Studying isn’t just about reviewing information. There are ways to make the information stick in a useful way. Here’s a talk from Dr. Marty Lobdell called Study Less, Study Smart via Lifehacker

Here are some of the tips shared by Dr. Lobdell:

• Study in chunked sessions: Your ability to retain information diminishes after about 25-30 minutes, so break it up into multiple, smaller sessions. Reward yourself with fun activities during your breaks
• Have a dedicated study area: Don’t study where you do anything else. Don’t study in your bed, where you play games (even if it’s your computer), or in front of the TV.
• Know the difference between recognition and recollection: Recognition requires a trigger for you to remember something and you may not get that on a test. Study actively with focus on recollection. Quiz yourself and don’t just glance over highlighted notes.
• Take good notes: Find a note-taking method that works for you and expand on them after your class lecture to increase retention and understanding.
• Be ready to teach what you’ve learned: If you can teach it to someone else, you have a solid grasp on the material.
• Read textbooks effectively: Use the SQ3R Method—survey, question, read, recite, review—to actively retain information. Just reading it is not enough.

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