Study Skills and Learning: Approaches, Brain Functions, and Mind Maps

This essay provides an overview of essential study skills, focusing on different learning approaches such as behaviorist, social learning, and cognitive methods. It discusses the crucial role of brain functions in learning, including attention, self-monitoring, and information organization. The essay also explores the concept of mind mapping as a visual tool for enhancing information retention and retrieval, highlighting its benefits in academic study. Ultimately, the report emphasizes the importance of effective learning strategies and brain function optimization for academic success, with mind mapping serving as a valuable technique for students.

Study Skills essay

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES:...............................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
It is important to note that there is requirement of skills that help to study effectively.
There is huge importance of the skills that support learning and helps the students to grow. In
higher education the focus in on developing the students and their pattern of learning so that they
are able to achieve their long term goals and objectives (Cottrell, 2019). This essay is based on
the learning. There is discussion related to various approaches of learning. The capabilities of
brain are also part of this report. In the end of discussion mind mapping as it helps to retrieve and
store the information.
MAIN BODY
Learning is a process that helps to acquire new skills, values, preferences, attitude and
behaviour of an individual. It is a process of overall development of the individual that helps to
improve the performance of the individual. It is important to note that people learn by trying
peripheral activities. There is requirement of good and effective learning environment in order to
learn effectively (Rozgonjuk, Saal and Täht, 2018). Learning is a process that enhance the
knowledge of individuals to acquire new information that will help to use it in future. Each and
every person wants to learn and acquire knowledge that helps become successful. There is need
of effective learning tools that are helpful for the students. A learner must have keen interest in
learning and the teacher must also focus on enhancing their knowledge. There are various
approaches of learning that are discussed below:
Behaviourist Approach to Learning: It is one of the approach of learning that is based on the
idea that the learners respond to stimuli from the environment. It is seen that the person that is
facilitator must have ability to support learning. There is direct impact of teacher on the learners.
So the teacher must provide support to the learners and provide effective stimuli that will help
them to respond in an effective manner. It is believed that the learner is able to learn and retain
the information that they hear on repetitive basis. It is necessary to note that if the learners hear
on repetitive basis then the information gets stored in their mind. It is seen that the teacher must
use proper ways to provide information to the students and help them to retain the same. It is
seen that if positive feedback is given to the learner then they are able to retain the information in
an effective manner and are motivated to learn. On the other side negative feedback a way to
minimise the mistakes done by the students. As per this approach the knowledge is same that is

provided to all the learners. The teacher takes proper care that the students are provide good and
effective environment so that they are able to learn effectively.
Social Learning Theory: The theory says that people can learn both directly as well as
indirectly, by observing other people. It is seen that there are three stage in learning. The first
approach is attention. The learner must be focused enough to learn. Then the next task is to
observe (Blumschein and et,al., 2019). It is seen that a learner learns from the environment. They
are able to use the information, details and actions that they watch. They observe teachers as well
as parents and repeat what they do. In the end the learners have to analyse the actions. It is a
process that helps the learners to learn from the society. There is significant role of learning in
the life of a student. There are various interactions that take place and support the process of
learning. It is also necessary to teach the students that they should not copy all the things that
they observe. It is important to differentiate between what is right and what is wrong. Proper
training provided to the students will help to learn in an effective manner and make less
mistakes.
Cognitive Approach to Learning: The main focus of this learning approach is on the mind. It is
seen that mind process all the information and develop knowledge. It is important that the
facilitator must use best way of teaching that helps the student to learn. There is need of proper
understanding and in order to gain knowledge. It is an internal learning process that involves
memory, reflection, thinking, abstraction and motivation. It is a mental activity that includes
learning, thinking, remembering, and using language. In this approach the task is to understand
the information. There is need to develop relationship with the learner so that the person is able
to learn effectively (Bunce, and Bennett, 2021). It is believed that memory is important
component in learning. It is seen that the better the ability to retain information, better is the
learning capabilities. The methods of teaching must be focused on memorization of students. It is
necessary to enhance the thinking skills of the students so that they are able to remember the
facts. The interest and attention of the student in classroom is equally important and helps them
to retain the information.
All the approaches are different from one another. It is seen that the aim of all the
approaches is to make the students learn and retain the knowledge. It is necessary to provide
effective knowledge and skills to the students in order to make them successful. The
environment is dynamic and it is necessary for a student to learn effectively. Brain is one of the

most important organ in the body. It is important to note that brain functions in an effective way
and helps in learning. The function of brain is so much important as it will help the student to
learn. It is necessary to work to enhance the capabilities of brain. The function of brain help the
student to learn and retain the information in an effective manner. Brain helps to increase the
level of attention (Cortés Pascual, Moyano Muñoz and Quilez Robres, 2019). A person is able to
concentrate and learn effectively. A student that is more attentive is able to understand the things
better. Te clarity of concept helps the student retain the information. There is major role of
attention in the process of learning. It is seen that brain also functions to monitor the actions of
self that is called self monitoring function. It is vital to note that a student is able to know about
the capabilities and skills and use them in such a way that enhances their experience of learning.
It is important to note that by having capability to do self evaluation a student knows about the
topics that are strong and the one that need improvement. It is important to organise all the
information (Zhou and et,al., 2020). It is another capability of brain. It helps to organise the
knowledge and keep it safe. It is essential to note that brain helps a student to learn as well as use
the knowledge in such a manner that makes them successful. It also helps to retain the
knowledge of language. It is important to note that brain facilitates in speaking. The language
and expressiveness is in the control of brain. All the judgements are made by Brain and it helps
to work in an effective manner. It is seen that a student must work on making proper use of brain
so that they are able to learn effectively. It is seen that brain supports academic study. At the time
of studying in University there is major role if learning. The brain is such an organ that helps an
individual to learn and retain the information. It is important to note that the brain functions in
such a way that is necessary for a person. It is important to note that there are various functions
that help to control the emotions and have a good behaviour. There is need to know that there are
various problems that arise while studies. The brain functions effectively and help to solve the
problems (Ortiga and et,al., 2018). It is necessary to note that the students are able to sort out the
issues that arise while the studies. So that they are able to retain the information. A person is able
to make effective plans. It is seen that to study various students set schedule and time table that
require planning. So, it is seen that it is the capabilities of the brain that support the students to
form effective strategies so that they are able to learn and achieve the task on time. There is
major role that brain plays in academic study.

Mind map is a diagram that contains information represented by visuals. The idea is to
present the central idea. The use of images, lines make it attractive and able to get insights from
the same. It is seen that it helps the students top learn from the image and retain the same. The
mind map is made colourful and pleasing so as to enhance the experience of learning
(Vordermark, 2019). It is believed that the students are able to retain the information that they
like and watch in visual form. It is important to note that the use of shapes, words helps the
memory to retain better. It is use of all the creative skills and techniques that enhance the
retention power of a student. There are certain benefits of mind mapping and first among them is
it enhances retention power. It is important to note that a person must be provide effective
diagrams that help them to retain the information. It is necessary to note that it can be used for
generating, organising, visualising ,note-taking, decision-making, problem-solving, revising and
clarifying the topics of University. It helps them to take their assessments in an effective way. It
is necessary to note that there is effective role of mind mapping and it supports the process of
learning. It is seen that the students are able to retrieve the information that they learn with the
mind map (Lopes, Castro and Arajo, 2018).
The creativity is necessary so as to make good and effective mind map. It helps the
students to understand the information in an effective way and use the same so as to understand
the details. The retaining capacity of the student changes as per the way information is being
presented to the students. It is important to note that the use of colours, images and visuals must
be done in a proper manner so that students are attracted towards it. If they like the presentation
they will be able to remember it (Fauzi, Degeng and Akbar, 2018). The information is stored in
their mind and help them to use the same in future. It is seen that whenever they need to use that
information the image is recalled in their mind and they are able to use the same. It is seen that
mind mapping is important tool that aid to storing and retrieving information

CONCLUSION
From the above report, it is analysed that learning is a process that helps in overall
development of an individual. It is seen that a person must be provided proper learning facilities
as they help them to be successful. The approaches of learning such as behaviourism,
cognitivism and socialism are discussed in this report. Along with this the capabilities and
functions of brain are discussed. It is seen that the brain helps a person to learn, retain and use
the information is an effective manner. In the end of this report meaning of min mapping as well
as it role in storing and retrieving information is discussed.

REFERENCES:
Books and Journals
Blumschein and et,al., 2019. Model-based approaches to learning: Using systems models and
simulations to improve understanding and problem solving in complex domains. Brill.
Bunce, L. and Bennett, M., 2021. A degree of studying? Approaches to learning and academic
performance among student ‘consumers’. Active Learning in Higher Education, 22(3),
pp.203-214.
Cortés Pascual, A., Moyano Muñoz, N. and Quilez Robres, A., 2019. The relationship between
executive functions and academic performance in primary education: Review and meta-
analysis. Frontiers in psychology, 10, p.1582.
Cottrell, S., 2019. The study skills handbook. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Fauzi, Z.A., Degeng, I. and Akbar, S.D., 2018. Implementation of Mind Mapping Learning
Model to Improve Learning Outcomes of Civil Education. Jurnal of K6, Education, and
Management, 1(3).
Lopes, S.F., Castro, R. and Arajo, S., 2018, July. A mind-mapping front-end for text writing. In
2018 IEEE 16th International Conference on Industrial Informatics (INDIN) (pp. 1-6).
IEEE.
Ortiga and et,al., 2018. Academic “centres,” epistemic differences and brain circulation.
International Migration, 56(5), pp.90-105.
Rozgonjuk, D., Saal, K. and Täht, K., 2018. Problematic smartphone use, deep and surface
approaches to learning, and social media use in lectures. International journal of
environmental research and public health, 15(1), p.92.
Vordermark II, J.S., 2019. Mind-Mapping. In An Introduction to Medical Decision-Making (pp.
75-85). Springer, Cham.
Zhou and et,al., 2020. Rumination and the default mode network: Meta-analysis of brain
imaging studies and implications for depression. Neuroimage, 206, p.116287.
(Cottrell, 2019)(Rozgonjuk, Saal and Täht, 2018)(Blumschein and et,al., 2019)(Bunce, and
Bennett, 2021)(Cortés Pascual, Moyano Muñoz and Quilez Robres, 2019)(Zhou and et,al.,
2020)(Ortiga and et,al., 2018)(Vordermark, 2019)(Lopes, Castro and Arajo, 2018)(Fauzi,
Degeng and Akbar, 2018)

Online
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