Back to the Basics - How to Study

It is the beginning of the semester, so let's review the basics about how to study.  There are three aspects that are important:


VARIETY
You need to use many different study strategies when learning material - don't just do the same thing over and over.  Some strategies are:
*Rewrite your notes
*Outline the textbook chapter
*Consolidate the lecture notes and textbook information into one outline
*Put the information onto study cards
*Reorganize the information into concept maps or review charts
*Use recitation - after reading or writing the information, cover it and try to restate it in your own words from memory.
*Quiz yourself.
*Form a study group and explain the information to each other and/or quiz each other
*Make use of any on-line study help or practice quizzes available


REPETITION
It is important to work with the material repeatedly, not just once and not just the night before the exam.  It is the multiple exposures to the material that get it firmly into your long-term memory.


SPACED OUT OVER TIME
This is similar to repetition.  It takes time for the information to become consolidated in your memory, so there needs to be some time after each study session for this to happen.
Than - work with the material again and in a different way!


As you can see, learning takes time and effort.  But the results are worth it!
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First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com and amazon.com.