SUCCESS PLAN ::::: BETTER REVISION

We remember only 18% of what we have learnt initially, after 24 hours and we tend to forget rest of 82%. This is a very important fact for you to remember. We will discuss below how can prevent this loss by using the technique of Systematic Revision which is a programmed pattern of review.

The human brain has 1500 crore neurons or brain cells. Each single brain cell makes connection with 5000 to 10,000 other brain cells. The brain can be imagined to be a huge telephone network. When we learn something, new connections are created in the brain. Repetition strengthens that network.

Famous author Tony Buzan recommends Systematic Revision like this. The first review should take place 10 minutes after a one hour learning period and should itself take 10 minutes. This will keep the recall high for approximately one day, when the next review should take place, this time for a period of 2 to 4 minutes. After this, recall will probably be retained for approximately a week, when another 2 minute review can be completed followed by a further review after about one month.

Systematic Revision is an extremely powerful scientific technique for transferring information from the short-term memory to long-tern memory. This technique Improves your learning, thinking and remembering.

SUCCESS PLAN ::::: REMEMBER IN A BETTER WAY

In order to reduce or remove the causes of forgetting and so be able to remember better we have to

1. Get a strong impression by paying careful attention.

We must obtain a deep Impression Of the mind of what we wish to remember. The attention must be concentrated on only one thing at a time to the exclusion of everything else.
If you want to concentrate on something, you must feel that It matters to you. You must be interested in it. It must evoke your enthusiasm. The deeper and more permanent the interest the more sustained the attention.

2. Repeat under conditions in which repetition is effective.

Psychologists have discovered a number of conditions under which repeating what we wish to remember helps us to remember it. Those conditions are

(a) You remember better if you understand what you repeat (better comprehension).

b) You remember better if you study a little but often (spaced learning-have frequent breaks while studying)

Do not study more than half an hour continuously without any break. Give a break for every half an hour. A five minute break is good enough. Actually, we remember better at the beginning and at the end of a learning period. We remember less during the middle of learning period. It shows that if you have four learning of each 30 minutes in approximately in a 2 hours session, then there are 4 beginnings and 4 ends which correspond to high learning and high memory.

In the 5 minute break period, you may get up and walk or you may close your eyes and relax. You must remember two important aspects of  break :
(1) you must relax
(ii) you must continue study after about 5 minutes.

Relaxation results in increased blood flow to your brain, and that means you function at higher intelligence.

SUCCESS PLAN ::::: EFFECTIVE LEARNING

I. Always make an effort to understand the study material / lessons,
the principles which underlie it.

II. Instead of reading and rereading, read and then try to recall. The most popular way of doing a thing is not always the best way. For instance, People may expect to remember a piece of material after reading it once - or after reading it and then re-reading it.

Both methods are inadequate, the first because it is an uneconomical use of time. Research has shown that a second reading brings only 7 per cent more comprehension, while a third one adds only another 1 percent. The time spent on rereading is out of proportion to the gain that can be expected from it. A best method for super learning is P-V formula.

This P-V formula is your key to more effective study. Established by experimental research on learning methods.

(i) P stands for Preview : Browse through the study material / lessons to get a general idea of what it is about. Close the book and think about what you have gathered from your preview.

(ii) Q stands for Question : Ask yourself a few questions which you want your reading to answer. Some authors suggest such questions at the beginning of a chapter. If your author doesn’t, think of your own.

(iii) R stands for Read : Read the material and make sure that you understand it. Underline key words and phrases. Think about what you have read. Assess the relative importance of its various features.

(iv) S stands for Summarize : Make notes on what you read (create a Mind Map)

(v) T stands for Test : Test yourself on what you have read by using the information to answer the questions you asked under Q(above)- Answer the questions and problems set by your teacher Or by your text book author. Answer questions set In earlier exam papers. Discuss the subject with your classmates.

(vi) U stands for Use : Try to put material to some practical use In everyday affairs.

(vii) V stands for Visualize : Picture the ideas in your mind’S eye or visualize the actual pages of the textbook Or notebook.