Studying for Exams

One common mistake students make is to not study until shortly before an exam and then panic and try to learn everything at once.  Studying for an exam begins the first day of the class.  Here are some ideas:

1. Start by learning each class lecture notes as you receive them – class by class

2. Make study cards after each class and go through them several times a week, even if there are a lot of them!

One week before the exam:

* Don’t try to second guess what will be on the exam, your job is to learn everything

* Look at the big picture – what is the overview of information

* For each major topic, determine the supporting details

* Study one major topic a day in depth and review the other topics

* If you have had a previous exam in the class, you can predict exam questions, but don’t let that narrow down what you study

* If the professor has given you a study guide, break it down and write the information for each topic

* You can make your own study guide.  Pull out the major topics and put them into a review chart or concept map.  Then add the supporting details.  Turn them into questions and do a question/answer format.

* Remember to think about how the information can be applied to different situations.  You will find questions like that on Business, Psychology and other exams.

* Use recitation – restate the information you just studied in your own words from memory.

You will not need luck if you follow these strategies.  Just work hard!

*****

First Semester Success: Study Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is now available at wordassociation.com, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.

Mid-semester Reflection

At my institution it is the week after spring break, the weather is still cold and there is no sign of spring.  My students yesterday and today were listless and unmotivated.  In order to rejuvenate, I asked them to consider the following questions:

 

1. What academic achievement are you most proud of so far this semester?

2. What is your goal for the end of the semester?
3. How will you get there?

 

Many of my students are on probation, so the responses to question two varied from, among others, “going to all my classes,” “making the Dean’s List,” to “being off of probation.”  The steps to achieve their goals also varied from student to student.  The important thing is to have a specific goal to work toward and to have a plan to get there.  

 

Take a few minutes to consider the above questions for yourself.  Your answers will give you the motivation and energy to work hard for the last part of the semester.

 

Work hard and good luck!
*****
First Semester Success: Study Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is now available at wordassociation.com, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.

Dealing with Distractions

There really is not a lot to say about distractions except that you have to remove yourself from them.  Learning takes extended concentration.   You cannot learn if you are constantly checking your email, going on Twitter, playing a game on the computer, etc.  You have to pay attention to what you are doing – one thing at a time. 

Sometimes this is as easy as disabling Facebook for an hour, turning off your phone, going to the Library away from your friends, or turning off the television.  (I know this sounds extreme – but you really can do this!!)  You are not isolating yourself for the rest of your life, just for a short period of time.  If someone expects to be in constant contact with you via texting or Twitter, tell them you are studying for a specific length of time and then reconnect with them when you are done.

Other times the distractions are more intrinsic – inside your own mind.  These types of distractions could include family or financial worries, grade concerns, contentious relationships with friends or significant others or other problems.   These are a bit harder to deal with, but it can be done. 

*One idea is to physically write down what you are worried about the then physically set the list aside and study.  This physical act helps you set the worries aside and learn. 

*Another idea, strange as it seems, is to designate specific times when you will actively worry about the problem and then visualize yourself moving forward from the worry.  

*It might also help to think of a plan of action – when and how will you deal with this worry. 

*Finally, consider going to the Health Center at your school and talking with someone impartial – not connected with your concern.  It is a big help just to verbalize what you are worrying about and put it in perspective.

The good news is that if you eliminate distractions and pay attention to your studies, you will be more successful and more efficient – you will be done sooner!
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First Semester Success: Study Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (of Any Semester) of College, by Arden B. Hamer, is now available at wordassociation.com and amazon.com.

The Jello Effect

Do you know how to make jello?  Think a moment, and then read below:

1. Put powder from the box into a bowl.

2. Add required amount of boiling water.

3. Add required amount of cold water.

4. Put in refrigerator for a few hours for the jello to set and become solid.

You might be wondering why the recipe for jello is appropriate for a study strategies blog!  The answer is in step #4 – just like jello, information needs time to settle into your long-term memory and “set” or consolidate. 

Here are some ideas:

* Take a few minutes to review what you have read after finishing a textbook assignment.

* Review your lecture notes as soon as possible after class and all your notes for the next exam at least once a week.

* Take a week to prepare for an exam – not just the night before!

* Consider adding a 20 minute daily review of information that is difficult or critical.

These are simple things to add to your study routine, but they will make a big difference!

First Semester Success: Study Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is now available at wordassociation.com, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.

There is No Such Thing as Multi-tasking

Everyone thinks they can do two things at the same time: listen to a lecture and text, check text messages/email and review lecture notes, read your textbook and watch television.  The truth is that your attention is just bouncing back and forth between two (or more!) things.  You are much more efficient if you do just one thing at a time, and then do the next thing.

 

Here is an experiment you can try that I do in my classes:

 

1. Write these two lines, but the first time write them alternating letters and numbers (M, 1, u, 2, t, 3, I, 4….).  Time yourself to see how long it takes to do the two tasks in this way.

 

Multi-tasking is worse than a lie.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11….28

 

2.  Next, first write the complete sentence and then the complete list of numbers and time yourself again.  You will see how much quicker you wrote both the second time.

 

This is just a small illustration of how, when you try to do two things at the same time, you do not do either one well.   This carries over to your studies and distractions.  You need to give your full attention to your work, save the other things until you are done.