Study Tools for a New Generation
Coming in March: Study Tools for a New Generation
Learning in 2026 requires more than information. It requires judgement. This updated toolkit combines brain-based learning, attention and memory strategies, critical thinking, and responsible use of AI. It helps learners stay focused, evaluate information carefully, and remain in control of their own learning.
What's inside
Chapter 1: Scroll to the future
Figure out the ideals for your future self and use that vision to drive your goals, time management, and daily actions. Build a growth mindset to turn setbacks into progress and stay in control of your direction.
Chapter 2: How the brain learns
Your brain is the ultimate learning tool, and the better you understand it, the better it works for you. We track the journey of information from sensory input to long-term memory, exploring what happens at every step.
Chapter 3: Managing mental traffic
Distractions come from everywhere, but focus is a skill you can master. Learn to handle 'sense grabbers' like phone pings, 'mood swingers' that shift your energy, and 'mind drifters' that pull you off task. This is about taking back your attention and staying in control of your mental space.
Chapter 4: How memories are built
Think of memory like a building site: important information is selected for the 'attention trolley' to reach the small 'working memory' workbench. Because this bench is limited, you must sort, stack, and solidify that data into long-term storage. We focus on the seven most important strategies to assist with understanding, retention and recall.
Chapter 5: Multisensory learning
Start by exploring your current habits to see which senses you are actually using for study. By intentionally using more senses, you strengthen your neural pathways and make information significantly easier to recall.
Detailed explanations and practical exercises to help you understand the use of mnemonics when you study.
Chapter 6: Active listening and Smart notes
You can hear without truly listening. Active listening is a skill that will help you to effectively process the essentials in information and to take notes that focus on the facts.
Chapter 7: Find your way through the work
Staring at an open page and not knowing where to start is the biggest hurdle. We use the SQR STR steps to help you approach new work, summarise it effectively, and test your recall.
Learn specific summary techniques tailored for different subjects so you can conquer any pile of work with a clear plan of action.
Chapter 8: Critical Thinking
Learn to spot the cracks in the facts by identifying mental potholes and shortcuts. We explore what heuristics are and how these logical fallacies show up in everyday conversations and social media. Use the THINK framework to evaluate information before you accept it, helping you move from a passive consumer to a sharp, independent thinker.
Chapter 9: Brains, Bots, and Learning
AI is a powerful study tutor, but only if you stay in the driver’s seat. We look at how to use bots for brainstorming and clarifying tough concepts without letting them do the actual thinking for you. Learn what a Large Language Model actually is, how it generates answers, and the pitfalls of relying on technology that can sometimes "hallucinate" or provide biased information.
Chapter 10: Research: mindset, roadmap and footprint
Research is a mindset, not just a search bar. We provide a 'roadmap' for your inquiry and teach you the 'footprint' concept to ensure every piece of evidence you find is tracked and verified. Learn to think like a detective, navigating complex topics to build a logical argument grounded in solid facts.
Chapter 11: Exam prep
Set a solid plan to avoid the end-of-exam bottleneck. Use our exam planner and subject tracker to manage your hours and stay ahead of the workload. Once your schedule is set, we bring the tools covered in the book together to make sure that you turn the exam panic cycle into total confidence.
If you’d like to be notified when this edition launches at a special introductory price,email us at events@studytools.co.za