Developing elementary study skills, such as making lists and using flashcards, lays a foundation for personalized study techniques. Memorization skills are useful for language and science courses, while problem-solving skills require understanding concepts and repetition. Utilizing available resources is also important for success.
While different people have different study habits, there are some elementary study skills that are almost universally useful for learning. The nature of these skills varies based on the type of material you are trying to learn. For example, one has to approach a math problem in a different method than one would use to memorize a significant amount of information without any element of problem solving. Over time, as they develop elementary study skills into habits, they are likely to develop their own unique study habits. Developing these skills lays a solid foundation for developing better and more personalized study techniques.
A common goal in education is to memorize information, particularly in vocabulary courses, some science courses, and most language courses. For example, you might need to memorize a list of 20 words in a foreign language or definitions for a set of biological terms. One of the most basic study skills for memorization is making lists of terms to memorize. The physical act of making the list often helps with memorization. Additionally, one can cover one side of the list, such as biological terms, and question themselves by trying to remember the covered term that matches the definitions visible in the list.
Another of the elementary study skills for memorization involves the use of flashcards. A term or word in your native language goes on one side of a card and the foreign definition or word goes on the other side. To study with these cards, you look to one side, like the word in your native language, and try to remember the corresponding word in the foreign language.
Not all learning involves memorization, so there are even elementary study skills aimed at problem solving, such as those often encountered in math or science. Before tackling a problem, take the time to gain at least a modest understanding of the associated concepts. A chemistry problem about acids and bases, for example, will make little sense to someone who doesn’t know what acids or bases are.
Of the many elementary study skills associated with problem solving, the most important and universally applicable is repetition and practice. By working through many practical problems, you minimize the chance of encountering an unfamiliar type of problem. Practice is also important because it increases the speed with which one can work through the stages of a problem. This is especially important in long tests with time limits.
While it doesn’t necessarily fall into the category of elementary study skills, leveraging all available resources may be the best way to achieve success. Teachers, bosses, job trainers and friends can provide invaluable assistance. Other resources, such as the Internet, textbooks, and other books can help clarify vague conceptual points or break down a difficult step in a problem.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
