How To Study Effectively

1. 1. “How Can I Study More Effectively” Marcus Simmons Tech Prep Coordinator Itawamba Community College
2. 2. Taking Notes All good study techniques Start with good note taking Habits. Knowing how to take good notes will improve
your ability to study more effectively
3. 3. The Three Stages of Good Note taking • Stage 1 – Get ready to take notes (Before Class) – Review your notes from
previous lessons – Complete all assignments and readings before class – Bring all needed materials to take notes
4. 4. • Stage 2 – Taking notes (During Class) – Keep your focus on the teacher – Listen for signal statements like: • Most
importantly • Remember that… • Be sure to include…. – Write quickly • Use abbreviation • Place a “?” by things you are not
sure about
5. 5. • Stage 3 – Rewrite your Notes – After class rewrite your notes • Change abbreviations to complete words • Change
symbols into words • Change shorter sentences to more complete sentences – Answer any “?” you had in your notes
6. 6. 10 Study Habits of Successful Students • Try not to do too much studying at one time • Plan specific times for studying •
Try to study at the same times each day • Set specific goals for your study time • Start studying when planned • Work on the
assignments or materials that are the most difficult first • Review notes before beginning an assignment • Eliminate
distractions during study time • Call another student for assistance when needed • Review schoolwork over the weekends
7. 7. Preparing an Effective Place to Study • The “Study Place” should always be available to you • The “Study Place” should be
free from interruptions • The “Study Place” should be free from distractions • The “Study Place” should have all of the
materials on hand that are needed to study • The “Study Place” should have a large enough desk or table • The “Study Place”
should have a large storage area available • The “Study Place” should have a comfortable chair • The “Study Place” should
have enough light • The “Study Place” should be kept at a comfortable temperature
8. 8. Specific Study Methods There are many methods and techniques Available to use for studying You will have to decide
which method is best For you depending on: -your learning style -the teaching method used -the course material to learn -the
type of tests used
9. 9. Using Acronymic Sentences Using an Acronymic Sentence is a good study method for remembering things That need to
be learn in a specific order. • Creating an Acronymic Sentence – Write each piece of information that needs to be learn in
order – Underline the first letter of each word – Write a sentence using the words that begin with the underlined letters
Example: The planets in order are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto Acronymic
Sentence = My Very Earthy Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas
10. 10. Can you create an Acronymic Sentence to learn the Days of the Week starting with Sunday?
11. 11. Using Acronyms Using an Acronym is a good study method for remembering things That need to be learn in any order. •
Write the facts you need to remember • Underline the first letter of each fact • Arrange the first letters to form a word. • The
word can be real or non-sensible if you can remember and pronounce it Example: “Homes” is an acronym that can be used to
memorize or learn the 5 Great Lakes; Michigan, Erie, Superior, Ontario, Huron
12. 12. Now can you create an Acronym for learning these Mississippi Cities: Tupelo, Shannon, Okolona, Indianola, P ontotoc,
Columbus?
13. 13. Using Pegwords Pegwords can be used when one needs to remember a number of things like, Five reasons we should
conserve energy. Each pegword is then associate with a Number corresponding to the number of reasons. • Think of the fist
piece of information to be remembered • Think of a pegword for the number one (the pegword should rhyme with one) •
Create a picture in your mind to associate with that pegword • Repeat points 1-3 with each piece of information you are to
remember
14. 14. Examples of Pegwords Number Word Pegword One Run Two Shoe Three Tree Four Door Five Dive Six Fix Seven
Heaven Eight Gate Nine Sign Ten Hen
15. 15. Example of Pegword use FIRST Learning the reasons to preserve the forests: 1. Forests provide food for animals 2.
Forests provide shelter for animals 3. Forests provide lumber for building and paper
16. 16. See if you can create a learning experience using Pegwords for learning the following in formation: • The reason why not
to smoke – Smoking creates facial wrinkles – Smoking is very costly financially – Smoking can create terrible coughs –
Smoking damages the sense of smell – Smoking causes bad breath Remember to find the key words in the reasons first!
17. 17. Using Flashcards Flashcards are a very useful tool in learning or remembering information such as: Vocabulary Words
and Meanings, Math Formulas, History Facts, and Correct Spellings or Words.
18. 18. Strategies on how to use Flashcards • Make Flashcards as you learn to study – Carry blank cards with you – Organize
your cards in decks by topic or subject • Use both sides of a Card when appropriate – Write words on one side and definitions
on the other side – Flip the cards and learn the information both ways • Use flashcards in several different colors – Different
colors can cue your answers • Illustrate the cards – Draw or cut pictures to place on cards – The more interesting looking the
cards, the less bored one becomes using them
19. 19. • Do not put too much information on any one card – Each card should contain only ONE piece if information to learn •
Always carry your cards with you – Review your cards often – If you always have your card, wasted or wait time can become
learning time • Change the order of the cards frequently – You need to learn the information, not which card or answer comes
next
20. 20. You can use online flashcards also one great site is FlashcardExchange.com With FlashcardExchange.com you can use
the flashcards you create online In a game format or you can print the cards or print in a study sheet format. You have to
register on the site, but the general services of the site are free.
21. 21. Using the Loci Method This is method of remembering items by imagining a place you are very Familiar with, and
associating the item to remember to that location – Very good for Kinesthetic Learners (motion or movement) • Imagine
yourself walking through a very familiar location or area (Your Kitchen) • Associate specific locations and activities with the
items you want to remember Example: Imagine your kitchen. You want to remember three Presidents. The Presidents are
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Richard Nixon. Now picture Walking into your Kitchen – Washington is eating
cherries at the kitchen table, Jefferson Is reading at the table, and Nixon is standing with the refrigerator open.
22. 22. The Loci Method is difficult for some people are not Kinesthetic Learners. See if you can apply the Kinesthetic Learning
Method to remembering these famous inventors: Thomas Edison Alexander G. Bell George W. Carver Benjamin Franklin
23. 23. Using the Image-Name Technique • This method is very easy and short and used for remembering people or places.
Example: remembering Jay Leno by picturing his protruding, large chin. Can you Think of an example?
24. 24. Using the ASPIRE System • A – Approach/Attitude/Arrange – Approach your studies with a positive attitude – Arrange
your schedule to eliminate distractions • S – Select/Survey/Study – Select a reasonable chunk of material to study – Survey
the headings, graphics, pre and post- questions – Study marking any information you do not understand • P – Put aside/Piece
 together – Put aside your books and notes – Piece together what you have study and try to summarize that information
yourself
25. 25. • I – Inspect/Investigate/Inquire – Inspect what you did not understand – Investigate all available sources of information
(textbooks, online, dictionary…) – Inquire from support professionals (Librarians, tutors, teachers, …) • R –
Reconsider/reflect/Relay – Reconsider the content; what questions would you ask the author – Reflect on the material; how
can I apply this material – Relay understanding; how would I make this information more interesting or easier to understand to
other students • E – Evaluate/Examine/Explore – Evaluate your grades on tests and assignments and look for patterns or
weaknesses – Examine you progress on improving weak areas – Explore options for you with teachers, tutors, other students
26. 26. Using Study Groups Study Groups can be very beneficial in some situations. There are Several things to consider when
thinking about using Study Groups: 1. Benefits of a Study Group 2. Starting a Study Group 3. Characteristics of a Good Study
Group 4. Pitfalls of Study Groups
27. 27. Benefits of a Study Group • A support group can be a motivator • Easier to ask classmates questions • Your commitment
might be stronger because the group depends on all members • Study groups add a strong auditory aspect to your learning
experience • One or more group member is likely to understand something that you do not • You can learn new study
techniques or habit from other members • You can compare your notes with other students • Teaching or explaining concepts
to other group members will reinforce your learning • Face it! Studying can be boring. Study with others can make the
studying more enjoyable
28. 28. Getting a Study Group Started • Get to know your classmates well before asking them to join your study group – you
should be able to answer “yes” to each of these questions: – Is this classmate motivated to learn? – Does the classmate
understand the subject well? – Is this classmate dependable? – Would this classmate be tolerant of other ideas? – Would you
like to work with this classmate?
29. 29. • Invite the correct number of classmates to your Study group (the best number seems to be between 3-5 students per
group) • Decide how often and how long the Group will meet each week (best is 2 or 3 times a weeks, and sessions between
60 and 90 minutes) • Decide where to meet (this location should be without distractions) • Decide on the goals of the Group
(goals can include; reviewing notes, discussing readings, and study for exams) • Decide on a leader for the group, and if the
leader will be the same or change each week • Set an agenda for each meeting including specific member assignments •
Develop a contact list for the members with all of their contact information and provide to each member.
30. 30. Characteristics of a Successful Study Group • Each group member contributes • Group members actively listen without
interrupting each other • Group members work together to resolve any problems arising without the group • Members are
prompt and come ready to work • The group stay on task according to the agenda • Members always show each other
respect • Members should feel comfortable with constructive criticisms • Members should feel free to ask questions • At the
end of each meeting, an agenda is set with assignments for the next meeting • Above all, a positive attitude that “we can do
this together” is maintained
31. 31. Possible Pitfalls of a Study Group • Do not let the Study Group get distraction from the agenda • Do not let the Study
Group become a social group • Do not allow members to attend unprepared • Do not let negativity slip into the group • Do not
let one or two members dominate the group