the Benefits of Using a Web by Katie

the Benefits of Using a Web by Katie - January 2014 Scholarship Essay

Over the years I have used many different study methods; some have worked, others have not. However the method that I have found the most effective is webbing or mapping my notes. This method helps me to visualize the information and connect facts, terms and other information together to address the topic.

The first step in the process is to take good notes and to really pay attention during class. By good notes I do not mean writing down every word that leaves the teacher’s mouth but rather important ideas or overarching themes. Yes, there are certain details that must be included but I have found that when I focus on the details alone, I often miss the big picture. Seeing the big picture will help me better understand the topic overall and in the long run better prepare me for the test.

The next thing I do is reread my notes and compare them to the theme or overarching question for the course. This helps me focus my notes because while I attempt to only gather the important information, I still am in the habit of writing down unneeded details. When going back over my notes, after focusing on the question, I highlight important terms and ideas that I will use in my web.

With my ideas and terms ready I then map out the ideas and the connections between them. Starting with a general idea for the course I branch out from there getting more specific as I move farther from the center of the page. Seeing the connections not only helps me to understand the material better but also helps me to remember it. As I learned in the brain unit of my psychology class the brain is very much like the web I create to study. Ideas and words are connected; therefore the more you can connect to a word or idea or other topics the more easily you will be able to retrieve that idea later. When I get to a tricky multiple choice answer I first look for the most general idea that the question is asking about, then I find that idea in the memory of my web and trace the connections to the idea to find the answer.

Beyond helping me with multiple choice questions this type of web is a tool of organization that is useful for writing essays. The web allows me to start with a general idea or the essay topic itself and branch out to connect ideas and details. When it comes time to write my essay I have all my ideas in front of me already connected.

In high school I was in the habit of simply rereading my notes a couple of times before a test. This worked fine most of the time; however, this tactic did not translate over to college. I learned this the hard way after my first psychology exam. Going into the exam I felt prepared because I had read all of the material in the same way that I always had. Trouble struck when I got to the exam and realized that I had trouble remembering many of the terms and ideas I had studied. While I knew and understood the information as I was reading it I had not built connections in my brain to help me retrieve the information later. The next exam I knew I had to change my ways so I began to use this method of webbing and mapping and I scored one of the best grades in the class. Beyond just scoring well in class I also remembered and understood the material better which helped me when it came to the final exam but also encouraged my interest in the subject.

In the past I studied to take a test, the material left my head as soon as I finished the test and ultimately I had no attachment to the subject. The material did not mean anything to me and it was more of a matter of memorizing than anything else. With this new method I accomplished the same goal of doing well on tests but it also forced me to really grasp and dig into the material. This has helped me develop an interest in the topic. Learning has become an intellectual experience again instead of a device to get a good grade.