If you’re dreading a midterm exam, or just studying hard to keep up in any class, chances are your study habits involve taking notes as you read and then going back over them. Maybe you pull out (or click on) a highlighter. It turns out those old-fashioned study habits might work if you’re cramming for a test, but they aren’t very effective for long-term learning. There are better, more efficient ways to retain knowledge. One involves taking more time to process the information before taking notes.