Do you ever feel that your studying habits aren’t working? Are you wondering what you could do to perform better in class and examinations? Many students realize that high school studying methods aren’t as effective when they go to college.
Professors aren’t as personal. The classes are more extended. Exams are more valuable, reading is more challenging, and courses are more demanding. It doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you. It is just that you must improve your methods of studying. Many ways of study are active and effective and have proven successful during a college classes.
This handout provides several suggestions to help you study effectively. Incorporating these suggestions into your study schedule will enable you effectively and efficiently master the material you are looking for. Test them out and identify those that work for you.
Reading is not the same as studying.
Reading and rereading text or notes is not engaged in the subject matter. This is just rereading your notes. Just doing the class readings is not a way to study. There are just reading assignments for the class. Re-reading can lead to rapid memory loss.
Consider reading as an essential aspect of studying. However, to learn information, you must actively engage with the subject. Active involvement is the act of making meaning out of the text. It requires connecting with lectures, creating examples, and managing your self-learning. It is not about highlighting or underlining textbooks, rereading, or memorization by rote. While these practices can help keep you interested in the process, they’re not considered active learning techniques and do not contribute to better learning.
Some ideas for active learning include:
- Create a study guide based on the subject. Create questions and solutions and write complete answers. Make your test.
- Be an instructor. Then, speak the information in your voice as an instructor. You will be teaching the concept to the class.
- Get examples to relate to your own experiences.
- Create diagrams or concept maps that explain the content.
- Create symbols to convey concepts.
For classes that do not require technical skills, figure out the major concepts to be able to explain how they are different, then contrast and revise the concepts.
You must work through the issues and describe the steps and how they work for technical classes.
Study in terms of questions of evidence, conclusion, and evidence. What is the question asked by the author or instructor? So what evidence will they provide? What do you think is the most definitive conclusion?
Planning and organization will allow you to study more effectively for your classes. If you are looking to prepare for an exam, organize your study materials and then begin reviewing them according to topics. The majority of professors offer cases on their syllabi. Utilize them as a way to help you organize your materials. For instance, please take all the materials related to a particular topic and place them in a pile. Label every bank with the issue and organize the study into cases.
Know the Study Cycle
Study Cycle The Study Cycle, developed by Frank Christ, breaks down the various aspects of learning: preparing, studying, attending classes, reviewing, studying, and testing your understanding. While each step might appear evident from a distance, students often attempt to cut corners and miss out on opportunities for effective learning.
For example, you might not read a book before class because the instructor will cover the same topics in a category. Doing this is a missed opportunity to study differently and gain from the repetitive and dispersed learning that comes from reading ahead and taking classes. Knowing the significance of each phase of this process can ensure you don’t lose opportunities to master your subject.
Spacing out your space is excellent
Highly effective learning methods can be “distributed practice”–by spacing the study in short intervals spread over several weeks or days (Newport 2007). The most effective practice method is to spend a short period for each class throughout the day.
The amount of time you spend studying will be similar (or less) to two or three marathon library sessions. However, you’ll be able to absorb the material more thoroughly and remember it over the long run, which can help you get an A on your final exam. It is essential to consider how you use your time studying rather than how long you are looking. The extended study time can cause the inability to focus and, consequently, a decrease in understanding and memory.
