What are the learning strategies?

What are learning strategies?

Learning strategies are working aids that are geared towards the learning objective and are intended to enable the learner to learn, retain and reproduce the material in a targeted manner as well and as quickly as possible.
So they serve in the form of an individual action plan as an aid for an efficient learning process with good results, which can be achieved in very different ways. The learning strategies can be very different, as they are adapted to the respective learning type and the learning conditions and every person has very different learning strategies. The terms learning methods and learning techniques are also used synonymously for learning strategies.

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What are the learning strategies?

There are very different learning strategies. In the relevant specialist literature, all learning strategies are divided into three groups. These are explained below.

1. The cognitive learning strategy

The first group concerns cognitive learning strategies, which are related to all processes of information acquisition. In this strategy, new information is processed by, for example, dividing it into meaningful smaller learning packages. Furthermore, it is also possible to mark important terms in order to reduce the learning material to the essentials and to structure it. Mind maps, index cards, tables or sketches with the learning content can also be made.

This strategy group also includes the process of memorization. For most people, this only happens by regularly repeating the subject matter. This is possible by learning a sequence part by part (for example with vocabulary) or by memorizing the sequence as a whole (for example with poems). You can repeat the content in your mind over and over again, speak it out loud and check your knowledge with index cards. It is also possible to combine the learning material with other emotional events (donkey bridges) and to think up stories on different topics.
Another possibility to memorize knowledge is to link the new learning material to existing knowledge.

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2. The metacognitive learning strategy

The second group of learning strategies is the metacognitive learning strategy, which describes the control of learning behavior and learning progress. Your goal is the critical and self-reflective handling of your own learning progress. This includes the creation of learning plans on which it is precisely specified which learning content is learned at what time, so that one's own productivity can be checked quickly and easily. This control also enables a change or optimization of the learning process (regulation), but requires a realistic and well-considered evaluation.
As a strategy for monitoring learning, you can speak to others about what you have just learned or explain it to others.

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3. Resource management

The learning strategy, which relates to the resources, is the last group and includes one's own activities such as self-management, exertion or concentration. The learning environment, i.e. the framework conditions, is also taken into account and described as an external learning strategy.
This also includes the social form, it can be learned in groups or in a library with other people. This can not only promote motivation, but also the exchange of knowledge. In addition, attention should be paid to the design of the learning location so that it is quiet, offers little distraction, etc.
Furthermore, the emotions, i.e. also the effort you put into learning, and the willingness to learn play a decisive role and thus describe the internal learning strategy. One possible strategy to increase motivation is to keep reminding yourself why you are learning, to write down goals that can only be achieved through learning.

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Psychological learning strategies

There are many different learning strategies that have different effects on everyone. It is well known in psychology that you can memorize content particularly well if you have an emotional connection to it. So it makes sense to think of donkey bridges on certain topics or to link them to a real situation from your own life.
Furthermore, the human brain is always looking for stimuli. You can make use of this when learning by providing learning posters with bright colors, sketches or tables. In addition, new knowledge is particularly well absorbed in the memory if it is based on existing knowledge, so you should learn in a meaningful, sequential order or build on other knowledge.

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Learning strategies for different learning groups

Learning strategies for students

When memorizing pure factual knowledge, such as vocabulary or data, it is important that students use the learning strategy of repetition. An index card system can help, which quickly shows the student whether he has already internalized the topic or whether he has to repeat it again. In addition, it is also very useful to read learning content and then play it back freely and aloud or tell someone. In order to bring a bit of fun and creativity into the learning process with smaller children, donkey bridges can be found and invented, it is also possible to make a memory from vocabulary.

Another important learning strategy for students is to structure the learning content clearly and reduce it to the essentials. The learning material can be summarized using your own formulations, so that the student can directly check whether he has understood the topics from the textbook or from teachers' copies. So you can memorize your first knowledge while writing. A learning strategy that works according to the same principle is the writing or creation of mind maps, learning posters or posters that contain all the important details or show learning content schematically or sketchily.

In addition, it is important for students to learn with a time and study plan so that they do not forget anything. Homework and school performance tests should also be noted in this plan. Schoolchildren who are prone to chaos can also bring structure to their learning in this way.

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Learning strategies for students

Depending on the course of study, the course is a very learning-intensive time, which is why it is particularly important in the examination phase that you learn efficiently. The pace and style of learning is different for each student, which is why everyone should try the following learning strategies for themselves.
In order to save time, it is important to listen carefully during the lectures or seminars, to concentrate on the subject and, if necessary, to write down everything that is relevant. With this preparatory work, the subsequent memorization is shorter because you have already dealt with the topic. Because also in the course of studies, the more often the subject matter is repeated, the sooner it goes into long-term memory.

An important prerequisite for successful learning is getting enough sleep, drinking enough, and a bright, quiet, and distraction-free learning environment. Accordingly, studying in the university library is suitable for students, it is not only quiet there, but other students who are also studying can have a motivating effect on themselves and you have specialist literature to read on site.
Another strategy that hardly any student can avoid is creating a learning plan. It is not uncommon for the Lernberg to be difficult to survey, so that the motivation to start is often lacking. A structure not only makes the learning material clearer, but also enables self-monitoring. In addition, according to the structure, the learning content should be reduced to the most important and clearly illustrated on index cards, a mind map or a poster.

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Learning strategies for different situations

Learning strategies for learning vocabulary

When learning vocabulary, it's important not to learn too many words at once without a break or repetition. Accordingly, one should not learn more than seven to ten words at the same time.
Donkey bridges, which are used as memory aids, are a very popular learning method for vocabulary. The word is connected to another word or a situation. It is important that the person has a connection to the imaginary connection, in the best case even an emotional connection. It is also possible to rhyme with the vocabulary and the other word.
Another learning method is attaching notepad. The notepad can be distributed throughout the apartment, so that you can read the vocabulary again and again in passing and thus learn on the side. It is also possible to attach the vocabulary to the corresponding object using a notepad.
A very well-known learning strategy for vocabulary is the index card system. The foreign vocabulary is written down on one side of the index card and the German translation on the other side. You read one side and in your mind say the back of the index card, if you knew this, the repetition period is longer than with vocabulary that you couldn't do.
In addition, there is the vocabulary learning strategy, in which the words are put into a meaningful context by incorporating them into a sentence in the foreign language or even writing a short story with frequent use of this word.

However, repetition is important in all strategies; this is particularly suitable for difficult vocabulary before going to sleep, as information is processed and stored well during sleep. You can also sing, write down or say the vocabulary to yourself.

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Learning strategies for achievement motivation

Motivation plays a crucial role in learning. For this reason, there are learning strategies that are intended to help motivate people to achieve achievement. This also includes learning according to a fixed rhythm. Learning should always take place in the same place at the same time.Learning in groups can also be motivating.
Furthermore, it is important to document the learning success and thus perceive the daily learning progress. A strategy for this can be a clear learning plan on which you can tick off or cross out everything you have learned. In addition, one can achieve achievement motivation through reward. With this learning strategy, you get a reward after a certain amount of time or after a certain amount of what you have learned. It can look very individual, but should always be an incentive for the learner.

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Where and how can I acquire learning strategies?

Learning strategies are essential for efficient learning. If you have not been introduced to learning strategies in school, there are numerous possibilities to adopt them yourself.
The literature deals in detail with the topic of learning, which also includes learning strategies. In addition, it is possible to obtain information on the Internet, to attend courses or lectures on learning and learning strategies. When you have learned about different learning strategies, the next step is to filter out the most effective ones for yourself. Some work better for you than others. As a rule, you look for different ones and combine them in order to have variety on the one hand and to be able to use the right method for different learning topics on the other. Learning strategies can only be acquired by actively trying them out and documenting their effects. Learning material should be used that really has to be learned in order to represent a learning situation that is as real as possible.

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