Next, Read the chapter once. Make a dialog with the ideas presented there. For example, if you find that you disagree with something, write it on the white space by the text. If you read something that you feel is important, underline/highlight it. However, use highlighting judiciously. I see some students' text books with the whole page highlighted. Remember, the purpose of highlighting is to isolate that important thought so that you easily find it the next time you need it.

After reading your text book once, read it a second time but this time take notes. This process basically repeats the information in your head and we all know that we learn better with repetition! Furthermore, by writing down notes and important ideas, you are incorporating more of your senses into the learning process (e.g. your sense of touch in addition to your sense of sight). This helps you remember things faster and easier than just reading passively.

Ok, this may sound too much hard work but it does have an advantage...you don't have to study that chapter again. All you need to do is too look at your note/note cards for the midterms or finals. I found that when I use this strategy, studying for the finals is less stressful because I can easily recall the materials that I read previously.

III. Read before you go to class

Ever wondered what a course syllabus is for? Besides giving you an idea of what the course will cover, the syllabus is a great tool if you like to read ahead. Most of the time, teachers will put page numbers besides the topics that they are going to discuss for a particular day. Even though your teacher may not assign a reading, it is a great idea to read ahead.

Why read ahead?

The answer is one word, repetition. Once your brain gets continually exposed to a particular topic, your memory retention will be much higher. This relies on the fact that information gets 'transferred' from your short term memory to your long term memory after you have been exposed to it a bunch of times. Why do you think you forget the names of the people you only met once but remember your roommates name easily?

I also found that reading ahead makes understanding difficult concepts much easier since most books will show examples and illustrations along with full paragraph explanations of the topic. This can be much better when compared to your teachers' power point presentation which is usually in a list of bullet points. When I understand parts of the topic before even getting to class, I usually get that 'light bulb' in my head because the material just makes a lot more sense.

IV. Study with a group

Studying with a group of friends or classmates is yet another way to integrate one of your five senses into your learning experience. When you study with a group, you can hear yourself or other people talk about various topics out loud. Besides, I would rather be in the company of people that are in the same situation as me than be miserable by myself (although I do know some people who study better by themselves). This is also the time to test yourself if you fully understand something. The logic behind this is: if you can explain a concept to your friends and they understand what you're talking about, there is a high probability that you know you're topic pretty well.

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