Preparing NCERT Revision Notes to suit your learning style

During my school days, attending to my teacher’s lectures in class was easy but having to study from lengthy NCERT revision notes would leave me in jitters. Often I used to wonder, what it is in these wordy NCERT revision notes that makes me so uncomfortable. Is there a problem with the language? Or is it the volume of the NCERT revision notes that puts me off? Or am I genuinely a slow learner? Years down the line I understood that the problem was not with the notes but with my learning style. I have always been a visual learner i.e. a learner who understands and learns better using visual cues. However, I have been forcing myself to learn through material that is typically auditory, namely class lectures!

In order to gain maximum results from the revision exercises, it is very important for students to identify the learning style that suits them the best and accordingly prepare their NCERT revision notes. Learning style can be defined as the manner in which one learns and processes information. Following is a description of the different learning styles and some pointers on the kind of NCERT revision notes that one should prepare. Identify your learning style and prepare your ideal NCERT revision notes that will help you perform better at exams.

• Visual Learners- These are the type of learners who prefer learning using visual aids. Mind maps, clearly labeled and neatly drawn illustrations, colour-highlighted notes and most significantly 3D videos can all act as a catalyst to their learning process. While preparing the NCERT revision notes, visual learners should make it a point to support the text in their NCERT revision notes with any of the above mentioned visual cues for effective learning. Visual learners can even surf the internet for multimedia enriched 3D study videos to understand complicated concepts. There are a lot of such websites that provide visual content in line with the curriculum in school and thereby make the process of learning effective and schooling easy.

• Verbal Learners- Reading study material out aloud, discussing concepts in study groups and other oral activities, when incorporated into the revision exercise of verbal learners can add an instant kick to their learning and memorizing process. It is recommended that verbal learners accompany their NCERT revision notes with pre-recorded tapes or real life videos explaining concepts. Students can find such videos online on a variety of websites. Incase you do not have an access to the internet most of the times you can reinforce all that you have learnt by teaching out aloud as you would do to a class!

• Reflective Learners- These types of learners perform best when they are given time to think and understand concepts. Therefore, reflective learners should start the process of preparing NCERT revision notes well in advance. It is also suggested that while preparing their NCERT revision notes, reflective learners should prepare their own summaries and overviews of the topics at hand.

• Intuitive Learners- The pace at which an intuitive learner grasps concepts can be rather fast at times. It is only natural therefore, that such learners completely dislike repetitions and revision sessions. However, keeping in mind the importance of the revision activity, it is suggested that they prepare their NCERT revision notes in the form of tables, keyword summaries, mind maps etc. These short and to-the-point NCERT revision notes will help them in speedy revision and prevent boredom.

• Sequential Learner- Memorizing and revising in a step by step fashion is the prime characteristic of sequential learners. Hence, while preparing NCERT revision notes sequential learners should lay emphasis on systematically covering each topic in a logical manner and avoid jumping to and fro topics.

I hope that you have been able to get some insight into the kind of learner that you are and understand what exactly will work for you. So, the next time you prepare your NCERT revision notes try and incorporate the essential points mentioned in the article above and you will realize that achieving good marks will no longer remain a dream.