sciences, the scientific branch that studies the mind and all its facets, including how it absorbs information.
Spaced practice - By spacing learning out over time (for example, 1 to 2 hours every other day, or at least once per week, rather than a 12-hour cram session), you will be able to learn more and retain what you’ve learned forlonger.
Interleaving - Interleaving is a process where students mix, or interleave, multiple subjects or topics while they study in order to improve their learning. You can. choose several topics and spread them throughout your study sessions. Try to study related subjects (STEM together, and humanities together). Don’t just leave the first subject when it gets hard; rather, persist in one subject until you have a sense of accomplishment or understanding before moving on to another subject.
Elaboration - In elaboration, stuents use elements of what is to be learned and expand on them. Creating analogies, mnemonics, or even relating what you learned across classes to one another are all great examples of elaboration. Finding concrete examples to substantiate more abstract concepts can help.
Dual coding - Dual coding is the idea of using different types of stimuli (visual, verbal, tactile, auditory, etc.) to learn more effectively and increase recall value. Use a variety of study strategies, like flashcards, presenting to a friend, sibling, or parent, or creating quizzes for yourself.
Let’s all try to apply these strategies to our lives.
Stay well,
Eshaan
