1. Never sit
down to read without a jotter and a pen for writing and drawing if the need
arises. The reason is simple; as you are writing or drawing on the jotter
paper, you're doing same into your memory storage system.
2. If you're learning to draw,
divide the object into regions in your mind and draw from one region to the
next. Divide the object either vertically or horizontally. For instance to
learn drawing a cockroach, start from the head, then the thorax, and then the
abdomen all joined. Next draw the elements in the head, the eye, the jaws, and
the antenna and so on. Then segment the body and fix the appendages, the legs,
the wings and so on. This will easily be replayed in a test from your memory
without wasting much time. Apply this drawing technique for all the subjects to
make things easy.
3. To easily assimilate what you're
reading, take the contents on the page in topics, and take the topics in
paragraphs. When you read a paragraph, identify the keywords or key phrases and
assimilate the idea each sentence is explaining. A keyword or key phrase in a
sentence is so important that if removed, the meaning or idea being explained
is lost.
4. Rewrite what you read from each
paragraph in your jotter without referring to the source. However write them in
your own words and not necessarily verbatim except in a definition making sure
to use the keywords or key phrases correctly as contained in the source.
5. After rewriting, read it and
compare to the source content to ensure that the meaning is not lost but
remains the same as it is in the book or the source.
6. Correct your errors or mistakes
if any, then read the corrected version from your jotter to ensure that the
same correction is made in your mind and memory.
7. Sit down quietly and close your
eyes for a while. View the corrected
page you wrote down as well as the source page in your mind ensuring that the
contents have the same ideas or make the same meaning.
8. Internalize and digest this
knowledge and then open your eyes and move on to the next topic. Don't go back
to this topic or page today to avoid disorganizing the assimilated knowledge.
This allows the ideas to settle down in your memory and can easily be recalled when
needed in a few days or in future in orderly manner.
9. Try as much as possible to
itemize your points by numbering them as is done in this presentation you are
reading. However if you're writing an essay test paper, do the itemization in
your rough-work-column and write the explanations in your answer paper as
required. This will ensure that ideas and points in your answer are
sequentially arranged and ordered to earn you good marks.
10. Increase your speed of study
when you have many topics or courses to cover. Your confidence when enhanced
would enable faster and easier assimilation of knowledge. Give yourself a break
when you get tired to avoid diminishing assimilation of ideas. Mix up two or
three subjects per day. Remember that constant practice of a skill makes you to
become perfect in it.