2. Mechanics and Techniques of Studying

A methodical approach | The weekly schedule card | Why study? – Material rewards | Why study? – Non-material rewards | The wall calendar | The pocket date book | Sleep | Tools of the trade general | Tools of the trade specific | Go out for sports? | How detailed should class notes be? | Four methods of taking notes | Notebook inspection | Some note-taking hints | What is important? | What is not important? | Study old exams? | Working conditions | A typical study session | “Take ten!” | Retroactive amnesia | The curve of learning | The law of diminishing returns | The curve of forgetting | Hypnosis | Teaching machines | Reading-acceleration machines | Television | Scrambled books | Distractions enemies of retention

Notebook Inspection

One professor announces to his class the first day of a beginning, basic class that, as a service to them, he will spend a few minutes during the first quiz examining all notebooks, and advise individuals how they can improve their note-taking technique. He usually finds them grateful for this effort. The things most frequently amiss are: (1) no prior outline, failure to indent (which is an outcome of having no prior outline), diagrams too small to allow for clear labels plus added information about the parts labeled, (4) failure to underline similar topics with identifying colors (definitions red, theories blue, names and dates green, etc. — a useful device when reviewing), and (5) insufficient reminders to bring back what took place in class.