"The brain that does the work is the brain that learns."
Study Smart http://youthconnect.ca/htdocs/english/learn/examstresstips.asp Social Elements: Study Environment: self sound (eliminate distractions) pair (study buddy) light peers (study group) temperature adult seating variety
Prepare for Success Get organized. Stay organized. Make sure you have a notebook for each class and organize your notes, handouts, graded tests, papers and quizzes. When you prepare to study, have all the materials – pens, paper, pencils, calculator or whatever you'll need for that particular study session. Use a planner to keep track of long- and short-term projects. Set a schedule and stick to it. Pick your time and place to study. Experts advise students to study in chunks of shorter time and to avoid marathon study sessions. Look for spots with good lighting and few distractions. Try studying at the same time daily, giving your most challenging classes top priority.
Prepare for Success #2 Attend class and participate. In school as in life, 90 percent of success is showing up. Studying will be much more effective if you know what your teacher and classmates are talking about. Participate in discussions and ask questions. Create study tools. Create outlines, timelines, charts and flashcards with your notes and reading materials. Simply working on these mini-projects can help you memorize the material, but using them to test yourself can reap rewards. Turn off your phone. When it comes to studying, multi-tasking is a myth. Since you're studying in shorter chunks of time you can turn your phone off and put it away to avoid being distracted by a text or call. Reward yourself after a productive hour or so.
Study Checklist Have you identified the test specifics (format of questions, time allowed, content to be tested) Have you organized your textbook notes and lecture notes (sequenced, stapled, in piles or folders) Have you integrated / cross-referenced your textbook notes with your lecture notes Have you tried to draw diagrams or mind maps to explain difficult concepts Have you determined if there is content that you need more help understanding Have you tried to explain the content from your notes in your own words and out loud if possible
Have you practised solving the problem-type questions Have you found sample questions (from other textbooks or websites) that could be asked on the test Have you tried making flash cards or using mnemonics, acronyms, analogies, etc. to recall content Have you tried to teach someone else the material that you are studying Have you constructed a practice test for the content that will be studied Have you determined when is your best time of day to study Have you determined a good location for successful studying Have you tried to review your textbook and lecture notes regularly
PRR: Preview, Read, Recall These steps toward active reading help you understand and engage with written material and increase information retention. Preview Before you tackle any reading, identify the main ideas to better comprehend and retain details you’ll encounter later. Spend time familiarizing yourself with the text as a whole. Make some projections about the reading by summarizing the main idea and thinking about how the text is organized. Consider how difficult the reading might be and how long it could take to read. Read Set realistic goals for how long and how many pages you’ll be able to read. Don’t try to read nonstop. Instead, divide it into small sections, such as half pages or columns, and read them individually. Apply reading strategies. Recall Recall mentally or recite the highlights of what you’ve read. As you read, ask yourself questions and answer them. Underline key words or phrases in each section, and write notes in your margins. Summarize the material in your own words.
Self-Test Practice! Practice! Practice! Create possible test questions, keeping in mind different levels of learning. Do practice problems and apply your knowledge to real-world solutions. Trade and discuss your questions with a partner (study buddy) or a study group.
Test Plan your approach. Unless specified, you can take the test in the order you want. Skim through when you get it, if you can, and choose an approach. The order is up to you: starting with an easy question can boost your confidence, but you may want to begin with written response questions to give you enough time. Skip if you get stuck. If you can’t think of an answer for a question, mark it and move on. For essay and short-answer questions, jot down what you can recall so you don’t forget. Something might spark your memory during the rest of the test. Ask for clarification. Don’t hesitate to ask for help from the teacher if you are unclear about the instructions, procedure, question wording, etc. Annotate: Circle or highlight important words. Make notes in the margins as ideas come to mind. Relax. If you notice that you are not thinking well, it could be due to physical anxiety. Pause for a moment and take several slow, deep breaths. Look away from the test briefly, maybe at the ceiling, floor, or the clock in the room.