1. Videos
One of my favourite ways to learn to understand difficult material is by watching videos. On YouTube, you can find in-depth tutorials on almost any subject. Pro tip: look for videos with examples and visuals. This often makes the material stick a lot better! Wondering which YouTube channels you should not miss as an engineering student? Check out Wisang's favourites here!
2. Podcasts
Let’s be real, watching YouTube tutorials can sometimes take quite some time. Unless you watch them at double speed of course, but whether you actually retain anything that way is another question ;). If you're short on time, podcasts are a real lifesaver. Again, there are great podcasts for lots of topics and studies, and their advantage is that you can listen to them anywhere on the go: on the train, on the bike to university, or even during a workout!
3. Mind maps
Are you more of a visual learner? Then mind maps might be perfect for you! Mind maps are especially useful for understanding the bigger picture of a subject. Plus, if you are a bit creative, making a mind map can even be fun too! Start with the main topic in the centre of a piece of paper. From there, draw branches for subtopics, and add smaller branches for extra details. Use different colours, figures and connections to make the material stick even better.
4. Flashcards
If you need to memorise important concepts, formulas or principles for an exam, flashcards are super useful. And no, not the digital kind, I mean the old-school paper ones ;). After all, you remember information much better by writing it down yourself! Keep the flashcards in your bag or in the pocket of your coat, so you can pull them out whenever you’ve got a spare moment. By reviewing them consistently every day, you will remember all the terms in no time!
5. Mnemonics
Mnemonics are an amazing strategy for remembering large chunks of information. To this day, I can still recall the German prepositions thanks to a song I made up in high school. And it’s probably why you instantly know which letter comes after “q” in the alphabet! Besides songs, acronyms also work really well: a word made up of the first letters of the terms you need to remember. Finally, making up memory tricks can also help you remember information: the crazier the better!
6. Teaching others
Explaining the material to fellow students is the ultimate test to see if you have truly memorised and understood. By teaching others, you strengthen your own understanding of the material and also find out where you might need to pay more attention. Moreover, your fellow student is bound to have difficult questions too, challenging you to think about the material even deeper. Plus, you'll be helping a study mate out as well!
7. Practice exams
Practice exams are not only useful to test your knowledge right before your exam, but they are also great for finding your weak spots. For once, start with a practice exam and pinpoint the questions you found difficult or got wrong. Based on this, dive into the material to strengthen your understanding of certain parts. This way, you will learn efficiently by focusing on what you find difficult. If your teacher does not provide practice exams, check online platforms such as Studeersnel or find a fellow student and make one for each other. AI can also be very useful for creating a practice exam, although it is important to doublecheck its accuracy!
8. Sticky notes
Finally, sticky notes can also help you memorise information. Write down concepts, formulas, figures and all kinds of other useful information on sticky notes and spread them throughout your house in places you will regularly see them. Stick them on doors, on the mirror, in the bathroom, on the fridge or above your desk, for example. By constantly seeing this information, you will unconsciously absorb it. Just make sure you don't drive your housemates crazy with all your sticky notes everywhere ;).
Hopefully, these study methods have given you some inspiration. Remember that everyone learns in their own way, though. Whether you get started with one of these alternative methods or prefer to stick to books and notes, choose a method that works for you!
