Memorizing Concepts in a List

So I have my list of concepts to memorize for a quiz. The first step I take may be to memorize the list in order; know concepts based on what came before and what came after. However, to solidify the definitions outside of the context of an ordered list (quizzes may not include terms in order), there is something else I can do.

a) Look at the list. Be able to identify definitions without looking at them on paper, using the structure of the ordered list to help.

b) Create another list with the terms out of order. Try to remember definitions for each term. Check off the terms that I know easily off the top of my head, but put a star next to the terms that are harder to remember when decontextualized from their original list order.

c) Create another list, just using the terms next to which I put a star. Repeat steps one - three until I have checked off all of my terms.

This is very helpful for strict memorization. However, if I want to remember these concepts long-term, the best way to do this is to find a way to use them or link them to something that is happening in the "real world", The more I use concepts, the more familiar they will become to me.

Example:

Art Concepts - List 1 (original list of concepts)
1. Contrast - [definition]
2. Shading - [definition]
3. Aestheticism - [definition]
4. Pointillism - [definition]

Art Concepts - List 2 (out of order list of concepts)
3. Aestheticism*
1. Contrast
4. Pointillism*
2. Shading

Art Concepts - List 3 (starred concepts: Use these two terms to repeat the cycle)
Pointillism
Aestheticism

Balance and Mastery

A problem I often run into when studying is how to balance my time. Do I spend a lot of time on one thing, or a little bit of time on many things?

The problem: 

If I A) spend a lot of time on one thing: Maybe I can move towards a greater mastery of that one thing. A musician learns mastery through hours of practice. So a student can be a master if they focus on one specific thing?

If I B) spend a little bit of time on many different things: Mastery of individual things will take longer. The phrase goes, "Jack of all trades, but master of none." So then, a student might not master anything if they focus on too many little things?

Both approaches have difficulties. 

Approach A depends on the method of study. One person could learn a lot from three hours of study, whereas another could learn little and end up frustrated from having wasted so much time.

Approach B, too, depends on the method of study. While one person may not be able to master learning when they only spend a little bit of time on each subject, another person could develop strategies to work on relevant tasks that, when done in a short amount of time repeatedly over the course of a week or a month or a year, will lead to mastery.

This all goes to say that mastery of learning depends largely upon the learner and if they have acquired sufficient strategies to accomplish their goals regardless of time constraints.

*Edit: 6.29.2017 @ 11:00 am: After a little more experience and reading advice from others, something to help with both mastery and balance seems to be to start with the biggest, most valuable task, start early, make a written (pen and paper) plan that has doable increments every day, and then stick to it! Easier than trying to get everything done in a 3 hour chunk on one day, and you have more time between working to complete other necessary tasks. But this will necessitate that you learn to prioritize assignments as well as plan far in advance how you will complete everything together.

-R.L.Williams