How To Create Study Notes That Actually Work

Nowadays, we need to know the way to master knowledge and skills as quickly as possible. It will be of immeasurable benefit to us, both in business and life. Throughout our lives, we never really stop learning. But how to learn properly? This is a question that many of us ask – and it is therefore not surprising that we often rely on popular learning notes. Which of them has an efficient practical application? Many are effective, but some are not. So we will let you know how to create study notes that actually work.

Learn How To Learn

While the previous goal of education was for a person to master existing knowledge – today, in addition to mastering knowledge, we must also learn how to constantly acquire new knowledge. Nowadays, new skills are required: finding information, critical thinking, time management, efficient negotiation, stress management, communication skills, teamwork, etc. For all these reasons, we must all be ready to constantly acquire new knowledge and experiences. Continuous learning becomes a minimum condition for adapting to all today’s changes – and achieving success in all areas. Because of all this, the importance of learning culture is growing – and today, we invest in knowledge more than before. The first and most important condition for continuous learning is – to know how to learn.

Master Learning Techniques

When we ask professors why students achieve average or poor results – they usually say it’s the laziness of the students. On the other hand, students justify their failures with the hardness and amount of the material they have to learn. There are thousands of concepts, definitions, divisions, formulas – that simply cannot fit in their heads. They have too much information in their heads so they feel disoriented. All this creates a feeling of discomfort, learning is delayed – and difficult things are left out. Even motivated students who invest a lot of effort – do not achieve results that match the work they invested. The learning problems we have do not arise either because of the laziness of the students or because of the difficulty of the material. There is a problem with learning because we are not taught how to learn.

Learning Strategies

Learning strategies are ways you manage your learning – and are based on knowing your characteristics and your abilities. You must know the tasks you have to perform, what skills does it take – and how to connect and apply new knowledge. To achieve learning success – it is recommended that you develop and implement strategies that can make you a successful student. Here are some strategies that are good to use in your learning process.

1. Develop a learning habit

You must create a learning schedule that includes your learning time – as well as the material you have planned to study at specific times. It is recommended that you start with easier material when making a plan –  because by switching to such material, you will build self-confidence. You should try to simplify even the simplest material, bring it to the elements, and start learning from there. You should repeat the material until you have completely mastered it. That way, you will reach a situation where you can reproduce it without problems and with understanding.

2. Apply active learning

You have to dedicate yourself to learning, and you should not leave the material you are learning unexplained. You need to try to find an explanation to understand – sometimes learning from mistakes. In trying to understand the material, it is good to find real-world examples. Ask the professor for lecture summaries or information on how to access other sources of the same or similar information.

3. Use all your learning abilities

Constructing or modeling can be very useful during learning. Whenever possible, use real, concrete objects as learning tools. Use your hands to construct and explain – as well as your body to express yourself.

4. Summarize the material by writing and taking notes

One of the good learning strategies is to summarize the material by writing and taking notes. In the process of mastering the material, elaborate the structure of the matter by giving examples when making theses. Whenever possible, use images and other visual representations to illustrate certain parts of the material. Talk about your notes with other people who are saving the same material.

5. Create a concept

Creating a concept or concept map of materials will help you become more actively involved in what you want to learn.

6. Use technology

You can use different technologies for effective learning. You can successfully use multimedia technologies to collect and organize information from multiple sources. Computer simulations and even games – can help you recognize complex images or systems or mimic real-world situations and relationships. According to Docmerit, you can also use online platforms that enable you to buy or even sell your study notes, e-books, textbook summaries, study guides, exam solution essays, etc. These things can be quite helpful tools in your learning process.

7. Prepare the exam questions

During the learning and repetition of the material, you should prepare the supposed exam questions and discuss them with colleagues or a mentor. Practice some written or oral answers to questions made in this way. It is useful to try to evoke the atmosphere and situations from previous written exams.

8. Provide yourself with a mentor

A college counselor, teacher, or mentor can help you significantly in the learning process. A good mentor helps you develop strategies that suit your personality, your preferences, and interests. He is someone who reminds you of your responsibilities, encourages and motivates you – but also monitors your progress and evaluates the value of your learning outcomes. Before learning, be sure to ensure contact and cooperation with such a person.

Find Motivation To Learn

Motivation in learning is a factor that initiates, organizes, directs, and determines the intensity of learning activities. If you are inspired by some great goals – your way of thinking will be directed towards them. Therefore, try to find something that motivates you – and all your untapped strengths, knowledge, and talents will come to life, and you will discover that you are much stronger and capable than you thought.