Study techniques
Do you want to learn more effectively? Study skills consist of a variety of strategies. To improve your study technique, you can switch between strategies or combine and use them together.
On this page you will find six evidence-based study strategies, meaning there are studies that show that these really work. The material comes from The Learning Scientists, whose vision is to make scientific research on learning available to students and teachers. You can find links to more materials and videos under each study strategy.
- Overview of all strategies - video
External link.
The video is in English and you can choose English subtitles. - Overview of all strategies - poster
External link.
Posters in different languages, including Swedish.
Concrete examples
- use specific examples to understand abstract content
To understand abstract theories and phenomena, it can be helpful to use concrete examples. Collect concrete examples from your teachers, classmates or examples you come across in the course literature.
Example:
To understand how price is determined by supply and demand, we can think about blueberries. If a summer is very dry, not as many blueberries grow. More people want to buy blueberries than there are available to buy - so the price goes up.
Tip:
- Make sure that the examples you learn are actually real.
- You will learn best if you can create your own examples.
- Concrete examples - movie
External link.
Short movie in English. You can choose English subtitles. - Concrete examples - overview
External link.
Material providing an overview of the strategy.
Switching
- switching between parts and sections while studying
To facilitate your understanding of the content you are studying, it is important not to dwell on one section for too long. Instead, you should switch between parts and sections as you study. Thus, you read sections A, B and C to understand them, but next time you alternate with B,C,A or C,A,B. Make connections and draw conclusions when switching between the different parts.
Tip:
- Don't switch too often or you won't be able to understand each section.
- It is often more difficult to switch between parts but this way you learn better.
- Switch - movie
External link.
Short movie in English. You can choose English subtitles. - Switch - overview
External link.
Material that provides an overview of the strategy.
Spread out in time
- Spread out your studies over time
One strategy for effective learning is to spread out several hours of studying over time instead of studying those hours in a row. Therefore, plan some time each day to study for various exams and tests. You can use, for example, a calendar or checklist to plan when, what and how to study and when and how to take breaks.
How to do it:
Schedule time to briefly summarize lessons or lectures. Remember to take a break between the lecture and the time you set aside to summarize.
Plan time to study and review important information that you have learned from previous lessons, lectures or other forms of teaching. Going back to what you learned yesterday, last week or last month will update your knowledge and keep it fresh.
Tip:
- Try to use different strategies when studying and reviewing notes and materials from classes and lectures. Test, pause and sketch.
- It is okay if you forget some information while studying. You need to forget in order to be trained to search and retrieve the information from your memory.
- Spread in time - movie
External link.
Short movie in English. You can choose English subtitles. - Spread the word- overview
External link.
Material providing an overview of the strategy.
Dual coding
- combining words and pictures
Dual coding is a strategy where you use words and pictures to learn. It will help you understand if you combine both text and illustrations when reading course materials, for example.
How to do it:
Go through the course material and compare the illustrations with the text.
Look at the illustrations to summarize or explain in your own words what they mean.
Try to visualize the information you read by drawing your own illustrations to the text.
Tip:
- Visualize the information in different ways, such as infographics, timeline, cartoon, table or diagram.
- Visualize your knowledge by drawing what you remember from what you have previously studied.
- Dual coding - movie
External link.
Short movie in English. You can choose English subtitles. - Dual coding- overview
External link.
Material providing an overview of the strategy.
Practice retrieval
- practicing retrieving knowledge from memory
Practice retrieval is a strategy where you practice retrieving knowledge from memory without using your course material.
Here's how to do it:
Write or sketch directly from memory without using your course materials. Be as accurate as possible. Then correct and find important points you have missed by checking against your course material.
Do as many practice tests as you can. Create your own practice tests if you don't have access to practice tests. Then swap with fellow students who have made their own practice tests.
Make sticky notes to practice recalling key ideas and how parts relate to each other or differ.
Tip:
- Don't just practice words and definitions. Practice key ideas and how parts relate to each other or differ.
- Practice retrieval - movie
External link.
Short movie in English. You can choose English subtitles. - Practice retrieval - overview
External link.
Material providing an overview of the strategy.
Develop
- explain and describe with many details
Elaborate is a strategy where you explain and describe with a lot of detail.
How to do it:
As you study, ask yourself questions about how things work and why. Then find the answers in your course material and discuss them with peers.
Connect different parts and explain how they are related. Reflect on how parts are similar or different.
Describe how parts remind you of and relate to your own experiences or memories.
Tip:
- Check that what you are explaining and describing is correct.
- Practice until you can explain key ideas from memory.
- Develop - movie
External link.
Short movie in English. You can choose English subtitles. - Develop - overview:
External link.
Material that provides an overview of the strategy.
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