Deep Learning Strategies

In this episode of the TOEFL Speaking Prep Podcast, we dive deep into effective learning strategies that can transform the way you study. Drawing from fascinating research out of Estonia, we explore powerful tools like spaced repetition, self-testing, and visual learning that can lead to long-term retention and success in high-pressure exams. We also debunk common learning myths and emphasize the importance of understanding your own learning style. Whether you're a visual learner or thrive on active recall, this episode equips you with actionable strategies to enhance your study game. Happy learning!

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Transcript

Ever find yourself cramming for a big exam and wishing you had like a learning superpower. 

Uh-huh Yeah, we'll get ready because today's deep dive is all about unlocking that power. We're diving into learning strategies That's right. Not just how to learn but how to learn effectively Exactly. 

We're talking about ditching the surface level skimming. Okay, and really diving deep for those pearls of wisdom. I love the analogy But really who has time for deep dives when you're like facing a mountain of textbooks and a deadline That's like hurtling towards you. 

I hear you, but that's actually what makes this deep dive So fascinating you see there's research that shows just how important it is to use the right learning strategies Okay, especially, you know in those high-pressure situations like, you know, ruthlessly studying for an exam So there's actually research on this. Tell me more. Yeah, so researchers in Estonia They worked with eighth and ninth graders to study their study habits very meta, right? Yeah, they use this example of prepping for a biology exam to make it relatable because let's be honest Who hasn't had to cram for a biology exam at some point in their life? Oh, don't remind me flashbacks to like dissecting frogs and trying to remember what a cell structure even is The struggle was real But I'm actually really curious. 

What did they find out? Oh, the first thing they discovered was kind of surprising many students struggle to even name a single learning strategy Let alone tell you which ones were effective and which ones weren't really by 8th and 9th grade Do you think we'd have picked up a few tricks by then? Right, you'd think so and even more interesting is what they discovered about what teachers were telling their students about studying Let me guess lots of just read the chapter and pay attention in class ding-ding-ding. We have a winner, huh? Yeah, a lot of the advice students remembered from their teachers was super general, right? You know things like try harder or study hard. Yeah, not exactly helpful advice Is it no not at all? That's like telling someone to bake a cake without giving them a recipe, you know Or even telling them what ingredients to you right just big exactly exactly And that's where you know this idea of explicit instruction comes in, right? Okay, this research found that when teachers explicitly explain learning strategies and how they work it makes a huge difference So it's not enough to tell students to study you have to teach them how to study precisely Think of it like giving someone a toolbox full of tools Okay, if you just hand them the toolbox and say good luck building a house They're gonna be lost Right, but if you take the time to show them how to use each tool suddenly they have the power to build something amazing Okay, that makes so much sense I wish my teachers had given me a learning toolbox instead of just like a stack of textbooks, right? But now I'm really curious What are some of these powerful learning strategies that actually work? Well, the study looked at a variety of strategies really comparing the ones that lead to that deep learning Versus the ones that just kind of skim the surface right remember pearl diving versus seashell collecting Oh, yeah, definitely sticking with deep dives from now on. 

Yeah, no more like waiting in the shallows for me That's the spirit. So one of the most effective deep learning strategies they found is called spaced repetition Spaced repetition. What's that? Basically, it's spreading out your study sessions over time instead of you know Waiting to the last minute and trying to cram everything in right? So instead of like One marathon study session the night before the exam Yeah, you review the material in shorter bursts, you know with breaks in between So it's like giving your brain time to actually absorb the information rather than just trying to like force-feed it everything at once Exactly exactly and the research shows that this strategy is so much more effective for a long-term retention Okay You know It's like if you think about building a brick wall, right if you lay the bricks one at a time With time for the mortar to dry in between you end up with a much stronger structure, right? But if you try to like slap all the bricks up at once, it's just gonna crumble. 

Okay, I can totally see how that would work What other deep learning gems did they uncover another really powerful strategy is creating visuals Okay, so things like diagrams Concept maps or even just like doodling on your notes can actually make a big difference. Well, I'm a visual learner for sure Hmm. I always try to find a good diagram or like an infographic to help me understand those complex topics And there's a good reason for that. 

Yeah visuals kind of tap into different parts of our brains Making it easier to actually remember Information it's like you're creating a mental map that you can easily navigate. Okay, so we've got space repetition visuals What else the third strategy they highlighted is self-testing? Oh, you mean like quizzing yourself exactly and doing it without looking at your notes right the act of actually like Actively trying to retrieve information. Yeah that strengthens those neural pathways Okay, and it helps cement the information in your memory. 

It's like giving your brain a workout So it's not just about like passively reading and highlighting. Nope. It's about really engaging with the material in a more active way Okay. 

Yeah, think of it this way Would you rather watch someone else play basketball or get out there on the court and practice yourself? Hands-down playing is the best way to learn exactly and the same goes for studying Okay, so we've got some great strategies to add to our learning toolboxes for yes spaced repetition visuals and self-testing But I'm guessing this study didn't just uncover what works did it also bust any common learning myths? Oh, absolutely. It turns out there are a lot of misconceptions floating around about what makes for effective learning Okay, spill the tea. What like learning myths do we need to ditch? SAP well one big one is you know, the idea that more time studying equals better results Yeah, you know that old if I just pull an all-nighter with this textbook. 

I'm golden approach. Oh, yeah Yeah, I think we've all been there the research actually found that it's not really about the quantity of time that you put in It's more so about the quality. It's like that saying work smarter not harder, right? Right? Yeah make sense So what's the learning equivalent of like working smarter? We've got our toolbox of strategies But how do we actually use them most effectively that's where understanding your own learning style is really key Yeah, another myth the research kind of busted was this idea that everyone learns the same way, right? Right. 

Some people are visual learners others thrive on that auditory input You know, some people got to move around while they study. It's all about like Finding what works best for you. Yeah experimenting is key. 

I remember like in college I tried using flashcards thinking that was the way to study turns out. I really just needed to like Talk through the material out loud almost as if I was teaching it to someone else There you go You found what worked for you and once you kind of know your strengths then you can really Tailor your study sessions to kind of maximize your learning potential. This is all so good Yeah, but it can feel overwhelming like where do you even begin? I think the most important thing is to just start somewhere Yeah, pick one strategy that really resonates with you and give it a try Don't be afraid to experiment and see what clicks and just remember it's a journey not a race Yeah, you're always learning and growing right both in terms of like what you know and how you learn best. 

I love that It's about embracing that growth mindset So we've debunked some learning myths added some powerful strategies to our toolboxes and really just learn the importance of understanding our own learning styles What a deep dive any final words of wisdom for our listeners before we you know resurface just this Learning should be an adventure not a chore. Yes, but go out there, you know Explore experiment and most importantly have fun couldn't agree more now We want to hear from why you listener what learning strategies have you found most effective head over to our social media and share your thoughts Until next time happy learning