It so happens that while studying, we read information from a notebook or book many times in order to remember it.
However, according to scientists, this method is not that effective.
How can I study more productively?
If you need to remember more and faster, the Active recall technique will come to the rescue. From English, this name translates as “active recall” and involves “retrieving” the information learned from memory, and not just passively rereading the material.
How does this work?
Active recall provides the so-called “testing effect” — when we “fish” what we have learned from our heads, the information is read by the brain as important and therefore transferred to long-term memory. We always remember better what we had to work on and what we put efforts into.
How to use the technique?
The first way is to ask yourself questions about the material you have covered and answer them without using notes.
It is also useful to take course tests or, if there are none, to write them yourself. For example, you can do this on Quizlet.
Tip: avoid multiple-choice tests — in these types of tasks you don't use Active recall, but simply find out the right answer.
What else can you use Active recall?
- Use question cards or pictures with question marks instead of signatures.
- When you take notes in a notebook, write a question to it before writing down the answer. When you reread the notes, you will first come across a question: this will activate your brain and launch Active recall.
- Teaching a friend is one of the best ways to understand and remember things. Ask your “student” to ask you as many questions as possible on the topic — this will help you understand the material even better and find your knowledge gaps.
- Don't rely on search engines. Of course, when we are faced with the fact that we don't know or remember a fact, our first impulse is to go online and find an answer.
However, don't hurry next time. First, remember everything you know about the topic and suggest your own answer (or try to guess it). Then go to the site and check — you will remember the answer for a long time.
How do I record important information using the Cornell method?
This simple recording technique uses Active recall and will help you at school, at work or at home. They can be kept in notebooks, notebooks or ordinary non-lined A4 sheets.
What do we need to do?
Separate the upper and lower parts of the sheet with horizontal lines. Then divide the sheet with a vertical bar into two unequal halves. Write down the topic at the top. Write down questions in the left half, and the right half contains answers to them that you will learn during the lecture. At the bottom of the sheet, write down the main points of the lecture or the main points that were discussed at the meeting.
