Learning strategies are methods that students use to learn concepts. These strategies can range from techniques used to improve memory, study habits or test taking strategies to improve outcomes. Learning strategies are a person\’s individual approach to learning and retrieving information. Students who do not know or learn good strategies often learn passively and will ultimately fail.
Some tutor or teaching institutions will help students to learn strategies to improve their learning. This instruction focuses on helping students learn to be more active learners and how to solve problems more successfully.
Some learning strategies change the design of instruction, such as the use of questions before, during and after instruction. This is called the method of loci and is a classic memory improvement technique.
Another typical study strategy is the SQ3R that suggests students use 3 different steps to improve their study habits and memory. These steps include (1) surveying the material to fully understand the scope of what is to be learned, (2) develop questions about the material before studying, (3) reading through the material, (4) recalling the key ideas to improve the content understanding and learning, (5) review the material both through questions, notes and reading material.
Institutions that teach learning strategies attempt to give students well rounded techniques to improve their ability to learn. Well rounded programs address how students usually acquire information. This includes how to paraphrase information so the student puts the information in their own words, which improves understanding, remembering information, asking questions and making predictions about what is coming next.
Programs that teach learning strategies also evaluate what the students do with the knowledge once it is acquired. This means that students must be able to retrieve the information they have retained. By developing mnemonic devices, memorization aids and learning new vocabulary students are better able to prepare for testing.
How students express themselves in communicating their thoughts in sentences as well as learning how to self-monitor for errors and approach their tasks confidently are another part of improving learning strategies students need to maximize their retrieval.
No single criteria or factor of learning and retrieval is any more or less important than any other. Students must also learn how to manage their stress, good study habits and the importance of deadlines to round out their ability to learn, retain and retrieve information.