With final exams fast approaching, now is a good time to begin committing all of the legal principles you have studied this semester to long-term memory, if you haven’t already started. Science has shown that practicing random recall is excellent for building long-term memory and quick recall.
The process works like this. Step one of studying is thinking deeply about the principles: how they relate to each other, how they relate to things you have already learned, and understanding their underpinnings and application. Reading, engaging in class discussions, taking notes, and creating outlines all help achieve this deep thinking.
Step Two involves committing those principles to long-term memory and improving your ability to recall them quickly on demand. This principle is discussed in the book Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger, III, and Mark M McDaniel. Long-term memory is GREATLY improved when learners utilize short study sessions that randomly mix up the concepts they are learning over a long period of time.
A tool that works great for this type of learning is flashcards. Study flashcards for 30 minutes to an hour every day in a random order. Check out flashcards from the library circulation desk or use the flashcards in Quimbee.
Another useful tool is the Examples & Explanations series in the Wolters Kluwer Online Study Aid Library or the print copies in the library reserve room. Randomly select a section or examples in the book every day to test yourself.
Contact Iantha Haight or another librarian with questions about locating or accessing study aids.