Studying History: 9 tips to maximize your learning potential

Anamaria Beridze
Aug 7, 2023
4 min read

Have you been struggling with the overwhelming amount of information to memorize in your history class? Do you spend hours practicing but completely forget the materials in a few weeks? Then you’re in the right place! History is by no means an easy subject, and the excessive amount of memorization puts a lot of pressure on the students. The following 9 tips will maximize your learning potential and ensure great results in minimal time!

1.Get ahold of your attention

One of the crucial parts of learning includes concentrating your attention on it. You need to be fixated on the learning material at school and at home. At school, listen to the tutor attentively. Absorb all the information that the professor provides like a sponge. At home, eliminate all kinds of distractions and make sure you don’t get carried away with other things while learning.

2. Find your learning method; the Pomodoro Technique

What I recommend is finding a learning method that appeals to you the most. My favorite is the Pomodoro Technique. The technique involves breaking work into intervals, usually 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. Here's how to use it:

Set a specific timer: Start by setting a timer for 25 minutes. This will be your work interval.
Work on a task: During the 25 minutes, focus on a specific task, such as reading a history chapter, taking notes, or studying for a test.
Take a break: After the 25 minutes are up, take a short break, usually 5 minutes in length. Use this time to stretch, grab a snack, or do something else unrelated to your work.
Repeat: After the break, start another 25-minute work interval. Continue this cycle of work intervals and short breaks until you complete your task.

This tip saves you extra time and improves your attention span.

3. Always categorize; don’t waste time trying to learn everything

Not everything that’s written in history textbooks must be memorized. Those textbooks are often filled with unnecessary details that you’ll never come across twice in your life. This is why you should take a highlighter or pencil (the choice is yours) and underline only the essential information. Important dates, historical events, battles, arrangements, conflicts, and details that the teacher might include in a test are all significant. You don’t need to memorize every single detail of historical events. Sort it out and retain only the fundamentals. Many students have the misconception that knowing every single detail is mandatory.

4. Master note-taking

Now that you’ve learned how to classify the information properly, we should move on to the next part, which is note-taking. Taking notes is helpful both at school and at home. At school, briefly jot down the materials your teacher provides. The worst mistake students make is writing down everything their teacher says. In such cases, you’re so indulged in writing that your brain doesn’t have the opportunity to process the information properly. At home, however, you can take the notes to another level. As a visual learner who likes to draw, I found a certain note-taking method – sketchnoting – appealing.

Sketchnoting is a note-taking technique that combines text and visual images. This method might seem entertaining, but it has its real benefits. Sketchnoting drastically improves memory retention. This is because it engages multiple parts of the brain. You’re less likely to forget an illustrative representation of the concept that you’re reviewing. There’s no particularly wrong way to make such notes. The drawings don’t have to be perfect, it all boils down to the learner’s preference.

5. Use the Blurting Method

This method is useful after you’ve sufficiently memorized all the notes and concepts. Blurting is similar to testing your knowledge. What you need to do is set a timer and start writing down everything that you remember about a certain topic. This method also helps you identify areas where improvement is needed.

6. Utilize different tools

There are many tools online that can help in various ways. Instead of depending on textbooks, you can establish your own learning routine by utilizing non-traditional learning tools online. Some tools that I found helpful are:

Quizlet

Quizlet is an app that can be applied to many subjects that you’d like to learn. It provides flashcards that can help you memorize dates, historical events, people, etc.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a free online learning platform that offers courses in a range of subjects, including history. Their history courses cover a variety of topics, such as World History, US History, and AP World History.

Youtube

Much like Khan Academy, Youtube is also a highly accessible tool for learning history. Most channels provide engaging content and lectures based on the concept that you’re trying to learn.

Podcasts

If you are an audio learner, you may prefer to learn by listening rather than reading or watching videos. In this case, podcasts are your go-to. There are many history podcasts available that cover a wide range of topics. Find a few that interest you and listen to them regularly.

7. Create timelines

Creating timelines is a great way to visualize historical events and understand the sequence of events. You can use color coding and add visuals to make it more engaging. This will help you memorize the dates easily and get a better understanding of the events. There are also online tools that can be used to create such timelines. TimeToast is one of my favorites.

8. Ask for help when necessary

If you’ve tried everything but are still struggling, make sure to ask for help from your teacher. Remember, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. It shows that you are committed to learning and improving your understanding of the material.

9. Adapt your study techniques

There’s no such thing as universal advice that applies to everyone. Keep in mind that people have different learning styles, preferences, and needs, and what works for one person may not work for another. Thus, it's important not to commit solely to any one set of suggestions or techniques without exploring other options.