Learn about the most recent research on the human brain, the process of memory, and how it can help you study.

Handouts

Below are the handouts and links for the following workshops – Learning and Memory, Improve Your Thinking-Improve Your GPA, and Super-Learning Strategies for Better Grades:

Learning and Memory Workshop

The top two most effective learning and study strategies as reported in new research published in 2015 are:

  1. Timed self-testing (PDF)
  2. Distributing your learning, assignments, and deadlines (PDF) 

Two more effective learning and memory strategies are:

  1. Making connections to improve your learning and memory (PDF)
  2. Chunking and organizing information to improve your learning and memory (PDF)

How and why do we “forget”:

  1. Falsified recall (PDF)
  2. Misconceptions (PDF)

More handouts for this workshop:

Improve Your Thinking – Improve Your GPA

Top 4 handouts for this workshop:

  1. Overview of expert learning strategies (PDF)
  2. Gardner’s categories of intelligences (PDF)
  3. Transfer of information (PDF) 
  4. The Einstellung Effect (PDF) (based on new research published in 2017)

More handouts for this workshop:

Super-Learning Strategies for Better Grades [6-step M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan]

This entire six-step workshop is summarized in the following six handouts:

  1. Motivating your mind (PDF)
  2. Acquiring the information (PDF)
  3. Searching for the meaning (PDF)
  4. Triggering your memory (PDF)
  5. Exhibiting what you know (PDF)
  6. Reflecting on how you have learned (PDF)
Videos

The videos below provide helpful summary points for effective Learning and Memory techniques.

Six habits of highly successful students
The following video by Memorize Academy provides 13 excellent study tips that will help improve your learning and memory:

Thirteen top study tips

The video below was created by Sprouts and provides the following 13 excellent study tips that help improve your learning and memory:

  1. Spaced repetition – see also “Distribute your studying to get better marks".
  2. Find and follow your preferred learning style.
  3. Importance of sleep – see for example scientific report in the Guardian Newspaper.
  4. How to focus – see “Handouts & Links for Time Management“.
  5. The Pomodoro Technique – short study blocks (for example 25 minutes) followed by quick (5 minute) breaks.
  6. Do the harder stuff first.
  7. Exercise – Meditate – Converse.
  8. Go places: study in different (learning friendly) environments (see video by Benedict Carey posted by Random House on YouTube provides tips as to how changing your study environment and routines can actually improve your learning and recal).
  9. Take fun seriously – combine your learning with a sense of fun and enjoyment.
  10. Space your study to remember better.
  11. 30% is read – 70% is recite – for example when you have an hour of study time, use 20 minutes for learning/reading/studying and the remaining 40 minutes reciting.
  12. Self-test or self-quiz – this is considered by researchers as the most effective study strategy – see also handout.
  13. Don’t force yourself to learn, study, or do assignments.
Latest Research
Read on for the latest research on expert learning and memory.