Study Smarter, Not Harder!
- Sandra Sanders
- Oct 18, 2021
- 3 min read
When teaching study skills, I like to provide students with an assortment of strategies and techniques I have gathered from a variety of sources. Here are some of the strategies and techniques that I share with them:
Follow the Study Cycle
Preview: Preview the text and other study materials before class to develop a big picture of what will be covered. Attend: Attend class to get more from lectures and to take better, more concise notes. Review: Review preferably right after class, but at least sometime during the day. Take about 10 minutes to review class notes. Study: To reinforce the new material learned during class, and to thoroughly understand the subject matter being taught, take about 30-50 minutes to review notes, read the textbook, work out problems, make concept maps, or form a study group. As you study, ask yourself 'how', 'why' and 'what if' questions. Assess: Reflect and evaluate your mastery and understanding of the material you learned and studied. Ask yourself, "Is the information I'm studying making sense?", "Am I confident with the new material?", "Do I understand the material well enough that I can teach it to someone else?" (from Furman University Academic Center)
Reading is Not Studying
Simply reading and re-reading texts or notes is not actively engaging in the material. It is simply re-reading your notes. Think of reading as an important part of pre-studying, but learning information requires actively engaging in the material.
Actively Engaging in the Material
· Complete your study guides or create your own.
· Become a teacher. Say the information aloud in your own words as if you are the instructor and teaching the concepts to a class.
· Create mind maps or diagrams that explain the material.
· As you read, relate what you are learning to what you already know. Again, this helps your brain to link the information to something else.
· Take notes effectively and efficiently. Outline or use Cornell Notes.
· Use flashcards and Quizlet to test your knowledge as you prepare for quizzes and tests. Flashcards and Quizlet are a great way to increase repetition of the material.
· To memorize vocabulary, try to create a mental picture for every new concept or word. This gives your brain another way to access the information besides just through the words.
· Take control of your calendar. Know your project and exam schedule.
· Use your resources. Consider using time in study hall and online study sessions with classmates.
Study Intensively
Not all studying is equal. You will accomplish more if you study intensively. Intensive study over several short periods of time over several days and weeks. The most effective practice is to work a short time on each class every day. Critical thinking helps the brain hold onto the information. Do not wait until shortly before an exam to start studying. Help your brain out by giving it time to let the concepts and knowledge sink in.
Avoid Multitasking
· A significant amount of research indicates that multitasking does not improve efficiency and actually negatively affects results.
· To study smarter, not harder, eliminate distractions during study sessions. Social media, web browsing, game playing, texting, etc., will severely affect the intensity of study sessions if one allows them!
· While doing homework, do not mix up my material—switching from math problems to an essay, then back to math. Don’t confuse your brain! Stick to one subject area for 30–60 minutes.
Know Where and How You Study Best
The silence of your bedroom may not be the best place for you. You might find that you concentrate better with some background noise. Some people find that listening to classical music while studying helps them concentrate, while others find this highly distracting.
Take Breaks When Studying at Home:
In-Chair Brain Break
Take every 15 minutes.
Remain seated.
30 seconds in length
Stretch and yawn.
Daydream about something fun (but only for 30 seconds).
Get right back to your work!
Out-of-Chair Brain Break
Take every 30 minutes.
Stand up and/or walk around
5 minutes in length
Get food and/or use the bathroom.
Do something away from your study area.
Get right back to work!
One of my favorite videos to share with my students is the Pomodoro Technique, a brain break strategy: https://www.ted.com/talks/yana_savitsky_how_a_student_changed_her_study_habits_by_setting_goals_and_managing_time
Additional Resources:
Quizlet.com
https://benowashs.eq.edu.au/Supportandresources/Formsanddocuments/Documents/Cornell%20Notes/cornell-notes-in-depth-how-to-write-notes.pdf
https://www.honolulu.hawaii.edu/sites/www.honolulu.hawaii.edu/files/care-resource-notes-template.pdf
Train Your Brain for Success: A Teenager's Guide to Executive Functions Paperback –
by Randy Kulman, PhD
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