Motivating children to learn: useful techniques for productive learning

How can we memorize more and faster, how can we structure information and make the learning process more effective?

In this article, we'll talk about methods that will help you study and organize the creative process.

‍PQ4R method

This technique is great for working with texts. With its help, you can understand and memorize material more quickly. PQ4R is an acronym that consists of letters, each of which represents one of the stages of the process.

Preview

Before you start reading the material, take a quick look at the headings and the highlighted text. Try to capture the main idea.

Question

Ask yourself a question related to the topic of the article. For example, what do I learn from reading this text? What do I already know?

This will activate attention and help you focus on understanding and absorbing information.

Read

Read the material section by section and relate the information to your questions.

Reflect

Think about whether you've got answers to all the questions you asked before you started?

If not, please read the information again and make sure the answer is found.

Recite

Write down or recite the material in your own words.

Review

Review the information again to consolidate what you've learned.

‍Leitner system

Learning cards have been used by students since the beginning of the 19th century and are still effective today.

They allow you to enter active recall mode and use long-term memory.

The Leitner system is one of the best and most widely known methods of working with training cards. Using this technique, you arrange cards with material in such a way that you repeat what you remember the worst most of the time.

The cards are arranged in three boxes.

In the first －－ the ones you know the worst or the new ones. They need to be repeated every day.

In the second －－ those that you have already mastered quite well. They need to be repeated every other day.

The third contains cards that you know “perfectly” －－ they can be repeated once at the end of the week.

The cards are constantly moving through the boxes depending on how well you remember them.

Color notes

It has long been proven that color has a powerful effect on the brain. Using colored markers to highlight and remember important information in the text is an effective way to increase the productivity of the educational process.

A recent study showed that warm colors (red, yellow, orange) have a positive effect on the perception of new material, as well as student motivation. Warm colors increase alertness and help focus.

Here are some practical tips on how to use colors in a synopsis:

1. The red color is suitable for recording key moments.
2. Highlight important information in yellow.
3. Choose a different color for each theme.
4. Don't overdo it! Highlight only the most important information in color.

Mind Mapping, or mind mapping

We think in images, and it is easier for us to structure and remember information when it is presented in a visual way.

In the 1960s, British psychologist Tony Busan studied the structure of the brain and noted that a neuron is a nucleus with branches that look like tree branches in all directions.

This led the scientist to believe that information important for remembering can be visually presented in a similar way.

Tony took a blank piece of paper and wrote a key concept in the center. Then he wrote down all the ideas associated with the main word and attached them to it with lines and rays. Then he drew “sprouts” from each secondary topic, adding additional points.

Now the Busan method is used in various fields of activity: from cleaning to a large project or startup. A mental map will be an ideal tool if you need to structure and better assimilate information.

Advice: for each branch, use a different color to visually highlight it.

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