Students often wonder: What are the best study methods?  Should you highlight and underline key points, or is there a more effective way to retain information?  Research suggests that active learning strategies, like the Cornell method, the SQ3R method, and inquiry based education, lead to deeper understanding and better exam performance.

Let’s explore the strengths and weaknesses of underlining/highlighting vs. active learning techniques and determine how to study effectively.

Underlining & Highlighting: A Helpful Tool or a Study Trap?

Many students rely on underlining or highlighting while reading textbooks or class notes. This technique helps emphasize key points, making it easier to find important information later. However, research shows that passively marking text does not significantly improve memory retention.

Why? Recognition ≠ Understanding. When students review their notes, highlighted sections may feel familiar, but this doesn’t guarantee deep comprehension. 

This is because underlining and highlighting require minimal cognitive effort, meaning the information is not actively processed—limiting both understanding and retention.

Active Learning: The Key to Retention

So what actually works? Active learning methods, such as:

✅ The Cornell Method – A structured note-taking approach that promotes organization and summarization.

✅ The SQ3R Method – A step-by-step reading comprehension technique (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review) that strengthens retention.

✅ Inquiry-Based Education – Encouraging students to ask questions and explore concepts independently rather than passively receiving information.

These active study techniques help students engage, analyze, and apply knowledge, leading to better recall and deeper learning.

Key Differences: Passive vs. Interactive Study Methods 

The takeaway? Underlining alone isn’t enough—to truly understand and retain information, students should combine it with active learning techniques like flashcards (a self-study approach rooted in inquiry-based learning), the Cornell Method, or SQ3R.

How Atlhas Tutor Enhances Active Learning

Traditional note-taking methods can be enhanced with digital tools designed to maximize retention and engagement. Atlhas Tutor, a next-generation digital learning platform, integrates active learning principles directly into its advanced PDF reader, providing a structured approach to note-taking and review.

📌 Interactive Note-Taking – While reading a PDF, students can take structured Q&A notes instead of passive highlights, reinforcing active recall.

📌 Automatic Review Scheduling – Notes are transformed into flashcards, triggering a spaced repetition review cycle to ensure long-term retention.

📌 Layered Learning Approach – Students revisit the material in multiple reading passages, progressively refining their understanding from general concepts to finer details (read the next log article on the matter).

📌 Personalized Study Planning – The platform schedules overdue reviews on the student’s dashboard, adapting the study plan based on performance.

By combining structured note-taking, automatic review cycles, and progressive learning, Atlhas Tutor helps students internalize information more effectively—far beyond what traditional highlighting or underlining can achieve.

Best Study Techniques: What Works for You?

Every student learns differently, and the most effective study techniques often involve a combination of structured note-taking, active recall, and spaced repetition. While traditional methods like Cornell Notes and SQ3R have been widely used, digital platforms like Atlhas Tutor take these principles further by integrating them into a seamless, interactive learning experience.
To optimize your study sessions:

✔ Engage with your study materials actively—avoid passive highlighting and instead take structured, question-based notes.

✔ Review consistently—spaced repetition helps reinforce long-term retention and prevents last-minute cramming.

✔ Adapt your approach over time—layer your learning by refining your notes with each review cycle.

✔ Leverage Atlhas Tutor’s interactive PDF reader, which enables structured note-taking, automated review scheduling, and a personalized study plan to help you retain knowledge more efficiently.

By combining active engagement, structured review, and smart planning, students can develop a study routine that leads to deeper understanding and long-term success.

Next Steps: The "Brick-Laying Approach" to Studying

In our next article, we’ll explore how to balance general concepts and details with a strategy we call the 'Brick-Laying Approach' in Atlhas Tutor.

Stay tuned! If you found this article helpful, share it with your network to help others improve their study techniques.