Ever wonder how some students can take an exam after studying very little and still score more than those who spend hours studying for the same exam? Are these individuals extremely intelligent or is it something else? The chances are that they are using a different approach to their studies. Traditional methods like learning by rote are not very effective, especially when your child is dealing with a lot of information. In addition, your child might labour away for hours and still not be able to recall what he has studied.
Holistic learning is a different method of studying. This method focuses on understanding the information and linking it to other topics, creating a framework. Therefore, your child does not have to memorise pages of information. If practised properly, this method is more effective and requires less study time. Here are some holistic learning techniques to get your child started.
Ask Questions
When your child first begins studying a topic, tell him to ask a few questions. First, he should determine what exactly he is studying or the name of the topic, to give the session some clarity. The next question is how it relates to the other topics in the same lesson or subject. He could create a 'ladder' where each topic is one of the rungs. The third question is how does this relate to other subjects? Can he make a connection between the topic and an activity in his daily life to make it easier to remember?
These are just a few basic questions. Once your child gets the hang of things, he can modify them accordingly. He can even add or reduce the number of questions, depending on the topic. The point of this technique is to find as many connections as possible to that topic. By asking these questions, your child will be able to give that topic its own unique place in the framework.
Visualise the Information
While studying, your child should try to mentally 'see' the information. This may seem difficult at first so your child can actually draw what he sees. Your child is attempting to draw a diagram, which will show the relationships between different variables. For example, if he is studying the human body, he could try drawing the different parts separately and then making a cyclic diagram linking them together.
The diagram does not have to be a fancy work of art. Even crudely drawn diagrams can be highly effective as long as your child is able to understand the objects in the diagram. Once your child is comfortable with his diagrammatic skills, he will find himself able to visualise and connect the information in his mind itself, before he actually draws the diagram.
Feel the Data
Sometimes, not all the data can be visualised, like abstract formulae for example. In this case, your child will have to rely on a different sense to guide him. One of the methods he can use is his sense of touch. He can imagine himself touching a topic and actively trying to figure it out. For example, if he is learning something like finding the diameter of a circle, he can imagine himself tracing the entire circle with his fingers and then cutting it in half, using parts of the formula. Similarly, he can use this technique to deal with historical dates and other pieces of information, which cannot always be given a mental picture.
Create Random Links
Occasionally, your child may come across information that he cannot relate to or understand, but still needs to remember. In such a scenario, your child will have to actually create a link to this information. This is accomplished by joining the necessary information to something that is completely unrelated. The point of this exercise is to create a picture that is so outrageous or funny that a connecting link is forced between the two pieces of information. For example, he could connect a particular number with a dog and connect it so that the dog is pulling a cart with the number placed in it.
Holistic learning is a technique that works not only during exam time. It is something that must be incorporated into regular study sessions as well. Only then will your child truly derive the benefits of this technique.
Have you heard of these techniques before? Does your child use any of these study techniques? How effective do you think holistic learning is? To share your tips, views, and experiences, click here.
