The Study Cycle

This is a general pattern that is recommended to follow that can lead to successful outcomes in student understanding.

study cycle

Going from Passive Studying to Active Studying

Passive studying typically only involves surface-level work - such as re-reading notes, re-watching lectures or writing notes in class word-for-word from the presentation slides. Practices usually only promote the "illusion of knowledge," meaning a student can follow what's going on, but will often easily forget and lose the learning over time. Active studying involves student-led practices that reinforce learning material piece-by-piece to seek and synthesize understanding. These practices help “train the brain” to process information into long-term memory by intentional (and planned) repetition, engaging with material, self-testing and making connections.

**Active Study Strategies Based on Class Materials You Use**
Class Material	Ways to Active Study	Why these are effective
PowerPoint slides	Print out/Download and read before class Take additional notes that come to mind in your own words during class Condense each slide into a flashcard to repeatedly quiz yourself	More prepared for class Using our own words seeks to understand the topics Condensing information works piece-by-piece to incorporate material into your long-term memory
Lecture Notes	Summarize key points in your own words during class (and/or immediately after class) Write questions you have in the margins Go to office hours to clarify unclear ideas asap Re-write the same concepts in different words/ideas or through a concept map when reviewing	Summarizing is a useful way to review big ideas Questions can be used to review later; self-testing helps you confirm if you know something Concept maps are great for visual of information – helps stick in mind
Textbook or homework problems	Try to solve problems without looking at examples Take notes of where you get stuck or make a mistake Rework homework by yourself after asking TA for help Try to “teach” a similar problem to the TA so they can understand and correct your thought process	Self-testing helps you confirm knowledge Identifying where you went wrong lets you move toward correcting and understanding Getting help from an expert will more efficiently learn Being able to teach = full understanding
Readings and articles	Change chapter headings and topic sentences into questions and look for key points throughout the paragraph that address those questions. Check out Reading a Textbook Effectively Summarize each paragraph in 1-2 sentences in your own words Discuss the reading with a classmate and ask each other questions	Questions developed can be used later for review; helps with efficient overview of reading sections Summarizing is a useful way to review big ideas Using peer support confirms correct ideas and helps to modify incorrect ones
Lab reports	Read through the lab manual and write down the procedure to understand the goal and expected results of the experiment before class Ask the TA about the reasoning behind certain steps/reagents as you complete the experiment	Having prior knowledge of the lab procedure will help you conduct things easier/less mistakes made Seeking understanding about procedures provides basis for making connections about lab protocol

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The Study Cycle