Robinson Method To Learn To Study
“How do you teach your children to study?” “What is the correct method?” “Does it depend on the subject?” These are the questions parents ask themselves when their children start studying. Therefore, we are going to explain one of the best techniques in the world to learn to study: the Robinson method.
What is the Robinson method?
The Robinson method is a very common study technique in the United States, also known as EPL2R or SQ3R for the phases it comprises in Spanish and English. In general, it consists of improving reading comprehension in an effective way.
Because it focuses on understanding content, the Robinson method can be used to study any subject. This is the reason why it is one of the best methods to learn to study, since the others are not so versatile.
What is the Robinson method?
The Robinson method consists of five phases that can be easily adapted to the subject to be studied. It is a very intuitive process, so it is easy to assimilate.
Examine or explore ( survey )
It is about taking a first look at the content that we have to study. In this phase you have to focus on the structure and general concepts. In addition, in primary education these concepts are often shown in bold to facilitate understanding.
In this way, we will have a general idea and we will be more receptive to assimilate the content, since we are not starting from scratch. Depending on the extension, a few minutes would be enough.
Ask ( question )
It is not about asking questions because we have not yet done an in-depth reading, but about questioning the content. Coping actively with the text is the key to the Robinson method.
“What is it about?” “What is the purpose of the text?” “What is the author’s intention?” “Do I know the main concepts?” These types of questions develop critical thinking, a key skill at more advanced levels.
Read ( read )
Now we are ready to read all the text in depth. And everything is everything: titles, text, references, formulas, notes, captions, graphics … In addition, we have to answer the questions above.
If we combine this with highlighting the most important content and making annotations, we continue with an active and more effective study. Involving more senses and producing our own text from the original will help retain more information for longer.
Recite ( recite )
Saying our version of what we are studying out loud will not take much effort. Or if? If we’ve put in the necessary time and effort in the previous step, it shouldn’t take long. However, learning something by heart is not useful in the long term, since we tend to forget it in a very short time.
The key is to tell it because , like stories, the content has to make sense. If all the ideas are connected through logical relationships, it will be much easier to remember.
The best way to know if this step has been done correctly is to recite in front of another person. If that person understands what you are telling them, you will have done a good job. This step is the most important when beginning to teach the Robinson Method to children.
Review ( review )
It should be enough with the previous steps, but the truth is that the next day we will hardly remember half of what we have studied. And, if we don’t review in a week, most of the work will be gone.
That is why it is so important to start studying early, because to consolidate the content we have to review several times on different days.
Tips on the Robinson method
In addition to knowing the objective of each phase of the Robinson method, it must be borne in mind that not all subjects or all levels of education have the same difficulty.
Therefore, the more difficult it is to study, the more time and rest will have to be devoted to it. There is no use studying for hours when you are distracted.
In this sense, organization and concentration play a fundamental role. Factors such as having a study habit, a specific time and place to study, will also help improve the results of the Robinson method.
