Learning strategies for students

Processing new information

Using learning strategies to understand a new topic can help you to retain and recall the information later by engaging in the content more deeply, rephrasing concepts into your own words and connecting the information to existing knowledge.

Explore some strategies below to help you process new information.

Generation

This strategy makes your mind more receptive to learning new things by attempting to solve something before looking at the answer to the problem or question. For example, learning something by doing (experiential learning) is a form of generation. 

Examples of generation:  

• Try to explain new key concepts before you read the material. Then, review the new material and observe what parts of the concepts you correctly explained, and which differed from what you expected.
• Have a go at answering a question before you have learnt about it in your class material.

Tip

It may seem daunting to answer a question or explain a concept when you haven’t learnt about it yet. Instead of worrying about getting it right, focus on being curious about it.

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Elaboration and paraphrasing

Elaboration involves ‘unpacking’ a concept, theory or idea, and explaining it in more detail. Elaboration prompts you to make connections and sense of new information.

Paraphrasing involves expressing ideas and information in your own words, helping build and deepen your understanding of the ideas or information. You can also summarise ideas and ask yourself questions while you read, answering them as you go. Try the following techniques:

Caution

It's tempting to just read and highlight your study materials. However research shows that this alone is not effective – make sure you speak or write in your own words as well. For more in-depth help with reading and note-taking effectively visit the Active reading and Making digital notes guides.

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Reflection

Reflection combines both retrieval and elaboration. As the name suggests, it involves taking some time to reflect on what you have just learnt. First, retrieve from your memory what you have just learnt. Then, ask yourself some questions about your experience learning this material.  

Consider asking yourself the following questions after you have learnt something:

• What other concepts or prior experience did this remind me of?  
• How does this relate to what I already know about this topic?  
• How could I have learnt this better?  
• What did I learn that was interesting/unexpected?

Note

You're probably already asking yourself reflective learning questions without realising. For more information and prompts on being a reflective learner visit the Critical reflection for assessments and practice guide and the Reflective learning webpage.