Study Tips & Tricks
Are your grades where you want them? If not, then you might need to change what you are doing - the way you study. You need to prioritize - figure out what should be done first. Set goals and reward yourself when you meet them. Don't try to do everything all at once - implement one or two suggestions at a time. Once you figure out if they work or don't work, then add another or change what you have been doing.
1. Have a place to study - free from distractions (that includes your cell phone)
2. Have all materials available - books, notes, pen/pencil, etc
3. Use a planner - write down what you need to do. Not only do you need to write it down, but you need to look at it and check it off when it is done.
4. Break large projects down into smaller chunks.
5. Make flash cards - Study/Review your flash cards at least 10 minutes every night. Best case scenario - 10 minutes 3 times a day. You can't just read your flash cards, you need to interact with them. Reading is passive learning; Interacting with them is active learning. Check out Quizlet.com.
6. Take notes & rewrite them when you get home - filling in any missing information or jotting down questions you may have - then ask the question when you get back to class. Notes should be rewritten in your own words - not copied verbatim. Once you have rewritten your notes, color code them, highlight them, etc to emphasize important pieces of information.
7. Try using a Power Hour - study/work on a project or whatever you need to do for one hour. Set a timer for 60 minutes & when the timer goes off - take a break - get a snack; go make a phone call or two; go for a walk - just take a break (not more than 20 minutes) when the 20 minutes is up - set the timer again & go for round two.
8. Review or re-read what you did in your classes for that day each night. Jot down any questions or misunderstandings you might have and be sure to ask about them the next day.
9. Do you know how you learn best?? What kind of learner are you? Are you auditory, or visual or kinesthetic? You need to figure out how you learn best and then use that to help you study. That might mean drawing a visual representation or putting something to music, even having someone read your notes to you. You need to use what works for you - whatever that might be.
10. Learn to manage your time. That might mean telling your friends you can't do something with them until you have your homework done. If you review each night for all of your classes, when you are strapped for time you won't have to cram so much or you might even be able to skip one night.
11. Take advantage of opportunities offered - in class reviews, test/quiz retakes, study groups.
Are your grades where you want them? If not, then you might need to change what you are doing - the way you study. You need to prioritize - figure out what should be done first. Set goals and reward yourself when you meet them. Don't try to do everything all at once - implement one or two suggestions at a time. Once you figure out if they work or don't work, then add another or change what you have been doing.
1. Have a place to study - free from distractions (that includes your cell phone)
2. Have all materials available - books, notes, pen/pencil, etc
3. Use a planner - write down what you need to do. Not only do you need to write it down, but you need to look at it and check it off when it is done.
4. Break large projects down into smaller chunks.
5. Make flash cards - Study/Review your flash cards at least 10 minutes every night. Best case scenario - 10 minutes 3 times a day. You can't just read your flash cards, you need to interact with them. Reading is passive learning; Interacting with them is active learning. Check out Quizlet.com.
6. Take notes & rewrite them when you get home - filling in any missing information or jotting down questions you may have - then ask the question when you get back to class. Notes should be rewritten in your own words - not copied verbatim. Once you have rewritten your notes, color code them, highlight them, etc to emphasize important pieces of information.
7. Try using a Power Hour - study/work on a project or whatever you need to do for one hour. Set a timer for 60 minutes & when the timer goes off - take a break - get a snack; go make a phone call or two; go for a walk - just take a break (not more than 20 minutes) when the 20 minutes is up - set the timer again & go for round two.
8. Review or re-read what you did in your classes for that day each night. Jot down any questions or misunderstandings you might have and be sure to ask about them the next day.
9. Do you know how you learn best?? What kind of learner are you? Are you auditory, or visual or kinesthetic? You need to figure out how you learn best and then use that to help you study. That might mean drawing a visual representation or putting something to music, even having someone read your notes to you. You need to use what works for you - whatever that might be.
10. Learn to manage your time. That might mean telling your friends you can't do something with them until you have your homework done. If you review each night for all of your classes, when you are strapped for time you won't have to cram so much or you might even be able to skip one night.
11. Take advantage of opportunities offered - in class reviews, test/quiz retakes, study groups.