When it comes to improving your learning skills, there are several proven ways to boost your learning speed. These methods include Mindfulness, Exercise, and Writing. Using multiple learning methods will help you learn a new subject faster and embed the information more deeply in your brain.
Mindfulness
Recent research has indicated that mindfulness can improve verbal learning and memory capacity. This is particularly helpful for children in their early school years. Enhanced verbal learning can lead to better comprehension of reading assignments and better memory for historical events. While this research is still in the early stages, the results are promising. In addition, it may help improve encoding capacity, which means a student can better retain information in a long-term memory.
The practice of mindfulness has also been linked to changes in brain structure and function. It has been shown to reduce the size of the amygdala, the area of the brain associated with fear and emotion. This region controls how the body responds to stress and is also called the ‘fight or flight‘ center of the brain. Practicing mindfulness reduces the size of this area and increases the size of the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for more complex processes.
Exercise
Researchers have found that exercise can improve memory. It increases the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and promotes synaptogenesis, processes that mediate memory and learning. The more of these molecules in the brain, the better your memory will function and the more learning you can retain. The benefits of exercise for memory are many. It can increase the volume of certain brain structures, including the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. It can also slow the onset of cognitive decline in old age.
Writing Down Information
One of the most important tips to help you remember information is writing it down. This is a proven method that helps you learn a subject more effectively. Research has shown that even 3-year-olds can use this method to improve their learning. The brain controls our memory, which is our ability to store information and experiences. As we get older, our memory weakens, and we tend to forget things easily. Writing down information is one way to improve memory.
Use Apps to Reinforce Information
Teachers can find a wide range of apps that can be used in the classroom to reinforce information. Research has shown that mobile apps improve student learning. In one study, students completed a worksheet activity on the central nervous system and brain, using either an online textbook or an interactive 3-D Brain app. Test results were compared between the groups and showed that the app group was significantly better than the other group.
Using Spaced Repetition
If you want to learn faster, spaced repetition is the way to go. It works by reintroducing information at intervals that are optimal for your memory, rather than overloading it. The technique requires patience, and you need to trust that it will work. It takes time to produce results, so don’t expect to learn something quickly by doing it one day and forgetting it the next.
There are various ways to apply spaced repetition, and one of the most popular is through flashcards. You can put your flashcards in a box, set up a timetable, and move them in sections. There are also software applications that automatically organize your cards.