Successful and Unsuccessful Study Strategies

This semester two sections of my Critical Reading/Thinking class are paired with a History course studying the Holocaust.  After their first History exam I asked my students to evaluate their preparation.  Here are the results from 47 students:

 

NOTE: The number beside each strategy is the number of students who gave that response.

Learning Strategies That Worked

Exam Preparation That Did NOT Work

Reviewed notes often - 7 Rewrote notes - 6 Formed a study group - 4 Read textbook chapter - 3 Made note cards - 3 Followed professor's study guide - 3 Started early - 2 Emailed professor with a question - 2 Reread primary sources - 1 Highlighted textbook - 1 Quiet time in Library - 1 Paid attention in class - 1 Read material out loud - 1 Took good lecture notes - 1 Paid attention to vocabulary - 1

Procrastinated - 10 Didn't pay attention in class - 5 Didn't read textbook thoroughly - 4 Did not read primary sources - 3 Tried to memorize everything - 2 Didn't even open textbook - 2 Didn't review professor's guiding questions - 1 Did not ask professor questions when confused - 1 Poor note-taking skills - 1 Didn't spend enough time studying - 1

 

My challenge to the students was this:

• If you earned an A on the exam, do the same things.
• If you earned a B, do one or two more strategies and aim for an A.
• If you earned a C, D or F, do A LOT more to improve your grade. 

You can apply this information to your own academic success in any course.  Work hard and you will be pleased with your results! 

 

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.