How to Master topics involving Facts and Theory

 

How to Master topics involving Facts and Theory?

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There is no single “best” way to study. Each individual must find the best method for them. In order to study effectively each person needs to find the strategy that best meets his/her learning style. So, it is important to know your learning style and use it to your advantage and work on your weaknesses while taking advantage  of your strengths. The following is a compilation of many of the techniques used by successful students to study Biology.

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1. Preview material to be presented prior to attending the lecture.

• Read and highlight important sections of the reading (note:highlighting is like note taking, highlight only enough to remind yourself of the key information presented. 

• If time is short - preview the material briefly to identify key terms and concepts. This can be done in several ways: 

 – Read the chapter summary. 

 – Read the section headings and bold type. 

 – Inspect the figures and read figure headings

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2. Take good lecture notes 

• Don’t try to write everything that is said, just note enough to remind yourself what was discussed (your notes should 

be clear to you but not necessarily to anyone else). 

• Note all figures presented in lecture for later review. 

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3. Rewrite your lecture notes 

as soon as possible after the lecture (note: this should be an active process - do not simply re-copy your notes, think about what you are writing and write it in your own words). Always ask the “W” questions - why? what? when? where? (w)how?

• Read through the text (or reread) and fill in the gaps in your lecture notes (some students like to take a separate set of 

notes from their reading and then combine their lecture and text notes).

• Convert your notes into flashcards for review 

• Make up questions from your notes - this will help you to actively think about the material and may help you to predict what kinds of questions may be on the test. 

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4. Draw out flow diagrams of complex processes or relationships. 

• This can be a simple or very complex “map” to help you visualize relationships (note: if you learn the relationships 

and the general concepts it is often possible to reason out the details, however, learning the details alone often is not helpful in learning the concepts). 

• Study all diagrams and charts. They condense a lot of valuable information. Cover up and see if you can visualize 

them.

• Draw simple anatomical pictures illustrating structures and relationships - these do not need to be artwork but 

should be clear to you. Make a table comparing and contrasting different processes. Describe in your own words the similarities and differences between 

the different concepts you are learning.

• Draw concept maps to help you recall and revise faster.Concept mapping is an activity that helps you reorganizethe information in a way that conforms to your mental

“landscape.” Better than rewriting your notes, it helps youto discern the patterns and relationships between concepts.

Research supports the effectiveness of this strategy in helping students learn complex material.

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5. Put proper closure on each lecture. Within 24 hours of each lecture - the sooner the better - (1) ask yourself what the lecture

was about without using your notes, and (2) write your answer in the form of a concept map. This is the best time to spot points

of confusion or discrepancies between text and notes, which you should write down and follow-up on. It is very important to

spend time in this fashion if you are serious about succeeding in biology.

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6. Review what you have studied with a study group.

 Study groups should not replace individual study but are frequently the best way to review what you have learned. Whenever

possible explain aloud to another person what you are learning.Work with a classmate and explain terminology and concepts to each other.

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7. Develop your own personal examples/analogies for better understanding material

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8. Write a summary of each concept

you have learned or in other words try to express in your own language whatever you have learned. Remember expressing in your own terms is very important. Compare your summary with the original chapter

summary and find out if you have missed any point.

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9. Review and analyze your mistakes on your tests - 

what are the correct answers, why did you miss the questions, how can you improve your studying and test performance?

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