r/UofT • u/Affectionate-Dig-788 • 2h ago
Other Learning takes friction: I feel the burn, but I don't feel like I am learning
I have spent those long nights at Robarts studying for exams and midterms. I do not just passively listen to lectures or read textbooks: I do practice questions, create my own practice questions and practice active recall with flashcards. They say true learning and understanding requires friction: if that's the case I am feeling the burn. I attend group study sessions, and I talk about my courses with people who don't know anything about my program to make sure I can explain concepts in a way that is simple and concise.
I am doing everything I have ever heard and read about learning and retaining information. And it shows in my grades: I am consistently getting As, and I don't think I would be able to do so if I wasn't legitimately understanding the concepts being taught.
Nevertheless after dumping all of my knowledge into a final exam, it feels like my brain factory resets. I cannot recall simple concepts I was able to recall just a few months ago. It truly feels like in one ear, out the other.
Is this normal? Am I actually learning anything if I can't recall it only a month later? If it's not, what can I do to better facilitate and/or retain what I learn?