Study Smarter

Not Harder
Academic Achievement
Center

Cook Library
CK524

www.towson.edu/aac
achieve@towson.edu
(p)410-704-2291
The 4 Ws and H of Studying
What
When
Where Why
How
What is it?
What does it mean to study to you?

Review vs. Self-Test
What is the difference?
Why is it important?
How often do you do each?
Light
Concentration
Medium
Concentration
Deep
concentration
5-10 min
5-10 min
40 min
Van Blerkom, D. 2009. College study skills: Becoming a strategic
learner. Boston, MA. Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
When Do You Study?
Morning?

Afternoon?

Middle of the night?
Managing Your School and
Social Life
Its okay to say no
Harder subjects first
Create a schedule and stick to it
Finding a Place to Call Your
Own
Where do you like to study?
Are there distractions?
How effective is your location?
Why Do You Study?
Consistency is Key
Make a plan that works for you
Determine how long you can
concentrate for

Benefits of Studying
Less chance of cramming
Constantly reviewing
Active learning

How Do You Study?

Active Studying (Blooms)
What is active studying?
Blooms Taxonomy examples


Study Strategies
Study strategies that will help you be
successful in any class.
Study Method #1: Repetition
Review your notes the same day you get
them. Thats when your brain remembers
the best!




Then review your notes daily. Give your
brain the chance to repeatedly see the
information.
Study Method #2: Writing
Rewrite your notes

Type your notes

Or do both!
Study Method #3: Condensing
Day 1: Write out everything you need to
know. Youll have several pages.

Day 2: Condense this information into half
the number of pages. Take out extra
words not needed, not important details.

Day 3: Condense this information into one
page divided into four sections.
http://www.gearfire.net/3-effective-methods-to-study-for-exams/
Study Method #4: Talking to
Yourself
Say or sing your notes out loud
Read only 1 sentence of the notes at a
time
Cover the sentence up and say it several
times.
Check your notes to make sure that you
got the sentence right

This words great for diagrams too!
Cover up the labels and try to guess them
correctly.
Study Method #5: Talking to
Someone Else
Teach the material you just read to
someone else.

If you cant remember all the information
you might need to re-read.


Study Method #6: Flashcards
While studying flashcards, make 3 piles
What I know
What I dont know
What I guessed right

Focus your studying on the What I dont
know and What I guessed right piles
Study Method #7: Mind Mapping
Rewrite your notes using only key words
and images
Study Method #8: Study Buddy
Use a study buddy
Have a friend ask you questions about your notes.
Answer their questions without looking at your
notes.
If you get a question wrong, ask your study buddy
to tell you the right answer. Make a list of the
questions you get wrong.
After the last question, have your study buddy ask
you the questions you got wrong again.
Study Method #9: Mnemonics
Catchy words or phrases
SPONCH
sulfur, phosphorus, oxygen, nitrogen,
carbon, hydrogen = the 6 most
common elements in biology
King Philip came over for good spaghetti
Kingdom Phylum Class Order
Family Genus Species
Study Method #9: Mnemonics
Visualizing
Fondant is a sweet, smooth,
elastic icing. If its freezing
you need a blanket.
Fondant looks like a smooth
blanket over a cake or
cupcake.
Buttercream is a light,
creamy frosting.
Buttercream is creamy!
Study Method #9: Mnemonics
Chunking

Abraham Lincoln was shot on
April 14, 1865 by John Wilkes
Booth
Abraham = April
Abraham Lincoln has 14 letters
= 14
He was a president and you
can vote for president when
you turn 18 = 18
Lincoln is a type of car that
can by found on the highway
going 65mph = 65
Study Method #9: Mnemonics
Story Method
Counties in Southern England: Avon, Dorset,
Somerset, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Devon,
Gloucestershire, Hampshire, and Surrey.

An AVON lady is walking towards a strange
house. She is hot and sweating in the SUMMER
(Somerset) heat. Outside the house, there is
giant CORN (Cornwall) growing, but it's
beginning to WILT (Wiltshire) in the heat. She
knocks on the DOOR (Dorset), which is opened
by the DEVIL(Devon). He is smearing honey on
a HAM (Hampshire), making in GLOSSY
(Gloucestershire) in the bright sunlight. The
Avon lady panics, screams 'SORRY' (Surrey),
and runs back down the path.
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTIM_01.htm
What We Have to Offer:
Workshops
Tutoring
Academic Coaching

Upcoming Events:
Test Taking Strategies
- Wednesday March 5
th
LA2105
Active Reading Strategies
- Tuesday March 11
th
UU306
Call: 410-407-2291
E-mail:
achieve@towson.edu

Academic Achievement
Center at TU

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