How to learn effectively with 6 basic skills. Increase your learning performance with scientifically recommended strategies – The ANSWER method.

These tips are aimed at pupils and students who want to prepare for exams or study more effectively.

Click this link to get free downloadable posters on these six strategies for effective learning: https://www.dropbox.com/s/sofzb2m3sqzwvlv/6%20Strategies%20for%20Effective%20Learning.pdf?dl=1

This video is a collaboration between The Learning Scientists (http://www.learningscientists.org/) and Memorize Academy (https://www.memorize.academy).

EXAMPLES of specific elaboration questions from MATH

You're studying calculus. The topic is "derivatives." How do derivatives work? Well, they're the rate of change. How does that work? You look at a point, then you look at a previous point over a certain interval. And then you take the difference divided by the interval. As that interval approaches zero, you have the instantaneous rate of change. Why does that happen? Because "instantaneous" means that the interval is nothing.

SCIENCE

Imagine you are studying neural communication, perhaps as part of a biology, neuroscience, or psychology course.

How does neural communication work? If we look at a neuron, the dendrites receive messages from many other neurons, and then the messages converge in the soma. If there is enough positive charge in the soma, an action potential occurs and an electrical signal goes down the axon. When the signal reaches the terminals, neurotransmitters are released into the synapse, where they communicate with the dendrites of the next neuron.

Why does this happen? Neurotransmitters are chemicals that allow neurons to communicate with each other. The activation pattern of the different neurons (which neurons fire, how fast, which neurotransmitters they release) determines the message in your brain.

You may be wondering how the axon works. The axon is a long tail-like structure that generates the electrical signal.

How does the signal travel? The axon is surrounded by a myelin sheath, a fatty substance that insulates the axon. The myelin sheath works like the rubber around the cord of an electrical device, allowing the current to flow faster.

Why do we have a myelin sheath? Because our neurons need to be able to send signals quickly, as we need to react, make decisions, move quickly, sense sensations on our skin instantly, etc.

Compare ideas to see how they are similar and how they are different. For example, an axon and terminals are both parts of a neuron. However, the axon sends an electrical signal while the terminals release chemicals. Both schizophrenia and Parkinson's are related to the neurotransmitter dopamine. However, schizophrenia is the result of an excess of dopamine, while Parkinson's is the result of a deficiency of dopamine.

Also try to make connections to your own memories or experiences, and compare ideas to see how they are similar and different. We have already made the connection from the myelin sheath of axons to the rubber of cables to electrical devices.

Here's another example: A family member or close friend who has schizophrenia has excess dopamine. This means that too much dopamine is released into the synapse through the terminals. A doctor might prescribe a drug that lowers the dopamine levels in their brain, called a dopamine antagonist. If this drug is taken in too large amounts, the patient may develop symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease.

How would a dopamine antagonist work? … keep asking yourself detailed questions!

STORY

Imagine you are studying World War II and the attack on Pearl Harbor.

You might be wondering how this attack could have happened. On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. The attack involved Japanese fighter planes, bombers, and torpedo planes.

Why did this happen? The Japanese intended to destroy the US Pacific Fleet so that it could not hinder Japanese operations.

Here one could also ask another question: what was the result of this historic event? Well, Japanese losses were light, while they damaged eight battleships of the US Navy. The Arizona was one of the ships the Japanese sank and could not be raised from the shallow water. US aircraft were also destroyed and 2,403 Americans lost their lives (1,178 were injured).

Why is this event important? The day after the attack, Roosevelt delivered his diatribe, the United States declared war on Japan, and Japanese-Americans were relocated to internment camps.

You could then go on to say: How did the US enter the war? How did the attack on Pearl Harbor lead to the dropping of the atomic bomb? How did the war end? And so on. There are so many ways to explain the idea and add details!

Please take the opportunity to connect with your friends and family and share this video with them if you find it useful.