T he best ways for me to learn information are to use resources like textbooks and note cards, organizing the information into outlines and notes, and reading from a textbook and putting the information in my own words. One of my favorite memorizing techniques is to recognize patterns and and make them into acronyms or phrases that will help me to remember them. For example, the formula for continuously compounded interest is Pe^rt, so I call it pert (“purt”) to remember the different variables in the formula. This method almost always works for all my classes. Another technique I use to study and further understand topics is to explain in to other people aloud in study groups or tutoring people.
Not understanding something frustrates me like nothing else I have ever experienced. To me there is nothing worse than just sincerely not understanding what is going on. When I am in this situation, especially when reading a textbook or boring articles, I slow down and read the information aloud and interpret it for better understanding. If that doesn't work out, that’s usually when I consider using my resources such as asking a friend, a teacher, and if I really have to, the internet. Thankfully it doesn't take much for information to finally click for me. Sometimes it takes a little longer to click that it does for others, but better late than never right?
What Kind of techniques do you guys use to study? Have you used these techniques to memorize something that you will never forget (for example I will always remember the formula for continuous compounding of interest)?
Three of the most common styles of learning...