Learn material word for word?

[chickenpop]

Should what we need to learn be memorized word for word or is that not encouraged (plagiarism concerns?)

Also, what would be a good way to memorize material?  I've been making summaries, but I find when I try to write it out again a week later, I've completely forgotten

[Visionz]

My teacher says we should memorize word for word. The best way to learn it is to read it time after time. Read over your notes the night you write them in class. Reread them at the end of the school week. Reread them every 24hours in the days leading up to SACs and every other opportunity you get.
Another method all my teachers seem to be banging on about is highlighting key words and as you flick through your notes to a fresh page read all the words/sentences in this highlighted distinct colour.

[kyzoo]

No, not only is this ineffective and compromises conceptual understanding, but it also induces unnecessary stress when you find you can't remember every single word (when this isn't even necessary). Furthermore doing this hampers your confidence in your creativity and ability to adapt to the moment - you get to the point where you become scared of writing anything you haven't memorized previously; you become afraid to use spontaneous responses.

[appianway]

Remember key words. Do NOT remember whole definitions for ANYTHING. As kyzoo inferred, it'll inhibit your comprehension of the content.

[vexx]

Ok kyzoo and appianway, you haven't done psych so you can't say that..

i try to avoid rote learning at all costs in all my subjects, you cannot at all avoid it in psych.
its the whole of psych - its all rote learning!

you cannot do well unless you memorise everything word-for-word

copy the definitions from the textbook, memorise them by re-writing and so on. you must know them so well. if you think your forgetting the info - reread over it every night or rewrite parts every few days (mainly do this leading to exams)
ALSO, after you have perfected all the memorisation, do as many prac exams as you have time to do! (again, exams) but practice questions for SACS (i didn't do this so here's what i should have done..)

i lost a few marks from missing one word in my definitions in sacs, and exams (literally one insignificant word, i am getting my exam inspected because of it) ! so stupid.

remember: psych ROTE learn, don't try and avoid it, i know a few people who did in psych and ended up disappointed (mid 30's.)

[Eriny]

Psych markers are extremely pedantic over wording, so it is a good idea to make sure you understand every concept completely for the exam. If memorising entire definitions makes you feel more confident, then go for it. But remember, relatively few questions on the exam ask for a straight definition, they tend to want you to apply it to different situations.

[kyzoo]

Ok kyzoo and appianway, you haven't done psych so you can't say that..

True, I'm just assuming my experiences of trying to rote-learn business management in Y10 apply to Psych lolz.

[Visionz]

Its important to use whatever language you need to understand the concept. Once youve done this it makes it easier to remember the specific phrases, definitions and key words. Conceptual learning is the basis for successful rote learning. In your brain the key wording can be an extension from your understand of the concept, instead of being a loose piece of information you think you'll be able to recall on exam day.

[appianway]

I just said don't memorise things word for word because I find that irrespective of what the subject is, it doesn't help. I've always found for music theory, science and english language that it's better to know a more general understanding of the term, with a few key words that examiners like.

[the.watchman]

I just said don't memorise things word for word because I find that irrespective of what the subject is, it doesn't help. I've always found for music theory, science and english language that it's better to know a more general understanding of the term, with a few key words that examiners like.

+1

[vexx]

I just said don't memorise things word for word because I find that irrespective of what the subject is, it doesn't help. I've always found for music theory, science and english language that it's better to know a more general understanding of the term, with a few key words that examiners like.

yeah exactly how i felt for bio, chem and all humanaties/science subjects before year 11. however, i was quite fustrated when i discovered how different psych actually is, it's similar to legal but i don't think legal is as pedantic with wording like eriny just said.

[methodsman]

It worked in english for me (essays) - could work for psyc.

[vexx]

It worked for english for me (essays) - could work for psyc.

haha yeah, most people dont for english...
(TT's is a freak at this, did so well for it too!)

[d0minicz]

do it for psych !!!

[Glockmeister]

I just said don't memorise things word for word because I find that irrespective of what the subject is, it doesn't help. I've always found for music theory, science and english language that it's better to know a more general understanding of the term, with a few key words that examiners like.

yeah exactly how i felt for bio, chem and all humanaties/science subjects before year 11. however, i was quite fustrated when i discovered how different psych actually is, it's similar to legal but i don't think legal is as pedantic with wording like eriny just said.

Well really, provided you're aware of the key terms used in Psychology (like 'Operant Conditioning' or 't-test'), you should be ok. You certainly should not learn material word for word because, as you will learn, it makes it harder to learn, and quite frankly, turns what is a very interesting subject into a bore.