As we are still in the first few weeks of the spring semester, I thought it would be a good idea to share three ways you can enhance your ability to learn.

1. "Learning occurs best when important information is selected from less important ideas when selected information is organized graphically when associations are built among ideas and when understanding is regulated through self-testing."

A study shared that students score higher grades on tests when they used study techniques such as recording notes, creating comparative charts, building associations, and crafting practice questions. A professor of educational psychology, Dr. Kiewra, calls the methods SOAR: "Selecting key lesson ideas; Organizing information with comparative charts and illustrations; Associating ideas to create meaningful connections; and Regulating learning through practice. It compliments how the brain processes information."

2. A negative attitude increases motivation to learn. Cheerful students think they’re doing well but have lower GPAs. Good moods can harm your memory.

Although several people assume that students with negative emotionality would face learning impairment due to a decrease in motivation, research proved this assumption to be false. Contradictory to the prediction, a positive relationship was found between negative emotionality and motivation to learn. You will often hear stories of students who used to be "failures" and had negative attitudes towards learning.

However, in the long run, they turned out to be some of the most successful people in the world. Often those considered failures are motivated to prove others wrong and that determination leads to hard work which causes success. Similarly, role-model students or extraordinarily gifted students were found unsuccessful due to their overconfidence. This trait is not entirely good.

Moreover, you must work hard for what you want. Cheerful students are overcome with overconfidence which results in the lack of hard work and therefore, true failure.

3. The Socratic Method works.

The Socratic method of asking questions is useful in raising awareness, promoting reflection and improving problem-solving thinking. There are six types of questions in the Socratic Method of Questioning, and thinking of responses for these is a great way to enhance your learning ability.

a. Questions for clarification: Why do you say that? How does this relate to our discussion?

b. Questions that analyze assumptions: What could we assume instead? How can you verify or disapprove that assumption?

c. Questions that go into reasons and evidence: What would be an example? What is _____ analogous to? What do you think causes _____ to happen? Why?

d. Questions about Viewpoints and Perspectives: What would be an alternative? What is another way to look at it? Would you explain why it is necessary or beneficial, and who benefits? Why is it the best? What are the strengths and weaknesses of _____? How are _____ and _____ similar? What is a counterargument for _____?

e. Questions that probe implications and consequences: What generalizations can you make? What are the consequences of that assumption? What are you implying? How does _____
affect _____? How does _____ tie in with what we learned before?

f. Questions about questions: What was the point of this question? Why do you think I asked this question? What does _____ mean? How does _____ apply to everyday life?