There are several myths and misconceptions about learning that many students believe in, as they’re mostly passed on by their parents and teachers. However, while they may all mean well, many of these pieces of advice turn out to be a drawback instead of being useful.
Whether you’re revising at home for a big exam or sitting in classroom chairs here in Australia listening to long hours of lecture, there are certain ways you can study more effectively and efficiently. There are new researches that dispel many of these old studying methods.
So it’s important to understand how you can come up with new successful strategies that can change the way you learn for the better. Here are some of the most common study myths and the truth behind them:
Myth #1: The more time you spend studying, the more information you’ll retain
Even after spending hours and hours every day on your desk, you can still fail an exam or get an unsatisfying mark. The number of hours you spend trying to remember as much information as you can won’t guarantee that you’ll get high marks.
It sounds unfair, but no matter how much effort you put in, if your study skills and strategies are lacking, it will be difficult to achieve the results you want. However, this does not mean you can simply slack off and not study. Getting good grades will always involve effort and hard work, but this isn’t equivalent to pulling all-nighters way too often.
Understand that there is a huge difference between effort and technique. So, instead of increasing your study time, look for ways to improve your study skills and techniques. You’ll be surprised how time-efficient it can be.
Myth #2: Energy drinks work great in helping you learn better
This is one of the more popular myths nowadays, and many manufacturers are coming up with more types of beverages that promise results so that they can sell more. High school and university students experience more stress and pressure regarding their academics.
They become easily vulnerable to this type of marketing, making them believe that certain energy drinks will allow them to memorize and retain new information better. However, as with many items out in the market, many of these products won’t be able to deliver what they promised.
First, too much caffeine intake can harm the body. While it makes you feel alert at first, after a few hours, you’ll start to feel unwell, and you won’t be able to concentrate and focus on your reading. Also, most of these drinks contain huge amounts of sugar and can rinse out both the potassium and magnesium from your body.
Myth #3: Reading in a dark room can ruin your vision
You’ve probably heard this over and over again: reading inside a dark room can cause damage to your eyesight. However, according to research, reading in semidarkness that can actually do wonders on your vision. It allows your eyeballs to feel relaxed, which, in turn, can help you maintain healthy eyesight.
These are just some of the myths about studying. Do you believe in any of them?
