Have you ever put in long hours of study, only to realize that you were unable to recall many details a few days later? By making a few changes in the way you study and review, you can boost your retention substantially. You might not be able to achieve 100 percent recall, but you can remember much more of what you learn.Many of us recall little of what we learn because of our natural brain function — simply put, our recall declines rapidly as time passes. While no one knows why this happens, it has been well documented in clinical studies. Further, these studies have established that the deterioration in recall will progress rapidly unless:1) we give our minds a period of rest after learning,2) we allow a brief ‘sink in’ period for the information, and3) we undertake a series of short reviews at optimal time intervals.Indeed, learning is cumulative. That is, as you build and maintain your current body of knowledge, you will be able to build on this base. You will also be able to better absorb and understand new information. The person who does not undertake regular reviews puts himself at a big disadvantage. He squanders the time-consuming effort that he put into learning. Within twenty-four hours after a one-hour learning period, most people have forgotten up to 80% of the details learned. This loss can be halted by following organized review.How do you undertake organized review so that you retain more? Follow these steps:o Schedule a brief rest period after each learning session for optimum retention. The optimal learning session is between thirty to sixty minutes. After sixty minutes, learning and understanding start to dip noticeably. If possible, take a ten minute break to relax and to let the information ‘sink in’. Then, you can return to your studies (or lecture).o At the end of a one-hour learning period, you should undertake your first review. The review should be short, lasting for only ten minutes. A beneficial review would have you review your notes from reading or immediately following a lecture.o To help cement what you have learned, complete a second review exactly one day later. This review should last only 5 minutes.o Another review should take place two weeks after the second one and last only 5 minutes.o Complete the final review, the one that will facilitate long-term recall, one month after the third review. This review should also last only 5 minutes.With the three 5-minute reviews, you will get the best results if you follow these practices:1. Before looking at your notes, get a blank sheet of paper. Jot down all the points that you can remember regarding the information you will be reviewing. If you know how to mind-map, use this method of re-creating notes on your blank page.2. Then, review your original notes quickly but thoroughly. Compare the two sets of notes.While the outlined review program might seem excessive, it has a special purpose. This system takes full advantage of the science behind optimizing recall. The system is designed to retrieve from your short-term memory more of what you learned and permanently place that information into longer-term memory. It is an efficient system that helps you to retain much more. It will also aid the cumulative aspect of your learning.Rather than wait for weeks after reading your text or lecture notes, use this effective review method. The review sessions are compact and easy. They are designed to bring what you learned back to the surface several times over an extended period — resulting in greater retention. Over the long-run, you will spend less time studying, retain more and be able to cover more material.Author: George ParkerArticle Source: EzineArticles.comPCB stencil online quote