It’s no secret that graduate school can be a challenge; there is much information to take in and remember. Passing exams and graduating should not be your only goal. Most students attend graduate school to learn new information that they can then apply to their future studies and/or careers. So, what’s the secret to remembering what you learn while in graduate school? Below are some tips we compiled to help graduate students succeed beyond their graduation day.
1. Repetition, repetition, repetition
Have you ever tried to cram for an exam at the last minute? Most of us have. For some, this is a practical study habit sufficient to help them pass their tests. However, research has shown better ways to learn and retain information than cramming. Instead, give yourself enough time to review the information repeatedly, in different formats, over some time. Look at it again, again, and then again after that so that your brain has time to understand and hold on to that information.
“Studies have shown that the brain forms new pathways when a task is repeated often, optimizing skill performance.” Make sure you also give yourself sufficient time between study breaks. Revisit the information daily, but space out your study sessions a few hours apart. The breaks will give your brain enough time to form those pathways and will aid in your ability to remember the information long-term.
2. Utilize discussion groups
Discussion groups can be beneficial when you’re trying to learn and retain information about a difficult topic. You can bounce ideas off of each other, learn things from a new perspective, and use your collective knowledge to help problem-solve challenging scenarios.
Not to mention, being able to talk through material is a great way to help your brain remember it. If you can have a conversation about a topic, you’re taking in the information instead of just memorizing it and forgetting it later. Along the same lines, teaching others the information is a great way to help solidify the info in your brain.
3. Learn in multiple ways
Do you know your learning style? Most people have a preferred method of learning information, whether it be visual, auditory, written, or kinesthetic. If you don’t know your preferred style, that’s something worth looking into. Perhaps your problem isn’t with retention, you just need the information to be presented differently. If you DO know your learning style, definitely focus on that when you’re trying to comprehend new information. That being said, it’s also a good idea to try to take in information across a variety of modalities.
If you’re a visual learner, start with that, but also try incorporating some auditory or kinesthetic strategies. According to a study done by the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, “The more regions of the brain that store data about a subject, the more interconnection there is. This redundancy means students will have more opportunities to pull up all of those related bits of data from their multiple storage areas in response to a single cue.”
4. Go beyond the book
While most learning happens through books, PowerPoints, and lectures and within classroom walls, don’t be afraid to take it elsewhere. Putting new skills into practical situations is an excellent way to retain what you’ve learned. Connect your learning to real-life people and situations. This is partially why so many graduate programs require a practicum experience.
It’s one thing to learn about teaching in a book — it’s another to actually get in a classroom in front of students and apply what you’ve learned. I guarantee you’ll learn (and remember) more by going beyond the book and connecting it to real-life situations.
5. Sleep on it
Have you ever tried to stay up all night to cram for an exam? While this is a common practice for many college students, it’s one of the worst things you can do in terms of long-term retention of information. Your brain NEEDS sleep in order to memorize, retain, recall, and utilize new information. According to the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine “sleep improves memory retention and recall by between 20 and 40 percent. Recent research has led scientists to hypothesize that Stage 3 (deep non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep, or Slow Wave Sleep) may be especially important for improving memory retention and recall.”
This is because most of what we learn is stored in a part of our brain called the Hippocampus. Some scientists believe that the hippocampus has a limited storage capacity; thus, it’s impossible to learn new information when it’s full. That being said, they also believe that sleep plays a large role in replenishing the brain’s storage capacity. Taking a nap or a nighttime sleep break can increase your ability to learn and remember new information.
6. Elaborate
Think about whatever it is you’re trying to learn, and then relate it to other things you already know. This process is called “elaboration” and can help you transfer new information to your long-term memory. Thus, it’s easier for it to be remembered. One way to do this is by connecting new information to previous knowledge. If you combine the new things that you’re learning with prior knowledge, your brain will use the prior knowledge to create a “framework” to help you make sense of the new stuff. It’s easier than starting from scratch and will help you understand and retain information for a longer time.
It’s critical to be able to retain information, whether that be from graduate school, your career, or any other aspects of your life. This is how you will learn and achieve both personal and professional growth. Do you have any strategies to help retain information while in school? We’d love to hear from you!
Educators never stop learning; check out our available graduate degree programs to hone your skills and promote lifelong learning and academic excellence.
