Use recall.
It has been shown that you strengthen useful memory when you retrieve facts from memory. After reading a passage pause to recall what you just read before continuing.
Test yourself.
On everything. All the time. Flash cards are your friend. Triangle Geometry Practice at https://www.geogebra.org/m/rnDrp2gg is good for this course.
Chunk your problems.
Chunking is understanding a problem solution method so that it can come to mind in a flash. Practice major solution steps like you would practice to perform music, Play it over and over again.
Space your repetition.
Spread out your learning a little every day, just like an athlete. Your brain is like a muscle-it can handle only a limited amount of exercise on one subject at a time. Also vary your learning to review other topics. An athlete does not just do one type of exercise, but does a variety of exercises.
Alternate different problem-solving techniques during your practice.
Mix it up and work on different types of problems or use different methods to solve a problem. After every assignment and test, go over your errors, make sure you understand why you made them. Schedule a quiz review with your instructor if you did poorly.
Take breaks.
Breaks are very important. When stuck on a problem your brain can often find a solution when in diffuse thinking mode. Your brain does not quit. Many people have had breakthroughs while walking to get coffee. Your brain has two main modes of thinking, a focus mode and a diffuse mode. Often you can get trapped into a wrong approach in focus mode banging your head against a wall. In diffuse mode your mind can wander through other possibilities.
Use explanatory questioning and simple analogies.
Think how you would describe a concept to a 10 year old child (Are you smarter than a fifth grader?). Trying to describe concepts in simple terms is an excellent way to clarify the concept for yourself. Also think of analogies. That is, what else behaves the same as this material. Vector Mechanics & Statics at https://www.geogebra.org/m/GD63PUZq has simple topics you may use.
Focus.
Set aside 25 minute sessions completely removed from any distractions (cell phones). Work intently for the 25 minutes, do not worry about finishing a task in that time. Set a timer so you are not even distracted looking at the time. Clear your mind of all emotions. Do not think about how well you are doing, focus on what you are doing. Then take a break and reward yourself.
Eat your frogs first.
Tackle your hardest task in the morning when you are fresh. Also plan what task you will attempt just before going to bed. Your brain can work while you sleep.
Make a mental contrast.
Think of your end goals for learning this material and how this work will pay off both for you and those you love. What is your motivation to learn this material? Is a good grade your main goal or are you wanting to make later courses and life easier? Do you enjoy learning?
Adapted from the excellent book Oakley, B., (2014) A Mind for Numbers, How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If you Flunked Algebra), Penguin Random House, LLc. pp 257-260
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