Whether you are an adult or child studying for an test or you are a parent who wants to help your child study there are some study techniques that have been proved to be very effective for memorizing, comprehending, recalling and summarizing information.
The most effective technique for studying and revising for exams is by using Mind Maps.
Mind mapping involves the use of images, symbols and keywords to represent ideas and concepts in a visual form where the central theme or topic is located at the centre of the mind map and subtopics are arranged around a central image or keyword.
The reason they are so effective is because they utilize both images and words and therefore both hemispheres of the brain. Imagine trying to run in a race using only one side of your body. The mind like the body functions better when both sides are used.
Visualization and association
The mind works best using visualization and association
Images in a mind map represent key ideas and are easier to remember and aid in recall as they give the mind more mental ‘hooks’ to latch onto and so aid memory. They also act like visual cues helping to recall the information quickly before it is lost from long term memory.
The branches of a Mind Map help form associations and connection and make it easier to see how related information fits together which aids in understanding and in turn facilitates memory.
Also the most important information is located nearer the centre of the mind map and the images make it possible to recall key ideas at a glance making it easier to locate the information that matters rather then reading through lots of notes trying to find the information you need before an exam.
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They also provide a birds eye perspective of a subject or topic which again aids in recall and understanding as the mind can see how the different subtopics relate to one another at a glance.
Mind maps are also great for dyslexic children as they enable them to create effective notes without focusing too much on the words which can be a barrier to their learning.
Mind maps are not just used in note taking but are used to facilitate creativity, problem solving, decision making and the generation of new ideas.
Helping your child to revise using Mind Maps
How much you assist your child in revising using Mind Maps will depend largely on the age of the child and their experience in using Mind Maps.
Before doing any revision it is important to obtain past examination papers if possible so you are aware of the type of questions that will be asked in the exam and the reading material required.
Prioritize those books and study materials that will be more useful for exam revision.
Using a large sheet of paper you could start by creating the central image or keyword representing the subject or topic that is being revised for. Together you should create branches from the central image or keyword representing the main sub-topics that will cover all aspects of the topic.
Let your child brainstorm what knowledge of the subject they have already by creating more branches, keywords and images representing the key ideas.
This will enable you to:
1. Determine the level of knowledge your child has gained of the subject from school, books, their family and peers. Also from the media and elsewhere. You may be surprised to find out how much they already know.
2. Help to determine what gaps in their knowledge may exist which can significantly aid in pinpointing any areas that need to be addressed before the exam.
They will help your child to:
1. Learn more quickly as they will be able to build upon the knowledge already gained and see how new information relates to what they already know. This will help to form more associations and connections.
2. Use the Mind Maps just before the exam as an effective method of recalling at a glance what they have gained and aiding in revision.
As you help your child study encourage them to continue adding to the Mind Map by forming more branches, adding more colour and images as they read through any revision material. As more information is added the Mind Maps should become more detailed and shift away from the centre.
During the end of every revision period, using the Mind Map as a guide encourage the child to recall in detail what they have just learned. Constantly reviewing information helps to transfer the knowledge from short term memory into long term memory.
Representing ideas with very short sentences, preferably one or two keywords has been shown to be the best method of creating mind maps.
Not having to read though lots of notes to find the key information for the exam will be a great time saver.
As the exam approaches they should be able to recall in detail the knowledge gained during revision by glancing at their Mind Map. The Mind Map should contain a detailed summary of all the topics required for the exam.
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