Last time I tried the Feynman technique I was escorted from the building for impersonating a professor.
Seriously though, back in college I used the Leitner system until I was comfortable enough with the info that I could explain it in layman’s terms. Though back in the day I just called the Feynman technique the rubber duck method thanks to my brother who was in IT and actually got everyone rubber ducks one year as a gag stocking stuffer.
Absorption method:
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open textbook
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place forehead on paper
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fall asleep
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absorb information while unconscious
I was the top of my class during college and I wouldn’t be without my study group. I got all the concepts easier than them, but having to force myself to explain it to them and take care that they understood it really cement the concepts. I’m doing an online MBA now, and I struggled during the first months because I had no study group, fortunately an extrovert adopted me into her chat group and with them I was able to come back to my Feynman method of study.
I don’t see the manic-panic-cram it technique listed here.
Supplementary tips:
- Study under similar conditions as you will be tested (mimic lighting florescent/LED/Incandescent? Dim/Bright?, ideally study in the same room or in similar seats/room, sitting ofc, if you drink alcohol studying, drink for the test too - bad idea tho), ever leave a room and forget what you’re doing? This effect applies for studying too
- avoid listening to music with lyrics (or anything with talking in it except study partners/TTS Textbooks etc.), significantly hampers brain efforts
- Associate your studies with a scent (ie: a cologne you only use for this purpose) and have that scent on you when you are being tested, scent is primal portion of brain strongly associated with memory
- be gratuitously friendly just before studying and writing a test (pay someone a compliment that makes them smile, hug a friend or willing colleague, etc…) this reduces stress and allow your brain to be less fight or flighty
- similar to previous, avoid caffeine. Ideally you should be well rested for both study sessions and the test, but if you insist (I understand completely if you do trust me) use it for both per the first point.
- be well hydrated for both studying and the test (don’t forget to urinate before it begins though :P)