How to Study Blog » High School Study Skills

3 Tips to Help Your Organize Your Thoughts While Studying

Brian — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 02:21:42 +0000

You’ve been studying hard all semester, but now that mid-terms are almost upon us you want to kick your study habits up to 11. While some students like to cram the night before, slam energy drinks, or listen to audio textbooks while they sleep, those methods won’t get you very far—and they’re not good for any long-term retention. But to make the most of the time you have before mid-terms, you need to organize—not just organizing your schedule so you’re on time for your exams—but to clear your head and make your mind more receptive to the information you’re about to fill it with. Here are a few tips to help you.

Clear a space

Not only do you want to clear your mind before you get studying, but you want to clear your workspace. It’s much harder to get down to work if your desk is covered with soda cans and the residue from last semester’s science project. Clear off a space around your computer or textbook and make sure that you can comfortably rest your elbows on the table without running into something. This buffer zone aids your subconscious in clearing out any other thoughts or distractions, helping you to focus. But, keep in mind, clearing your desk should only take a few minutes. If it takes more than 10 minutes, it’s called procrastinating. Clear it off fast, and get to work.

Prioritize

Now that you’ve organized your space, organize your time. Make a list of the things you have to study or the projects you have to complete and gauge how difficult or how long each task will be. When you prioritize your tasks, rank them according to due date and difficulty, and start with the most difficult assignment that is due the earliest. When you set your tasks down on paper and make a plan of attack, you free your mind up to concentrate on the task at hand. Instead of worrying about all the work you have to do, you’ll be able to finish the job in front of you before moving on to something else.

Maximize your mind through music

A lot of students think that music can be a distraction when studying, which is true if you’re listening to the latest Lady Gaga or rocking out to classic Led Zepplin. However, using the right music can actually help you concentrate while blocking out distracting noises from roommates or friends. Light classical music, like Mozart, is soothing and maintains an even tempo without many dramatic climaxes, helping your mind to focus. In fact any type of instrumental music that maintains an even, moderate tempo is good. Some people even find that listening white noise is a good way to block distractions without causing distractions. Avoid overly dramatic music like Wagner or just about anything with a pumping beat and lyrics.

Once you’ve organized your space, your tasks, and your mind, you’re ready to jump in and get studying. Good luck!
Gunter Jameson writes about several topics including travel, minimalism and online classes.

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Sleep your way to higher grades

Brian — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:50:01 +0000

College is on its way or already here and with it comes: sleep deprivation.

Sure, it makes sense that the more you sleep the better your grades might be, but has anyone actually looked at this from a research perspective? You bet!

Back in 2001 a group of researchers looked at the GPAs of college students who were: short sleepers (less than six hours); average sleepers (six to eight hours); and long sleepers (eight-plus hours) and … the long sleepers had the highest GPAs.

Full Article Here

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Equipped for Studying: What You Must Have

Brian — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:36:35 +0000

It’s 6 p.m. and you’re behind in your studies. Tests and papers are coming up, so that means it’s not to hit the books and study, study, study. But then you hit a few roadblocks. You look around the house and can’t find a pen. Then you need some scratch paper, and can’t find it. Fifteen minutes later you find some and sit down to begin. Now where’s that calculator? Is it in the other room? Did your roommate or brother take it? After you find it, you notice that the batteries are dead. Now it’s time to find extra batteries. And on and on it goes.

You can waste a good hour just looking for all the supplies you need to study and do your homework. The good student, though, doesn’t take this chance. He’s prepared by always making sure that he has everything he needs for his study sessions. Especially when studying for High School tests, or College Exams. This means having a good place for study and a “kit” full of all of the things he’ll need. Here’s what the successful student should make sure he has:

1) A good place to study. This is important because obviously, this is where you’re going to keep all of your other supplies. That means it needs to be a place where you can conveniently store all of your study supplies. I should also have a comfortable chair and good lighting. Preferably, it is turned away from things that will distract you, like windows or open doorways. More on Creating a Productive Study Space.

2) Computer and printer. We don’t need to say much about this, except that many of the school-related tasks that once required a trip to the library can now be accomplished on the Internet. Also, many assignments must be typed. That’s why you also will need a printer.

3) Get a box or holder to store other supplies in. You could use a drawer in the desk, a storage tote, or even an old shoe box. The most important consideration is that it needs to be easy to access. You should keep all of your study-related items in there, ready to go. This storage container should never move from your desk area. Make sure that family members or roommates know that these supplies are important and that they should not be used without your permission. They’re to be used only in that area. You might even place a label on them to avoid any confusion.

4) Inside this box should be kept the following items (Some variation is allowed, depending on what classes you’re taking): pencils, pens, erasers, calculator with appropriate batteries, markers (Make sure lids are tightly attached), highlighters. You’ll also need printer paper, but it will be kept at your printer. Your books will stay with you in your backpack. Everything else can go in this “study kit.”

Now, with your handy kit, you should be prepared the next time you’re ready to study–and you won’t be stymied by not being able to find the right supplies.

More about a good study environment

30 Days to Better Study Skills

Brian — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:00:07 +0000

The study “strategy” for most students is the same: Wait until the night before an assignment is due or before a test to hit the books and study. Unfortunately, for most of us, that strategy eventually catches up and hits our grades—hard.

Good news: There’s a better way! Here’s a systematic approach that in 30 days can turn you into a master student. We’ll start with week 1.

DAYS 1-7: Take some learning assessments. It’s a fact that professional educators have known for generations: Everybody learns differently. Fortunately, there are tests available now (Many on the Internet) that tell you what kind of learner you are. Once you know how you learn, you can base your study strategy on these facts rather than on speculation about what might help you. Do a google search on “learning style” or “learning assessment.”

DAYS 8-15: Meet with a career counselor. Often the career counselor can give you the assessment we discussed above. Even if you take the assessment online, though, it’s still helpful to meet with her. There are career counselors at high schools, colleges, and even employment centers. Ask the counselor for information on learning strategies based on your own particular needs. Alternatively, you can again do a Google search on “study strategies.” There are scores of good articles available. Print them all out and compile them in a notebook and spend several days doing nothing but reading through these strategies.

DAYS 16-20: Begin implementing at least one of the strategies in your notebook that you believe meshes with your learning style. Usually you should implement only one strategy at a time so that you can determine which one works for you and which one you can discard. Having said that, it’s possible that different classes will be helped by different strategies, so don’t forever limit yourself to just one strategy. And again, remember: All strategies that you try should match with what you have determined is your learning style. For instance, maybe you’ve decided that you’re a visual learning. Then use the strategy that is heavy on visual aids.

DAYS 21 -30: Spend time assessing your progress. It’s pointless to stick with a strategy if it’s not improving your study time and your grades. During these 10 days, therefor, you examine your current strategy and see how well it’s been working for you. If it’s going well, keep it up. If not, move on to another strategy on your list.

These last two steps are key. Any time you determine that a strategy has not helped you in real, detectable ways (Your grades improve and you’re able to learn the material better and faster), no matter how much you like that strategy, discard it. There should be plenty more ideas on your list, so find something else and try it for a week or 10 days. Then assess again. Eventually you’ll latch onto something that works, and your grades will eventually start reflecting your new, better study habits.

How to Create a Productive Study Space

Brian — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:18:18 +0000

In order to understand and retain information, you need to be able to concentrate on what you are studying. This is dependent on you studying in an area that is suited to your learning needs and style, which makes creating a productive study space is an essential element of studying well.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks to help you create a productive study space:

Identify your needs. Some people need absolute quiet when they are studying, while others prefer to have music playing in the background. You know what you need to help you concentrate and stay focused, so set up your study area accordingly. See our Study Skills Checklist – and How to Study – Getting Started

Set up a study place that is equipped for studying. Pens, pencils, paper, calculator, pencil sharpener and other supplies should be within easy access of your study area. If you need to get up and move elsewhere every time you need something, you will not be able to stay focused on studying. See Essential Products for Getting Organized. For teachers see our Effective Study Skills Lesson Plan.

Be consistent. Use the same study area every day, and try to study at the same time each day. This establishes a connection between the time and space and studying, and going to your study space at the same time every day will become habit. Use your study area only for studying and you will associate that place with studying. That will help you stay focused on your studies while you are there.Make sure your study area is a place where you can relax, yet stay focused. Your bedroom may seem like a great place to study, but you may doze off continuously while studying there

Set up study rules. If you study better at certain times or when you are able to take short breaks, then make that part of your study rules. Make sure others realize that’s part of your study routine.

Use study totems. Athletes have lucky socks or lucky shorts. You can have a study hat or study scarf. You can use a figurine, a toy, or any other type of object as your study totem. When it is time to study, put on your study item or set out your study totem. A study item or study totem helps you study in two ways:

Once others understand what your study item or totem means, seeing it will tell them you are studying so they will not interrupt you.

When you start having trouble concentrating, you can look at your study item or totem instead of staring into space. It helps refocus your mind on the task at hand.

Your study area should be comfortable. The temperature should not be too hot or too cold. Make sure your chair is comfortable and you have room to wiggle your toes. Being confined or uncomfortable will become a distraction during a study session.

Establishing good study habits begins with setting up a productive study space. Your space should meet your needs, and personalizing it is always a good option. When you have a space used only for studying, it is easier for you to concentrate on the materials and ignore or avoid distractions.

See our post on Creating your Personal Study Space

Forming a Study Group

Brian — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:13:42 +0000

Study groups are a great way to supplement your individual study. Being involved in a study group provides you with the opportunity to get feedback on how well you know the material, as well as reinforcing what you have learned. In addition, a good study group gives you practice at working as part of a team, a skill that you will need in the world outside of school.

Forming a Group

Here are some tips for forming a good study group:

Talk to other students before and after class and during breaks. This will give you the chance to find out which students you can work well with, as well as which students know something about the material and work at succeeding in the class.

Invite other students to study with you.

Make sure you have enough group members that you still have a functioning group if one member can’t make it, but keep the group small enough that you are able to accomplish goals during study sessions. A group of 5 or 6, including you, is usually a good size.

An alternative to inviting others is to study whether you can see other members of your class. Ask them a question about the material to start a conversation about the class.

If you are uncomfortable approaching other students, ask the professor or teacher if they can pass around a sign-up sheet.

Set a meeting time that works for everyone’s schedules. Schedule enough time to cover material thoroughly.

Choose a location that will be free of distractions and interruptions. Make sure the environment is comfortable because you will be spending a great deal of time there.

There are two ways to approach study group sessions, and you will need to take the approach that best suits your group.

Formal group – At the end of each study session, write an agenda for the next session. Assign topics or sections for each group member to present.

Informal group – At the beginning of each study session, decide which areas will be covered. You can cover those by having group members present different areas or through group discussion.

Staying on Track

At some point, every study group will start to veer off track. The following tips will help get the group refocused and prevent it from becoming a social group:

Set a schedule. Decide ahead of time when the study session will end. Schedule time for breaks, too. This makes it clear how much time is available to cover the material.

When students in the group begin venturing off track with their discussions, simply ask them if that material is on the test.

Don’t allow group members to constantly come unprepared. Often, establishing preparation as a rule when forming the group will be enough. If not, explain that the group is not a tutoring session and the individual will not be welcome to continue attending if they cannot contribute.

Remember that the study group meets to study the material. Complaints about professors, teachers and classes should be saved for scheduled breaks.

A well-formed and focused study group can be a valuable tool for learning. The interaction and support from the group will help you stay motivated, and group feedback will help you discover your strong points and weak areas. In addition, study groups can make your learning experience a more enjoyable one.

The Study Guide Exchange: Great Group Study Method (0)

The importance of note taking

admin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:06:25 +0000

It’s impossible to take great class notes if you don’t go to class.

Make sure you make that first class because that’s when the teacher will let you in on the course outline, and their expectations in terms of homework, class assignments and testing. You’ll get a good indication on how the course will be marked.

The most important habit you can get into when taking notes in class it to write clearly. If you can’t read what you’ve written, your notes aren’t going to be much good to you, and you don’t want to waste your time re-writing all your class notes.

Don’t write down information you don’t understand. Be sure to ask your teacher to explain any material you don’t understand. Once you get the concept you can make notes on it.

Keep your ears open for any hints on possible test questions. Lots of times a teacher will comment on the importance of information and infer that the information will appear on an upcoming test. Make sure you make note of that in your written material.

Take notes on any comments the teacher says about your material. She might indicate some material is more important than others, and some should be memorized sooner than others. Surprise tests aren’t so much of a surprise for students who’ve been paying attention and looking for hints.

The best way to gather great notes for a class is to go to class every day. Aim for perfect attendance. Spending time with your teacher allows you to get to know her teaching style and allows you to better figure out what to study, and what the teacher is looking for in test answers.

It’s tough to miss a class, because the teacher is going to continue moving on to the next thing and you may have missed a crucial part of the course outline the day before. And any material mentioned in class is eligible to appear in a future test. If you do miss class, try and borrow notes from another student (one who takes good class notes.)

TEACHER – Be sure to see our Taking Notes Lesson Plan

See our other posts on taking notes
Cornell Method
Split Page Method
Mind Mapping
Outline Method

Taking Power Notes (4)
Mind Maps Maximize Study Effectiveness (3)
Tips for Taking Better Notes (2)
How to Study from your notes (1)
Taking Notes: Split-Page Method (3)
Taking Notes: Outline Method (14)
Taking Notes: The Cornell Method (12)

Taking Notes: Split-Page Method

admin — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:37:39 +0000

While thorough notes are a vital part of making good grades, many students do not know how to take notes. Note taking is not a skill you are born with, but one that you learn. Unfortunately, most instructors assume that previous instructors have taught students how to take good notes. There are many ways to organize your notes, and the split-page method is one of the most popular. For more information about learning effective study skills, try our free ebook on how to study.

The split-page method is exactly what it sounds like. You split the page by drawing a vertical line all the way down the paper. The line should be located 2.5 to 3 inches from the left-hand side of the paper.

So, what do you do with the two sides?

Similar to the Cornell method, the split-page method uses the right side of the divided page for recording lecture notes.

Another Method you may want to try, is Mind Mapping.

Do not try to write down every word of the lecture when taking notes. Doing so requires you to write at full speed, which means you will stop listening to what is being said. Instead, focus on writing down the main ideas and key points. Watch for cues from the instructor for important points, and be sure to note anything the professor writes on the board.

The left-hand side of the page can have one of two uses. Some students prefer to use the left column for writing down keywords from the notes or questions they may have about the material. This allows them to cover the notes and use only the keywords as prompts when reciting the information. If you use the left-hand column for cues and keywords, be sure to write them down as soon as possible after the lecture, while the information is still fresh in your mind.

The more traditional use for the left side is creating an outline of the textbook by writing down keywords and main points, also known as the Outline method of taking notes. The trick to this method is to keep the information from the textbook and the notes together, and to separate chapters. With this format, a student is able to study the textbook and the lecture notes side-by-side, without wasting time or losing their train of thought by flipping back and forth between notes and textbook.

A variation of the split-page method is to divide the page into three columns. The middle column is used for taking notes in class. The left-hand column is used for outlining the text. The right-hand column is used for writing down keywords, cues, and questions the student may have about the material. This format provides the textbook and notes in one location, and has the added bonus of a cue column. This allows students to cover the first two columns and use the cues in the third column as memory prompts when reciting the information.

Note taking is not a natural skill, although some people are naturally better at it than others are. There is a wide variety of methods for taking good notes, and not all methods work for everyone. The split-page method is easy to learn and easy to use, making it an excellent method for anyone trying take better notes.

College and High School Students will want to try out our free Ebook on How to Study.

Teachers will want to try our Taking Notes Lesson Plan.

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance

admin — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:11:30 +0000

Study Sessions

Many students find it hard to start working or work for too long when they do. If you find yourself avoiding starting work or seemingly finding ways out of studying then try to start studying for short periods of 10-15 minutes on a regular basis. This if done properly can help ease you into interrupting your normal daily routine enough to actually get some work done. When you find that you can sit and concentrate (which are skills that need to warmed up by this process as well) for longer periods then change to a full study routine.

Other Posts on getting organized to study – 3 tips to organize your thoughts when studying, Study Skills Checklist

These and other tips are in our High School and College study sections.

If you find that you study for too long then it can seem much more of a chore than it really has to be. Even students who really enjoy their subject can end up resenting the amount of work they have to do if they fall into ineffective study patterns. If you study for too long at a time you may begin to fall into the avoiding starting to study pattern.

A realistic study pattern (although it is better to find your own personal pattern) is that of a designated 2 hour session with a 5 minute break every half hour. During the 5 minutes be mindful to get away from the studying and do something that is both relaxing and different e.g. get a breath of fresh air. Make sure that you end the 2 hour session whether you have completed what you have been studying or not and commit to return to that point in the next 2 hour session.

In between sessions try to do something you enjoy or something new and refreshing. It is sometimes easy to view times of study as mundane but they can also be times where you try new experiences and be creative. At first it may seem a little hard to think of things that you don’t normally do and might enjoy and it is different for everyone. Some examples may include going to the park, watching a DVD, painting a picture, going to a museum, meeting friends (but preferably not talking about study), learning a musical instrument, watching a sporting event that you do not normally attend, reading a novel, playing a new sport, etc… It is important to attempt to change a revision period to a time where you are choosing to experience new things as well as choosing to learn new things, which is a much more positive way to approach studying

From Wikipedia – How to Study

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Taking Notes: Outline Method

admin — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:17:03 +0000

Taking notes is not a skill that comes naturally to many students, but it is also not a skill that is taught in many classrooms. Note Taking is one of the most important study skills for High School Students and College Students. Because note taking is so important to educational success, it is important that students learn proper methods for taking thorough notes. The outline method of note taking is one that will look familiar to many students.

The outline method of note taking starts on the left-hand side of the paper. The most important points are placed at the left edge of the paper. Less important points, which are typically ideas that support the main points, are indented to the right. Each set of less important points is indented more to the right. It is easy to see, at a glance, the level of importance of the different ideas because of the distance between them and the major points.

An alternate form, which requires a little more thought, is to start with minor points to the left and indenting as points get more important. The alternate outline form is best used in lectures where minor ideas are used to build up to the most important ideas.

With either form, indentation is enough to show the importance of the ideas and the relationship between them. If you would like something more concrete, however, you can opt for using dashes, bullets or a Roman numeral and letter combination for further emphasis. For the sake of speed and being able to focus on the lecture, you may want to consider adding the marks after class when you review your notes.

As the name suggests, the Outline method is a outline of the material, divided into Main topics, SubTopics, and details. Outline notes look something like this:

I. First main topic

A. Subtopic

1. Detail
2. Detail

B. Subtopic

The outline method of note taking has several advantages. The outline method not only shows the content and main points of the lecture, but also shows the relationship between points. With an outline, it is easy to identify the main points of the information, and reviewing can be as simple as turning main points into questions. In addition, the outline is set up so simply that it takes very little, if any, editing for notes to be easily understood.

A major benefit of the outline method is the ability to focus on the lecture. Outlining does not require speed or great detail in the writing, both of which take away from your ability to listen to what is said. Outlining does require that you pay enough attention to the lecture to be able to outline the key ideas, which can help you retain more of the information.

There are some disadvantages to the outlining method. The outline method can be difficult to use in science and mathematical courses because those courses need more of an ability to show sequential relationships than outlining offers. Courses with fast-paced lectures may also be difficult to outline, partially because outlining requires the note-taker to think about organization.

For teachers, you may wish to familiarize students with different styles of note taking in addition to Outlining, such as charting and mapping. There is plenty of information online or you can use a Lesson plan for taking notes.

The outline method is somewhat familiar to most students, and can be easily used for many classes. Although it does require the student to think about how to organize the notes, the outline method is simple in design and allows students to focus on the lecture. The outline method of note taking is an excellent way to ensure your educational success.

For more information on taking notes, try our free ebook on how to study

See our other posts on taking notes
Cornell Method
Split Page Method
Mind Mapping
How to Study from your Notes
Taking Power Notes
Mind Maps

How to Study Blog » High School Study Skills

3 Tips to Help Your Organize Your Thoughts While Studying

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Equipped for Studying: What You Must Have

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30 Days to Better Study Skills

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How to Create a Productive Study Space

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Forming a Study Group

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The importance of note taking

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Taking Notes: Split-Page Method

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Taking Notes: Outline Method

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