Another huge tool I use when studying is mnemonic devices - specifically acronyms. Almost every test I have that requires memorizing terms, dates, or lists, I use acronyms to remember them. They really help me, because it's easier to remember something silly like "All Cows Eat Grass" rather than "On the first space of the musical staff in bass clef, the note is an A. On the second, it's a C... etc".
Finally, I have found in my studying that I tend to not plan as much. This has proven to be an annoyance for me! For example, let's say I have a huge music theory test coming up. I know that I know intervals really well, but for some reason, I always plan time for studying everything equally - even though I need more help with writing chord progressions rather than intervals. After I'm done studying and I evaluate/monitor what I've accomplished, I always realize that I spent too much time reviewing something I already know, and that I needed to spend more time on the task that's difficult for me. Planning is a really effective strategy, and I'm really working to spend more time in that stage, prioritizing what I need to work more on.
It's great that you have a study process that works for you. One reason I ask you guys to ask questions in the blog posts is so you are constantly self questioning while you read.... 'Do I understand this? What here is confusing enough to discuss in the blog post?'
ReplyDeleteRemember WAY BACK (2 weeks ago) when we discussed Information Processing? Much of that explains why metacognitive strategies such as mnemonic devices work.
It sounds as if you are more metacognitively successful than I am most of the time. :) It's vital that you know what you do NOT know.... so even if you need to redistribute your time a bit, you already have a very important evaluative skill.