Definitive Guide on How to Learn and Retain (BECE & WASSCE) after COVID-19

How to learn and retain most of the things I have learned is one of the questions my students keep asking year after year especially when they are in their final year.

Learning and its associated retention rate are critical to the success of every student no matter the level of education.

For BECE and WASSCE students, how to learn and retain becomes important to them when the examination is a few months away and they have a lot to cover while teachers are also teaching, trying to complete the syllabus, and commence the important revisions. For tertiary students, it’s even worse if the content is voluminous and one has less time to read through everything. 

In this write-up, I will attempt to share with you practical methods I have used as a student to move from an average student to the top of the class versatile student. You should be on your way to breaking records and seeing amazing results by the time you read through this and put the best methods into practice.

I know my students and readers need solutions and not all the findings of Edgar Dale about the learning retention rate obtained from learning experiences, instruction media used and all the big statistics could hold the key to the knowledge about how to learn smart and retain more. 

How to learn and retain: Attend Lectures

If you go for lectures or sit in a class session, you will be able to retain just 5% of the knowledge communicated yet, many of us want to pass the examination and understand everything the teacher teaches in each session. Although you retain just 5% it is worth being there to hear it by yourself. 

10% retention through reading

Reading is a key to learning. If you learn by reading your textbooks or notes you took during a class, you are able to retain up to 10% content. This explains why many teachers will advise you to read your notes before you go to bed or before the next class. Students who attend lectures and read their notes several times before the exams have a greater chance of passing exams but they can retain just 10% which is also quite low but better than just attending the lecture and doing nothing more.

20% retention through Audiovisuals 

While in school I bought a Walkman or a cassette player and tape-recorded all my notes and text that I felt were relevant. In the university up to date, I hardly listen to music using my earpiece and phone. However, I used my phone to record lectures as well as my notes early in the morning or late at night in a quiet room. On my way to school or while in school, I listened to this content and it did amazing magic. Research shows that up to 20% can be retained via Audio Visual / Video. This was a good method after all. 

30% retention through demonstration 

Demonstration during lessons also helps students retain 30% but learning with groups through is an amazing way of grasping up to 50% of the content you learn. The more you do group discussions and participate fully led by a serious and dedicated leader, you are bound to excel. At the graduate school, this was an amazing experience as a class of 18 students kept performing exceptionally well. Our group discussions were well managed, directed, and planned with everyone instructed by the class secretary to read ahead of the discussion and share ideas and understanding. 

Group Discussions 

Group discussions are also good learning methods for students. Such discussions help students share relevant ideas and understanding. In the end, the students teach each other and discuss topics. This boasts their understanding however, such groups must have a good leader who will ensure ground rules are set and obeyed at all discussion meetings. Students can retain up to 50% of lessons learns from group discussions.

75% retention through practice by doing 

The old saying that “Practice makes perfect” holds in one’s ability to be able to retain what has been learned. When students practice by doing, they retain up to 75% of what is learned. This means you have to solve the maths questions, write the theory answers sketch the drawings and diagrams, and keep practicing and perfecting. 

90% retention through teaching others what you learned 

Above all, there is more blessing in giving than in receiving. Hence those who are able to teach others what they have learned, retain up to 90% of whatever they have learned. Do not be surprised that your teacher or lecture keeps delivering the same information to several students over many years and still remembers the information. 

Teaching others is the best way to learn. Whiles at the secondary, and the university, I spent less time preparing for exams all because I helped other friends to understand what has been taught. the more I taught, the more I did not have to learn the same thing again. It made my exams very easy to pass and boosted my confidence as a student. I have less stress and enjoyed being a student. 

Conclusion

The best gift you can give to yourself and others you are learning the same cause with is to teach them. How to learn and retain it is to do the simple things, teach others after you have read. If you were not able to teach it to your satisfaction, go over the material and try teaching it again. Best of luck now that you know how to learn and retain. Start practicing the best now. I recommend you read 6 Ways to Fail Exams to further help you avoid failure in school. Learn, retain, and teach others.

Source: Wisdom Hammond | Educationists, Public speaker, Author