Teach Yourself How to Learn

1. Metacognition: The Key to Academic Success

Metacognition, a term coined by John H. Flavell (1976), is thinking about your own thinking.

Metacognition empowers learners. It involves being consciously aware of yourself as a problem solver, enabling you to actively seek solutions rather than relying on others. By monitoring, planning, and controlling your mental processing, you gain the ability to accurately judge how deeply you've learned something.

Practical application of metacognition:

• Regularly reflect on your learning process
• Ask yourself questions like "Am I understanding this material, or just memorizing it?"
• Evaluate your comprehension and adjust your study methods accordingly
• Teach the material to others or explain it to yourself to identify gaps in understanding

Metacognition transforms passive students into proactive learners, giving them the tools to teach themselves and excel in any academic environment.

2. Bloom's Taxonomy: A Framework for Deep Learning

Wouldn't you know, once I began aiming my balls toward the arrows, my average jumped to 130.

Bloom's Taxonomy guides learners to move beyond mere memorization to higher levels of cognitive engagement. The hierarchy ascends from basic recall to more complex thinking skills: Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analyzing, Evaluating, and Creating.

Applying Bloom's Taxonomy:

• Remembering: Recall facts and basic concepts
• Understanding: Explain ideas or concepts in your own words
• Applying: Use information in new situations
• Analyzing: Draw connections among ideas
• Evaluating: Justify a stand or decision
• Creating: Produce new or original work

By consciously aiming for higher levels of Bloom's Taxonomy, students can dramatically improve their learning outcomes and academic performance. Just as aiming at the arrows improved the author's bowling score, targeting higher cognitive levels can elevate academic achievement.

3. The Power of Active Reading Strategies

If you have some idea of what you are about to read, your brain can recognize and process much more information than if you just dive headlong into your reading.

Active reading transforms comprehension. By engaging with the text before, during, and after reading, students can significantly improve their understanding and retention of the material.

Key active reading strategies:

1. Preview the material before reading
   • Scan headings, bold text, and images
   • Generate questions about the content
2. Engage with the text while reading
   • Paraphrase each paragraph in your own words
   • Connect new information to prior knowledge
3. Review and summarize after reading
   • Create concept maps or outlines
   • Explain the main ideas to someone else

These strategies help students break down complex texts, identify key concepts, and integrate new information with existing knowledge, leading to deeper understanding and better recall during exams.

4. Effective Study Techniques: The Study Cycle and Intense Study Sessions

If you do two or three sessions during the day between classes, and another couple of sessions at night, you will have studied 4 to 5 hours that day without breaking a sweat.

The Study Cycle optimizes learning. This approach breaks studying into manageable chunks and incorporates active learning techniques to maximize retention and understanding.

Components of the Study Cycle:

1. Preview: Skim the material before class
2. Attend class: Actively participate and take notes
3. Review: Go over notes soon after class
4. Study: Engage in intense study sessions
   • Set specific goals
   • Use active learning strategies
   • Take short breaks
   • Review what you've learned
5. Assess: Regularly check your understanding

Intense study sessions, lasting 30-50 minutes, allow for focused, efficient learning. By incorporating these techniques, students can transform their study habits and dramatically improve their academic performance without feeling overwhelmed.

5. Growth Mindset: Believing in Your Ability to Improve

All students are capable of excelling. You can be certain that very successful students are using effective learning strategies.

Mindset shapes academic success. Students with a growth mindset believe their intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence. This belief leads to greater resilience, motivation, and ultimately, better academic outcomes.

Cultivating a growth mindset:

• Embrace challenges as opportunities to learn
• View effort as the path to mastery
• Learn from criticism and setbacks
• Find inspiration in others' success
• Use the phrase "I can't do it yet" instead of "I can't do it"

By adopting a growth mindset, students open themselves up to new learning strategies, persist in the face of setbacks, and ultimately achieve higher levels of academic success. This mindset shift can be transformative, allowing students to unlock their full potential and excel in areas they previously thought were beyond their abilities.

6. Time Management: Balancing Academics and Life

Once you have your semester and weekly calendars and you have learned to protect your time, the only thing left is to put first things first.

Effective time management is crucial for academic success and maintaining a balanced life. By strategically planning and prioritizing tasks, students can maximize their productivity and reduce stress.

Key time management strategies:

1. Create a semester-at-a-glance calendar
   • Mark all major exams, projects, and events
2. Develop a weekly schedule
   • Include classes, study time, work, and personal activities
3. Use the "appointment with yourself" technique
   • Treat study time as non-negotiable commitments
4. Start assignments early
   • Break large tasks into smaller, manageable chunks
5. Prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency

By implementing these strategies, students can ensure they allocate sufficient time for studying, avoid last-minute cramming, and still have time for extracurricular activities and personal life. This balanced approach leads to better academic performance and reduced stress.

7. Test Preparation and Exam Strategies for Success

Practice testing works. If you want to ace the real exam, you should practice first.

Strategic test preparation is essential for achieving top grades. By adopting a systematic approach to exam preparation and employing effective test-taking strategies, students can significantly improve their performance.

Test preparation and exam strategies:

1. Begin preparing early
   • Review material regularly throughout the semester
2. Create and take practice tests
   • Simulate exam conditions for realistic practice
3. Teach the material to others
   • Explaining concepts reinforces understanding
4. Use exam wrappers for reflection
   • Analyze past performance to improve future results
5. During the exam:
   • Read directions carefully
   • Budget time wisely
   • Start with easier questions to build confidence
   • Use relaxation techniques to manage stress

By incorporating these strategies, students can approach exams with confidence, reduce test anxiety, and demonstrate their true understanding of the material. Regular practice and reflection on past performance are key to continuous improvement and academic success.

Last updated: April 15, 2025