Disclaimer: These are tips that have helped ME, and that's why i'm sharing them. It doesn't mean i'm looking down on anyone who learns differently. It would be super interesting to hear other's methods and rationales behind them!
1. BE AN 'EMPTY CUP'
Forget everything you think you know. Don't try to uniformly apply it to the new but loosely related topic. If it turns out something you knew was also accepted as verified within your new topic, consider it a stroke of luck.
2. ACTIVELY LISTEN
The teacher may be talking to dozens of people, but they still need signs of learner engagement to motivate their lesson. Make eye contact, respond to questions, keep your body language alert. In pauses, think back on the information just received and try to cement it in your mind. You will not learn slumped over your desk with a monotone washing in and out of your ears.
3. STAY ON TOPIC
Distractions definitely reduce the amount of information that sticks in your mind. Put your Facebook away (this applies to assorted social media). How much do you really need to stare at that funny cat video or see if you're the genius 5% of the population that can solve this Maths problem? I'd wager not that much. Certainly not as much as you needed to know the ECG lead placement that you just missed. I would include text messaging and even non related chat in class as distractions.
4. KEEP YOUR NOTES SHORTHAND
Writing everything 'verbatim' will take ages, make your hand hurt and ensure you're concentrating more on letter shapes and when the slide will change than the actual information. Make quick notes with the main points, then spend the rest of the time listening and (gasp!) learning.
5. RECOGNISE 'BRAIN DROP'
Sometimes you're all up for learning, and poised pen in hand and eager. Then 20 minutes in, you can't seem to control your shoulders slumping and eyes glazing over. This can be caused by so many things, from poor teacher presentation or engagement with students, to personal fatigue to the heat of the room or something else. But it is important to realise you need a break. Take yourself out of the room for 2-3 minutes. Go to the loo or simply stand in the fresh air (out of classroom view!). Resolve yourself to recommit when you step back in.
6. REVISIT WHAT YOU'VE LEARNT
A good wisdom to follow is to review information 1, 3 and 7 days after you first learned it. This can take the form of note reading, self testing or further study. But make sure you do this, or that knowledge will fall straight back out of your brain. It also helps if you try to combine this with reviews of how you can or will apply the knowledge, as knowledge without context is the most likely to slip away.
Let me know in the comments if there is anything I missed, and happy learning!
Jen x
