STAGES OF

LEARNING,
LEARNING
STYLES

The Curve of Forgetting

By Day 2, if you have done nothing with

the information you learned in that
lecture, didn't think about it again, read
it again, etc. you will have lost 50%80% of what you learned.
By Day 7, we remember
even less, and by Day 30,
we retain about 2%-3%
of the original hour!

Knowledge /
retention

100
%

On Day 1, at the beginning of the lecture, you

go in knowing nothing, or 0%. At the end of the
lecture you know 100% of what you know,
however well you know it.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 7

Day
30

Adapted from the University of Waterloo Counselling

Services
http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infocs/study/curve.html

The Curve of Forgetting

5
minutes

Day 2

Day 7

2-4
minutes

Knowledge /
retention

100
%

10
minutes

Day 1

Day
30

Adapted from the University of Waterloo Counselling

Services
http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infocs/study/curve.html

3-Step Learning Strategy

Preview a quick look before class
View active listening & note taking (in
class)
Review a few minutes daily

~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

Step 1: Preview

Scan textbook and/or posted slides

before lecture
Read for big picture only not for detail

Pictures, diagrams, captions

Check key words
Read introductory paragraph and first
line of some paragraphs

Youll get much more out of lecture if

you have previewed material briefly
~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

Step 2: View-In-class

Get there and settled before class

begins
Listen actively for important points
Take good notes but dont try to write
everything
Ask questions during or after class if
unsure

~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

Step 3: Review

Review soon after class same day if

possible complete your notes
The Curve of Forgetting describes how
we retain or get rid of information that
we take in. It's based on a one-hour
lecture.

~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

How much time should I

review?

Depends on your course load and subjects

30 minutes each weekday, plus 1.5 to 2 hours

each weekend

Can you afford that much time?

Can you afford not to?

An investment of your time that pays big

dividends
Significantly reduces time spent preparing for
tests
Significant effect on grades
~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

Vark Learning Preferences

Visual
Auditory
Read/Write
Kinesthetic

~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

Are you a Visual Learner?

Words become pictures or visual scenes

Important to learn to convert to words for written tests
Handwriting is preferred to printed text
Few professors share your mode
There is no dictionary of images images are very personal
Sometimes visual learners have photographic memory
Doodling is common doodles may change depending on
type of information

~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

Are you an Auditory Learner?

Associate sound with pictures and words

Voices are significant, linked to the information

heard

Often take poor notes because focus is on

listening
Record lectures (with permission)

Record personal notes and summaries

Like to discuss and explain ideas

Easily distracted by noise

Often read aloud or form words with lips as

reading

Helps to recall professors voice during tests

Often talks to self

~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

Are you a Read/Write Learner?

Write/re-write , Read/re-read
Use word processor
Must learn to reduce writing
Professors are usually strong Read/Write
learners themselves
Distinguish meaning between words well
Follow written instructions well
Like multiple choice tests
Like textbooks and like to keep them
Like using mnemonics and wordy mind
maps
Not into group discussion can confuse
vs. expand understanding

~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

Are you a Kinesthetic Learner?

Background noise is often preferred
Like to study with colour
Like to walk when studying
Hands-on learning
Use of senses
Like experiments and practical activities
Learn by doing

~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~