I understand. You students are very busy juggling the many facets of your life and you feel you barely have the time to study. But please don't forget that the information you're learning is very important for your future career. Taking a few extra moments to improve your learning process will be worth it in the long run. Here are three ways to make learning easier for you.
1. Say it in your own words.
One way to improve your grasp of what you're learning is to re-explain it in your own words. Talk to yourself. Or to your cat. Or to an imaginary friend, if you have one. It doesn't matter, as long as you're teaching it to someone. Review the key points and try to paraphrase them. Go over new vocabulary and use each term in a sentence. By revisiting your coursework with these things in mind, you may be able to learn the material more thoroughly.
2. Consider what you already know.
Before learning or studying new material, think about what you already know about the topic. That's called metacognition and it's a really important learning tool. It prepares the neural circuits in your brain (the place where information sits in your brain about the topic) to accept new information about that topic. This could help you remember it more easily.
3. Sleep on it.
Did you know that when you're sleep deprived, it's more difficult to learn? Believe it or not, just spending some time resting and reflecting on what you've learned really helps it stick.1 After you've finished studying, grab a few zzzzz's. While you sleep, your brain cells connect with each other which makes the information flow more easily. Just make sure you keep those connections active by putting what you've learned to use, or keep reviewing that information.
Using these tips can help you better understand and remember what you're learning in school. You might be surprised how much difference these tried-and-true suggestions can make. Good luck!
1. http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/benefits-of-sleep/learning-memory