It is well known that we only remember approximately 10-25% of what we hear in class. Why is this happening and how can we double or even triple this number and optimise our time?

The path to becoming an effective listener begins by recognising that there is more at play than just listening. Listening and remembering is a multi step process which involves tricking your brain into thinking that the information you are being exposed to is important and should be stored (unlike the barrage of content we consume through social media / tv). We need to be determined to get something out of our classes and then disciplined in our process. Here are a few steps we can take to improve our recall of what we hear in class.

Focus and be active

It is the job of the student to keep your focus on the message and make a determined effort to return to focus when the mind begins to wander. This can involve abstaining from technology while listening, sitting with an attentive posture and minimising distractions around you.

Also, getting involved in class discussions and asking questions of the teacher / tutor will not only force you to stay focused but also increase your understanding of the topic.

"I think the one lesson I have learned is that there is no substitute for paying attention." -Diane Sawyer

Take notes / draw diagrams

Take thorough notes and use underlining, CAPITALS, colours and highlighters to differentiate important info. Using these tools will help because they add another visual layer to your notes which will inevitably lead you to be able to recall information easier. As you listen, try using flow charts and diagrams to simplify key concepts. You might realise that some tools and colours help you a little bit more than others when it comes to recall.

TIP: Write primarily all of your notes in black and then embellish the more important parts with the use of brighter colours.

Become the teacher

Before class and as the teacher is speaking, think to yourself - 'What are they trying to get across?' or 'What do they want me to learn from this?'

This will improve the efficiency of your note taking as you can focus and hone in on the key areas and spend less time writing about menial content. It will also allow you to ask more relevant questions and spend more time on revising the important topics.

"If speaking is silver, then listening is gold." - Turkish saying

Consolidate ASAP

Review your notes as soon as possible after your class. Once you know the teachers goal of the lesson, check your notes. Do they line up with the lesson outline? If you are lacking in any areas now is the time to add to them. Write and answer mock-up exam questions as well as broad 'explain xyz' prompts. If anything doesn't make sense, ask your peers, teachers or private tutors for clarification. Come revision time, the notes will be pointless if they aren't understood by you.

Recurring revision

Once we have done all the right things before and after class to maximise our retention we may think the job is done. This however, couldn't be further from the truth. As seen in our article on memory retention, we learn and remember through constant repetition. Although we may think we will remember it come exam time, without regular review our memory fades to a small fraction of what we once knew. Utilise the questions and prompts you wrote after the lesson to find out where your gaps are and relearn accordingly. Review larger concepts every few weeks for just enough time to pique your memory.

We hope this post has helped you remember what you learn in class. As always, this post was written by an Indigo Education Tutor. If you have any questions or you wanted to make an inquiry please don't hesitate to contact us and we'll get back to you. 

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