Learn How to Learn
Before I start talking about specific study habits, I want to lay the groundwork. Our goal is to avoid a lot of theory and stick to specific study methods, but I also want to make sure you understand why we suggest using particular methods. It's all based on the science of learning how to learn — the science that focuses on why doing things a certain way improves your ability to acquire, retain, and apply new information.
Students typically ask us a lot of "how" questions: How do I take notes? How do I read textbooks? How do I study for my exams? These are the same questions students search for on Google. So when I talk to a student, I like to ask those questions too — but I always add one more: Why? Why do you do those things that way?
I ask because everything you do in college should start with the end in mind. In most college classes, that end is some type of exam — a quiz, a midterm, or a final. So before you decide how you're going to do all those other things, you first want to ask: Is there a proven way to acquire and retain new information that will allow me to recall and apply it on an exam? Once you know that, you can figure out which methods you'll use for taking notes, reading textbooks, and studying for exams.
And yes, there are books about this — lots of them. A few great examples are Make It Stick, How Learning Works, Small Teaching, Teach Yourself How to Learn, and How to Become a Straight-A Student. I’ll link them below. They're all about learning how to learn — exploring the best ways to acquire and retain information and recall it later on an exam or in real life.
Since Jim and I went to college, there has been a mountain of research on this topic. We've read books, studies, and watched videos from experts in this field. All of this can get very deep into theory — and that’s great — but we’re not going to do that here. First of all, there is never full agreement among all the authors, but there is a general consensus that certain methods work better than others, especially when it comes to retaining information and applying it on exams.
I'm going to summarize this for you and show you how to apply it. Remember: as a student, this is all about finding the best way to do well on exams.
---
The Wrong Way to Study
First, let’s talk about the wrong way to study for exams, because that’s what most students are doing. There are two main problems with how students typically study:
1. Time (Cramming) — Cramming is what authors call massed practice. Every student has done this (I used to do it all the time): waiting until the last minute and then studying in a few intense blocks right before the exam. It might be a couple of days or even just the night before. The problem? It's stressful and risky. You’re guessing you can get it done — but you don’t really know.
2. Method (Reading and Rereading) — Students often wait until the last minute and then use the read and reread method: skimming notes, textbooks, and highlighted sections, looking for what they don’t know, and rereading it until they feel like they know it. But two things go wrong: first, they waste time reviewing irrelevant or already known material. Second, and worse, studies show that rereading is NOT effective for committing material to long-term memory or applying it on complicated exam questions. It gives you an illusion of knowing, a false sense of security. You think you’ll remember it — but studies show you won’t.
---
The Right Way: Practice, Not Study
So what’s the right way to prepare for exams? First, let's ditch the word "study." Jim taught me this, and he’s right. You don't "study" for an exam — you practice. There’s a big difference.
Study is acquiring knowledge: reading textbooks, listening to lectures, taking notes.
Practice is applying knowledge: demonstrating that you can use what you learned on an exam or in real life.
Think about sports: if my hockey coach had just handed me a playbook and said "read this, see you at the game in two weeks," you'd think he was crazy. What's missing? Practice. You get better by practicing — small steps, consistently.
Practice works like this:
- Start today, not later.
- Take small bites and master one thing at a time.
- Practice frequently and review past material regularly.
- Keep building your knowledge over time until you’re ready for game day — or in your case, exam day.
Students don’t do this. They wait, get overwhelmed, and cram. Or they reread and hope. And then they wonder why they didn’t get a perfect grade. Simple: they didn’t practice.
---
The 3 Steps of Effective Practice
Here’s the short version of how to practice effectively:
1. Self-Testing (Active Recall) — Force yourself to recall information from memory. Write or say the answers to questions. Don't just reread — actively test yourself. You can use notes, textbooks, or apps like Anki. Speak your answers out loud, explain concepts as if teaching someone else, or write them down. The more you "wrap" knowledge in context and explanation, the more you'll retain.
2. Spaced Repetition — Don't practice all at once. Do a little bit, many times over a period of time. Review old material, add new material, and go back to review everything. Let yourself almost forget, then recall it again — this makes it stick. Don’t worry about perfect intervals — just be consistent.
3. Interleaving (Mixing Things Up) — Don’t focus on one thing for too long. Mix up your subjects and difficulty levels. Studies show this improves learning and makes you better at applying knowledge on exams. It also keeps you from getting bored and helps you stay engaged.
---
How to Implement This in Shovel
In Shovel, create a task in each course called "Practice" — no due date so it stays at the top of your list. Whenever you have a few minutes, schedule that practice block. When an exam gets close and appears in your sidebar, plan for that exam instead of your generic "Practice" task.
And start today — as soon as you’ve read your first chapter or taken your first notes. The more time you give yourself, the better prepared you’ll be.
---
What About Cramming?
If you’re short on time and have to cram, don’t just reread. Self-test. Practice recalling, explaining, and writing out answers. It’s way more effective.
---
Why This Matters Long-Term
Learning how to learn is the foundation for your entire study plan. It will save you hours of time and make your study time much more productive and effective.
And it’s not just about exams. You’re in college to build a deep understanding of your field — knowledge you’ll take to your first job. You want your understanding to be intuitive, so you can apply what you know creatively in real life — not just for a test.
Learning the right way will get you A’s on exams today and better job opportunities tomorrow. Remember: perfect grades, more fun, and less worry — that's college success.
Keep digging.