Beginner
College Success — Studying, Memory, and Test Taking
Start: Read 6.1 Memory, then 6.2 Studying.
PDF of the complete College Success book; begin with the selected chapter.
Adaptability, self-development & lifelong learning
Lifelong learning
Recall what you study, practise over time and apply what you have learned to new tasks.
How to learn
Check your starting point
Attempt a sample problem to identify the prerequisite knowledge you need.
Understand, then recall
Read a short section, explain it with the book closed, then check and correct against the source.
Practise again on separate days
Return over several sessions rather than relying on one sitting; adapt spacing to the task and need.
Apply it to a new example
Check learning with a changed problem rather than an exact repeat of the old question.
Books & guides
Beginner
Six Strategies for Effective Learning — study guides
Start: Start with the Retrieval Practice and Spaced Practice posters.
Free posters and slides on the original site; check its reuse licence.
Beginner
Learning to Learn Online
Start: Start with Who am I as an online learner?, then Time Management and Strategic Reading.
Free complete web book and 158-page PDF.
Put it into practice
Research & frameworks
Courses & resources
The Learning Scientists · Six Strategies for Effective Learning (opens in a new tab)Free posters and slides on the original site; check its reuse licence.
Start: Try the Retrieval Practice poster with a short lesson.
OpenStax · College Success: studying and memory (opens in a new tab)Free web textbook and publisher PDF; print copies are sold separately.
Start: Use 6.2 Studying to form a question about your own approach.
OpenLearn · Succeed with learning (opens in a new tab)Free to read; progress tracking and some activities require a free account.
Start: Start with Week 1: What is learning?