There are several techniques that can help you absorb the content better, making your learning process much more efficient. Next, discover 14 study methods!
Whether to study for the entrance exam or competition, or to follow college, the fact is that we need to find a way to be productive when reviewing the materials. At this time, it is worth finding one of the study methods that best suits your profile.
People learn differently, so it is important to know different techniques when studying. To help, we have prepared an article presenting 14 study methods for you to discover what you like most!
What are study methods?
Study methods are a set of strategies you adopt when studying to improve your productivity. With them, you can pay more attention to the content and, therefore, learn faster.
And look how interesting: there are different ways to study, which involve drawings, taking breaks, using keywords or other devices. However, the effectiveness of the chosen method will depend on the profile of each student.
Therefore, it is worth testing some of them until you find the one that will give you a boost in your study routine .
The importance of study methods for learning
With so many commitments, the time we can dedicate to studying ends up being small. On the other hand, the subjects are complex, requiring dedication and effort from your brain to understand the content.
Therefore, it is important to use some study method to be motivated and improve performance. This is because, by using a technique that works for you, it is easier to create new connections in the brain, which makes learning possible.
Studying efficiently: the challenges encountered
The main challenges to studying efficiently are seeking motivation when the person finds themselves in front of books and notebooks, in addition to the lack of planning and organization, as many people leave everything until the last minute.
Furthermore, it is important to know how to focus, as there are different distractions, such as cell phones, television and even conversations with those around you.
All of this takes away attention and wastes the student’s time, so the tip is to have a place to study where it is possible to have silence and be alone, in addition to staying away from electronics, especially smartphones.
The main advantages of using different study methods
With study methods, you gain focus, can overcome fatigue and can assimilate material more easily, as it improves your memorisation capacity . This way, you have a more complete understanding of the content and are better prepared for the tests.
Furthermore, by adopting some study techniques, you can create a more efficient study schedule, as you save time when studying.
14 study methods for you to put into practice now
And there? Is it good to know 14 study methods? Follow along and discover the one that may be most effective for you!
1. Watch movies and series
Many people don’t know, but enjoying a film, series or documentary can help you learn.
This is because you now have the support of images, music and other resources, following a plot that can transmit knowledge, especially regarding historical, cultural and geopolitical aspects.
Within this method, you can also take advantage of national films , which will bring historical aspects of our country in a very dynamic way, making it easier to understand.
2. Mind map
If you are one of those who learn more easily from visual support, the mind map technique may be the most suitable.
With it, you use a drawing, in the center of which you place the main theme of the topic studied and, around it, related subjects, with corresponding keywords, information, images or other data.
With this method, it is worth using creativity, using paper and several colored pens to make connections between subjects, which will help you retain the content. If you are more technological, you can use tools aimed at creating mind maps.
3. Summaries and records
While some students are more visual, for others, what really works is the good old summary or notes .
The idea here is to give a general read on the subject and then put on paper, with your words, only what is most important. In the summary, the text is running, while in the summary you write in the form of topics.
With these methods, you absorb better what you studied, as you start to rewrite the content. Not to mention that you have great support material to carry out the review.
4. Interleaving of materials
As the name of the study method indicates, it involves interspersing subjects. So, instead of leaving an entire afternoon to study chemistry for the entrance exam, you can alternate with english, for example.
This way, you can be more willing to change your study topic, getting the motivation you need. This is because it prevents your brain from getting too tired, spending too much time on the same subject, which can cause sleepiness and procrastination.
5. Fuzzy thinking
To understand this strategy, we need to explain that our brain works in focused mode and diffuse mode. The first is when we are studying or carrying out some activity, the second is when we relax.
To have efficient learning, you need to alternate between focused and diffuse mode, so it’s worth taking short breaks during reading to get up and distract yourself. After this break, you can start studying again.
6. Reread
Rereading consists of “practicing” what was studied, that is, reading the topic again. The more we review, the easier it is for the brain to assimilate the subject, in addition to helping to identify details in the text that went unnoticed before.
In this technique, it is worth highlighting what is most important or making small notes next to the text. Another tip is to read a little and try to mentally explain what was read.
7. Audio recordings
Have you ever thought about studying and then going over the main topics out loud, recording audio on your cell phone? It is a technique that will facilitate memorization and also help with review, because you can listen to the recorded file, remembering the material.
8. Self-explanation and self-interrogation
There are also self-explanation and self-interrogation study methods. In the first, after reading all the content, you try to explain what you read, as if you were teaching a class. The second, after reading, you ask questions about the subject and give the answers.
9. Tests
The technique of using tests consists of studying the subjects and then solving exercises, simulations or previous entrance exams or Exams. It is a strategy to find out if you have assimilated what you studied and identify the topics in which you have the most difficulty.
10. Robinson Method
Also called EPL2R, it is a method that is based on reading stages. It works like this:
- E (explore) — more superficial reading, skimming the text;
- P (ask) — you ask questions about the content that will be answered with further reading;
- L (read) — reading focused on the subject;
- R (remember) — the student makes notes and a summary of what they read;
- R (review) — at the end, you need to review the content to better assimilate everything that was read.
11. Pomodoro Technique
The pomodoro method consists of taking short breaks throughout your studies to relax your brain. This means you can resume reading and exercising more willingly.
It works like this: you study concentratedly for 25 minutes and take a 5-minute break. Repeat this scheme 4 times and then take a longer break of 15 minutes to rest. Of course, you can adapt this time however you see fit.
12. Games
You can take advantage of gamification and use games and platforms that are geared towards learning. With this, you need to pass the phases and overcome challenges by showing that you learned about certain content.
13. Mnemonic study
The mnemonic method consists of making studying a little more fun. You can associate the content with phrases or songs to help you remember what you studied. The strategy can also be useful for recording formulas and operations.
14. Cornell Method
In this technique, you divide the paper into three columns for the annotation, topics and summary steps. First, make notes on the most important information from what you read or the class you attended.
In the second column, highlight the keywords of this information or make a visual representation of them to facilitate memorization. In the third, you make a summary, connecting the ideas and writing in your own words as if you were teaching a class on the subject.
