Back to Basics - How to Study

I promised we would go back to the basics and look at exactly how to study – WHAT you should do and WHEN you should do it!

Let’s start with WHEN:

·       Review you notes as soon as possible after each class, before the class meets again.

·       Once a week review all of the notes that will be on the next exam

·       Read the textbook before the lecture

·       If available, review power point slides before the lecture

·       Start to study several days (if not a full week) before a major exam

Then, WHAT should you do when you study:

·       Use a variety of strategies, don’t just reread and reread.  For example, turn the information into a study guide, make study cards of the important people, events, vocabulary

·       Test yourself – after reading a section of notes or the textbook, shut the cover and see if you can restate the information in your own words.  If yes, go on.   If no, reread and try it again.

·       Take notes from the textbook or write margin notes in the margins

·       Rewrite your lecture notes if they are unorganized or messy

In future blogs we’ll go into more detail, but this is a good, basic start.  Keep learning!

*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and  Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.