Reading, Studying, and Learning

Topic 11: Reading, Studying, and Learning - Introduction

The process of learning involves the following steps:

The Search for Information

Relying on teachers, sources of knowledge, and your thirst for knowledge

Remembering the Information

Where the Memory Master systems come into play

Applying the Information

Using the knowledge with guidance from teachers and textbooks

The Role of Memory in Learning

Remembering the information is where the Memory Master systems come in. Simplistically, it can be said that virtually all learning is based on memory. Many teachers, who like to put down 'memorisation', don't like to admit this, but it is nevertheless true.

Examination Reality Check

If you are sitting in a history examination, and have remembered few of the dates, names, places, and events you were taught in your history classes, the fact that you may have an exceptionally high I.Q. will not help you a lot in passing that examination.

A large percentage of all written examinations are basically examining two things:

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Knowledge of the Subject

Depends largely on memory - how many facts, figures, events, dates, names, quotations, etc., you have learned or remembered about the subject.

✍️

Written Expression

Depends on intelligence, flair for the subject, how well you have been taught to express yourself in writing, and other factors.

The Memory Gap in Education

Very few schools or teachers offer advice to students on how to remember the vast amount of new information that they present you with. This is despite the undisputable fact that memorising information plays a large part in passing many examinations.

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Rote Memory

Reading information over and over again in the hope that some of it will 'stick' in the memory.

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Repetitive Writing

Writing out the information several times to reinforce memory through physical repetition.

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Parrot Fashion

Repeating information to themselves without necessarily understanding the concepts.

Some students are more organised, and extract from their notes the key points they wish to remember, in a similar manner to the 'Key Thoughts' idea discussed in the section on Remembering Speeches. However, having extracted those key points, they probably still apply 'rote' memory to remember those key points.

The Effective Learning Solution

There is really only one way to read and study more effectively - and that is to remember as you read.

Tutorial 17 shows you how you can use the Memory Master systems you have already learned to help you remember any reading material, as you read.