INTRODUCTION

Just like all hands are not equal, all brains are not equal either. There are various methods employed by students which help them remember the things they've read. Thought these are the poplarly employed methods by students, are they really the most effective?

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SOME POPULAR READING TECHNIQUES EMLOYED BY STUDENTS

● Underlining:

Most students underline important points in their materials and text books while they read. Though this gives them that feeling that they're making progress as they put in the work, it doesn't necessarily help them recall the details in the long run as they have to visit it over and over again for it to stick.

● Writing out important points on a book:

Most people cannot read without writing. They tend to write out important points on a seperate sheet which they'll later go back to of course, to recall what they've written. This takes a lot of time and is not effective for study. In a situation where one have exams within a little period of time, no one would want to waste time revisiting something they've read before.

● Approaching a text head-on:

There are many ways to get around that complex text or material. One falls into the trap of always starting from the first page and reading every single detail until the very last. Though it feels satisfactory, but did you really understand what you read? In most cases, students end up wasting a whole lot of time trying to read one text because of the inherent rigidity of the educational system and it is not helping matters.

● Being Limited to one source of information:

In some schools, they recommend certain texts as the standard in the school, but does it really help? Students end up sticking to one particular source of information in a bid to pass their exams as that is the priority. Most times, students find it hard to comprehend the so-called "standard text" and they never study effectively.

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EFFECTIVE STUDY TECHNIQUES STUDENTS WOULD WANT TO EMPLOY

1) Active recall: This is done by intermittently repeating the things you've read within certain time intervals. For instance, when you read for an hour, try to repeat the things you've read to know if you truly understood what you read. If you can successfully do that, you're basically creating neuronal circuits in your brain that will help register ths information from your short term to long term memory. It is neither easy nor pleasant, but it is very effective

2) Formimg Discussion groups: This is a very effective study method. The discussion group could comprise 4 to 5 persons with different strengths and weaknesses. The purpose of such a group should be to carry each other along and not to intimidate one another. The effectiveness lies in our diverse nature; some people understand things differently from others. Thus, when you've heard something over and over again from different views of different people in that group, it will definitely stick. I remember an exam I sat where I didn't have time to read a particular material again, but I wrote very well because I was the one who explained the topic to the group. With the different illustrations and perspectives from the group members, learning becomes more effective and fun.

3) Utilizing other sources of information: There are some topics in our various fields of study that would inevitably require us to outsource our info. Using YouTube videos has really made learning interesting. There are great tutors on youtube who explain a concept in the simplest way a student can understand. Watching a 10mins video and reading the topic on my material for 30mins is better than facing the material head-on for more than an hour and yet not understanding it all.

4) Engaging in questions and answer sessions: From time to time, students ought to test themselves outside the confines of an examination. There are people who are good at spotting must-know facts in a topic, engaging in a Q&A session with such persons enables you focus your energy on what you need to know. Also, it not only enables student access themselves before exams, but also provides a means of solidifying and understanding better the things we already know.

5) Enjoying what you read: This sounds weird but it really works. I have realized thst enjoying what I read increases my understanding. When we read under pressure and tension, one way off it is to try enjoying what you read. Play around the facts and you'd see your brain being made open to possibilities. Understanding improves and you cover a whole lot within a short period of time.

I hope this helps someone out there especially as exams are around the corner. Goodluck as you try them out.

Acknowledgements
@campusconnectng
@whitestallion