Sunday, June 26, 2011

Studying tips

http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/howtostudy.html#examstudy

Does this sound familiar? Since we had a test this past week, and did not really cover a lot of material, i wanted to do something a little different and give some studying tips that might be helpful.  I know that most of us have too many homework and studying to do, but organization is the main key to success and doing better.
http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/howtostudy.html#examstudy

I have looked over many references, and basically studying for a test can be summed in those few points:
  1. Manage your time: Begin studying about 1 week before the exam. Spend at least an hour each night (or day) studying for the exam . Try to spend the entire night (and/or day) before the exam studying for it.
  2. How not to study: re-reading your textbook has "little or no benefit" when you are studying for a test. One method of studying that is better than passive re-reading is the "read-recite-review" ("3R") method: "Read the text, set the text aside and recite out loud all that [you can] remember, and then read the text a second time" (McDaniel et al. 2009).
  3. Make a study outline
  4. Write sample essays & do sample problems
  5. Make "flash cards"
  6. Stop studying when you feel confident: when you get to the point that you feel confident and ready for whatever will be on the exam and actually eager to see the exam to find out if you guessed its contents correctly, then you know that you are ready and you should be able to get some rest and sleep in order to be ready. 
Other tips have proven to be extremely powerful guides for organizing, thinking, studying, and learning in college.
Study Space
Your study space should be as quiet and comfortable as possible. Avoid studying in noisy places such as cafeterias, recreation rooms, or lounges.
Tip: When studying, keep a waste basket handy.
Tip: Have everything needed for studying handy beforehand. Don't waste valuable time looking for books, notes, of other information. After you have assembled the items you need, put them where you can reach them easily.
Study Habits
Tip: Begin studying no less than 30-90 minutes after a meal.
Tip: Never study within 30 minutes of going to sleep.
Tip: Prioritize! Make a list of what you intend to study, prioritize the list, and stick to it!
Tip: If possible, study no more than 30-40 minutes at a stretch.
Tip: Take study breaks away from your desk or wherever you are studying. 


references:
http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/howtostudy.html#examstudy
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/study-skills/teaching-methods/6390.html?detoured=1
http://www.adprima.com/studyout.htm

4 comments:

  1. Different, but interesting and useful. I like it. I wish all the students would read this!

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  2. With all the exams this semester I can use all the study tips I can get. I really liked the thing about the three Rs. I have read and been told of many study techniques but I would have to say that is the first time I have heard this. I will be trying this technique out on my next exam. Thank you for the switch up. : ) Another tip for those that may read this is to avoid studying where you sleep, such as your bed, this does not allow you to sleep as well at night.

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  3. This is really helpful, especially as we’re approaching finals. Other techniques I’ve found useful are explaining the material to another person (who may or may not be educated in that area), and speed reading. A handy way to speed read and increase comprehension is to go through the material once as quickly as you can, reading mostly headings, and spending only 1-2 seconds per page. Then go through it slower, running your finger or a pencil down the lines as you read. Decrease the speed one more time to catch more details, and this last time you’ll still be reading much faster than your normal rate without even realizing it! Two websites that discuss speed reading well are listed below.
    http://www.articleclick.com/Article/6-Speed-Reading-Myths-Debunked/969909
    http://www.mindtools.com/speedrd.html

    Diana Wilson

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  4. I wish that I had read this particular post earlier in the semester. Your study tips sound like something that I should have been doing all semester. I will try them apply them next semester.
    The reason that a person is supposed to study many times but with shorter lengths of study is to have as many beginnings and endings in the study time. Apparently, the human mind best remembers the beginnings and endings of any story and is usually fuzzy on the details in the middle.

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