“Keys to Effective Learning” Highlights Discussion with Dr. Randall Feller, ORU’s Behavioral Science Department Chair
Tulsa, Okla.—Oral Roberts University’s (ORU) Center for Academic Advising and Tutoring
(CAAT) recently hosted Dr. Randall Feller, ORU’s Behavioral Science Department Chair,
for a student discussion titled “Unlocking Keys to Effective Learning Through Brain
Research and Lifestyle Choices.” Dr. Feller shared concepts from ORU’s Psychology
of Learning course and covered study skills and tools to help students work more efficiently
in a college learning environment.
“The process of learning can significantly improve when one knows how the brain works in retaining material,” said Dr. Feller. “By changing a few life skills and daily habits, students can jumpstart their processing ability and retain and retrieve material that is necessary for their academic or professional life. These simple lifestyle changes can reduce study time and have much greater retention of the material learned.”
During the presentation, Dr. Feller shared skillsets such as:
- paced distributed learning consisting of shorter study times,
- studying for “recall” and not just “recognition,”
- practicing quick evening and morning reviews of course material,
- playing association games with the material to be learned, and
- connecting the material to something that motivates the student.
In addition to tips for enhancing memory and learning skills, Dr. Feller also addressed the roles of good sleep routine and problematic caffeine consumption and how they impact learning.
ORU Students Studying
“Today’s students may not be aware that simple changes in study habits and lifestyle
choices can demonstrably improve their ability to learn and retain information,” said
Dr. Jayne Ann Harder, Director of the CAAT. “In explaining the keys to effective learning,
Dr. Feller brought his own personal experience as a learner, coupled with years of
experience as both a student and teacher of psychology.”
ORU’s Center for Academic Advising and Tutoring offers tutoring support for every
content area covered under ORU’s degree programs. Students can also receive assistance
with selecting an academic program, understanding degree requirements, and scheduling
classes for each semester.
ORU Students Studying
The CAAT is located on Library LRC 5. For more information and appointments, please visit the CAAT’s webpage or email tutors@oru.edu.
ABOUT ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY
ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with over a decade of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 142 nations (from 2019 to 2022) to be whole leaders for the whole world.
The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #4 university in the nation for student engagement. This ranking is based upon faculty interactions, collaborative learning, critical thinking, real-world applications of student learning, the extent to which classes challenge students, and whether students would recommend a university to others. Niche recognizes ORU as one of the most diverse colleges in America.
ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:
- #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
- #2 in Most International Students
- #3 in Best Value
- #6 in Best College for Veterans
- #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West
For more information, visit www.oru.edu.