If you’re assigned something to read, read it aloud to yourself. This engages not just the internal monologue part of your brain, but speaking and hearing parts, and your brain makes stronger pathways when more senses are engaged and working together.
Don’t buy (eta: or download) flash cards, draw them yourself. This engages sight and abstraction., plus motor skill areas.
Write your own notes, then read them aloud and highlight them yourself. So many parts of your brain make connections by doing this. Don’t just read. That’s not very helpful; you don’t have to study long if you study well.
I think there’s a name for this, but I’m tired and will rely on Cunningham’s whatever.
e: don’t forget about all of your senses – you have way more than 5.
I work in kitchens, and so I have to learn new techniques every so often. One thing that I’ve found that works REALLY well for me is to have an imaginary student that I’m teaching as I’m learning it myself. It forces me to repeat the things I’ve learned, but also put them in my own words. I can catch on to techniques much more quickly when I’m doing that.
I’ve mentored people before, and I learned more during that process than during any conferences or seminars.
For years, I bounce things off my cat. She’s learned a lot.
I do this too, not even intentionally, but when something finally clicks I find myself explaining it to myself in my head, in my own words