Learning new things is both exciting as well as daunting. You may be learning things all the time, from learning how to solve a calculus equation or learning about historical events. However, most people find themselves lost when learning something new. Read this article to get some handy tips on how to learn new things especially if you’re taking an important exam such as the patent bar exam.
Chunk Your Material
It can be very difficult to learn something new. This is particularly the case if the text is too lengthy or complicated. To make the learning process easier, try dividing the text into chunks. This makes it easier for the mind to read and process it.
Enhance Your Memory
Learning can be made easier and more effective if you have a good memory. Practice memory-enhancing exercises such as repetitive reading, quick reading, mnemonics, and making notes. The sharper your memory, the quicker and easier you learn new things.
Opt for writing notes by hand instead of creating electronic copies as this will stimulate your mind and you will retain the information for longer periods. Similarly, when you’re trying to learn something new, read the text out loud. This will help you remember the text more vividly since you will be involved with it both visually as well as acoustically. Little practices like these boost your memory and make the learning process easier for you.
Learn in Short Spurts
Learning and memorizing are time-consuming procedures and can leave you both physically as well as mentally exhausted. In order to learn better and more effectively, try to learn in short spurts instead of in one long study session. The small breaks in between each session allow your brain to relax, freshen up, and reboot.
Learn in a Group
Learning can be more enjoyable and much easier when done in groups. When learning with different people, numerous different teaching approaches are applied to cater the needs of each individual learner. Some are visual learners while others are auditory learners. There are also those who learn by practical implementation. All these techniques, when applied in a study environment, help to stimulate the learners’ minds especially when they are exposed to more than one learning method. This enables them to learn the matter quickly and hold on to it for much longer.
Mind Association
Mind association is another great way to learn new matter. Mind association tricks such as mind maps, flow charts and diagrams help people associate learning material with texts, illustrations, and colors. When remembering something from the memorized texts, these colors and illustrations trigger memories of the times when the topics were being studied and revised. This not only helps people learn quickly, but also allows them to remember the material for much longer.
These are all the tips and tricks you need for learning how to learn. They are especially useful for the preparation of tough professional exams that require heavy memorization and learning such as the patent bar exam.