How do you learn?

[007]

Hello!

How do you learn best for each specific subject? I really want to try different methodologies because I find recently that whilst I'm in class I'm wasting a lot of time and not really 'learning' and have to do that in my 'study' (home) time - and I have been rarely studying due to being unable to just get down and focus.

Although in my life I have rarely studied, when I have it has involved sitting down and cramming with ALOT of remembrance and I'm searching for a solution that isn't such a huge burden. Currently I'm on YouTube downloading videos into .mp3 format and am going to put them onto my iPhone and just listen to them and see if this works whilst simultaneously looking at similar material with the voice to activate my senses and have a form of application.

Personally my subjects (English, Psychology, Global Politics, Legal Studies and Economics) are a little over the place - some require ROTE learning and doing a lot of practice questions whilst others require a complete in-depth understanding.

I'm going to try learn how to add a poll to this thread so if you can leave your suggestions and I'll attempt to add them to the poll (and remember to comment and please give me tips with what worked for you for the same/similar subjects).

[Vermilliona]

I use online/app flashcards for pretty much all my subjects, really recommend the Brainscape website/app. I also make mind maps to summarise notes - did it by hand last year for Global, but am using ExamTime this year. With global, I'd do practice questions with notes, then learn the stats with brainscape and then do questions/essays timed and no notes

[mishamigo]

Everybody's learning style is different and it even differs between subjects, so you've just gotta explore your options and see what works

That being said, for legal I did a lot of ROTE learning. I memorized definitions and  developed set response structures, but kept them vague enough that I could apply to a range of questions. By the end of the year, all I was doing was regurgitating my answers and tweaking the content. Other than that, I just smashed out practice exams and got my teacher to correct them with me, then I'd go back and re-do the question, and repeat til it was 'perfect'.

For psych it was a different approach, I did less memorizing/re-writing and instead made flow charts, diagrams, tables, posters etc. and stuck them in my shower that way I was looking at key concepts for at least ten minutes a day without even realising. I also spent more time discussing topics with other people.

Hope this helped, good luck!

[alchemy]

I use online/app flashcards for pretty much all my subjects, really recommend the Brainscape website/app.

Seconded. BrainScape is awesome and Quizlet is great too. I've used both in the past when studying for French.

[Hannibal]

For me it's anything that involves repetition. May be asking a family member to quiz me, doing a certain type of question over and over again (With different figures) to drill the procedure into my head.