Atharv Dua Week #15 - V will be passing VQs
Did you remember the vocabulary words on our past few VQs? I’m sure you did, but for some of them, especially when the words are close synonyms of each other, picking a word becomes russian roulette (or eeny meeny miny moe depending on your preference). Getting one wrong is an automatic C (help) and two wrong is a left hook to the test category. However, if you get them all, it’s 20/20 extra points for just four words!
I’ve noticed, though, that we have many different ways of actually remembering the vocabulary words. Given that it’s wraps if you get just one word wrong, I’ve tried many different methods of studying for them myself. I’ve drawn mind maps, made flashcards, listened to myself on the bus, and all the other techniques that people seem to swear by. For me, though, the primary thing that seems to work seems to be writing the words over and over for some reason (Umbridge flashbacks).
It’s a really weird way of remembering it. It’s not like I remember them because I see them in my head (if I tried to visualize the words in my head my handwriting would make me think I was becoming dyslexic) or that I hear myself saying them to myself. Just the repeated moving of a pencil in weird ways that we invented helps me remember some of the more complicated words.
I know this is part of the larger “auditory-visual-kinesthetic” etc etc learning style research, but I find it interesting that even today, with the most advanced online study tools and so much technology that should/could be helping me study, I (and I assume some others) decide to go with the traditional pen and paper method. It probably isn’t the most effective way, but it makes me comfortable with memorization. What makes that happen for you?
For me personally, the way that I memorize things differs based on what subject I’m studying for. For vocabulary specifically, Quizlet is my best friend. With any type of vocabulary that requires just memorization, flashcards are the most practical for me, and having them online is much easier to make than making physical ones. But if I need to study for chemistry, then I go through my notes and the textbook and write them down all again in a notebook. Just like you, I like writing things down to visualize them rather than listening to them out loud. However, I like to read my notes over and over again and memorize them that way, rather than writing them multiple times. When you mentioned the larger “auditory-visual-kinesthetic,” I remembered a science experiment that I did as a kid at my old elementary school in first grade. My group and I went around to multiple classrooms around the school, each of which were a different grade. We conducted an experiment in which we tested their auditory learning abilities versus their visual learning abilities and found that a majority of the students were primarily visual learners. That seems to be the trend that goes around since a lot of my taekwondo students are the same. Over time, I’ve noticed that a lot more of them understand what I’m trying to teach them when they actually see me do the move in front of them. Especially for the younger kids, who find it harder to process information auditorily, a move that once stumped them is one that they can comprehend better once I show them what they should be doing. Some may say that they are simply copying me, but that’s how everyone starts. For the older kids, they can handle verbal instruction much better than the little kids, but even they sometimes need to see it all play out in front of them.
ReplyDeleteHi Atharv, for me personally, the times when I obtained that coveted 20/20 vocabulary quiz, those times were when I wrote down every word just like you. I personally do the questions in the book and instead of writing the letter answer or just the word, I write the entire sentence or phrase that describes the word, and I remember it better. By understanding the prior context, it helps me differentiate different words and allows me to remember their meaning and unique usages. The “pen and paper method” is honestly so underrated. I feel that the times when I do not want to do this method is only when I am tired of writing and do not want to be as engaged in the work. However, being less engaged, will lead to a lower understanding of any material, which the pen and paper method ensures will not happen. I am a big proponent of this study method because it has led me with the most success but I am definitely open to hearing other views on the best way to remember vocabulary. One of the other things I did recognize for me that worked was during the times when I reviewed vocabulary with my friends, and made a silly mistake, I would always remember that word no matter what. I think that silly mistake is impactful to my memory and helps revision. Lastly, I think one thing we forget is that the method may not be as effective compared to how much time you spend; it may be simply that the more time we spend, the better the results. There are so many variables that we can modify when studying which leads us to never truly knowing the core reason behind our successes or mistakes. Thanks for letting me reflect on my study methods, Atharv!
ReplyDeleteHi Atharv! I think these quizzes are honestly the bane of my existence (see what I did there), and to be frank, whatever methods I use like making flashcards or even making maps just like you did, does not help the words stick in my head. What I really like to do to study for the quizzes is to learn them in order, then work my way backwards as active recall. Sometimes what I found was that I remembered the definition of a word based on the placement of the word in the workbook if that makes sense. For example, I remembered capricious as meaning unpredictable because it was the 3rd or 4th term in the workbook. A study process with my thoughts would be reciting “first word… medieval chemistry! Wait… what was the term again?” Obviously this way seems flawed, but it actually did work really well for some reason. The word bank on the quiz saves me every time.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! I also find that handwriting things helps me remember more, especially with biology. I’m not too sure what the exact science is either but if I had to guess maybe the strategy is that you review the material twice in a way because you have to think about the term and definition then you have to write it down, compared to online where you think about it but it may be less effective since you’re just tapping keys on a keyboard.
As we approach our last short vocab quiz of the year, I’m starting to learn that I’m just not very good at memorization and differentiating words in particular. But I am manifesting that all of us get 100% this week to end off! Thanks for this interesting blog, Atharv!