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STUDY SKILLS
Study Skills For Use In The Classroom:
Study Skills For Use Outside The
Classroom
Study Skills For Use With The Textbook
Study Skills for Use With Test Taking
Studying at the college level is a very
different activity for most students. Because programs and majors build a
knowledge and skills base over 2 to 4 years, students must develop their long
term memory in order to remember material over a long period of time.
Memorization works sometime, but for the most
part, students are expected to recall, translate, interpret, apply,
analyze, and eventually integrate and evaluate knowledge and skills in the
very active process of learning and retaining information. Below you
will find some study tips for use in and out of the classroom, for use
with your textbook, and for taking tests. Check out some of these tips to
help you be more effective in studying
Study Skills For Use In The Classroom:(top)
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Prepare ahead of
time by reading the assigned text and reviewing your notes from the previous
class.
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Come to every class
and sit up in the front to avoid distractions. Focus and use all your senses to
receive information.
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Listen and take notes on
the main points. Leave a wide margin on the left side of your paper, and
space between points to allow for adding to your notes
later.
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Keep your mind open and
receptive by asking yourself questions such as: How important is this? Have I
heard this before?
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Ask questions in class to
clarify a confusing point or something you don't understand - don't wait until later.
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Answer questions in class
to be sure you understand the material and can put it in your words
(paraphrase).
Study Skills For Use Outside The
Classroom(top)
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Review your notes with a
classmate and add any important points you think will be good to remember.
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In the left margin, add
any examples or use your own words to make the points more meaningful to
you.
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Review your notes as soon
as possible and certainly before you go to bed that night.
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Pretend you are teaching
or explaining the material from your notes to someone else.
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Form or attend a
study group to discuss the material and ask each other questions.
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Schedule a separate
time weekly to review notes and important text material - alone or with someone.
Study Skills For Use With The Textbook(top)
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Preview
your reading assignment - Take 5 minutes to read the introduction, all section
titles, and subtitles, the summary, and the study questions at the end. As
you read ask yourself questions such as: Have I heard something like this
before? Why is this important to me?
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Read one section at a time and then go back and highlight the 4 or
5 key points on each page that you just read, and write in the margins any
notes or words of your own that will be examples, or your own way of explaining
the
reading.
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Make a note of any area of the text you don't
understand and ask the instructor in class to clarify the confusing text
material.
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Note any visual effects in the text such as diagrams and
graphs, and be sure you understand these parts of the reading assigned.
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Read for about 45 to 50 minutes and then take a break. Get a
drink, walk around, do something to clear your mind before starting again.
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Plan to review the important text material weekly with a
classmate, in a study group, or on your own. This serves as a reminder that
the material is important. By revisiting the material regularly, you
help store it in long term memory.
Study Skills for Use With Test Taking(top)
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Preparation begins with the first assignment and the study
skills cited above for use in the class, out of class, and with the text.
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Find out what kind of test you'll be taking and fit your
review to that style - objective or essay.
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Form a study group to aid your review, or go to the Learning
Center to meet with a tutor.
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Write out flash cards you can carry with you to help recall
the information from text and notes.
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Make up your own test questions from notes, text, and study
group discussion. Use rhymes to help remember, and associations with
familiar things to help recall.
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During the test: read the directions carefully, ask for
clarification if you don't understand a question, do the easy questions
first, and go back over the test if you finish early. Only change an
answer if you find that you misread the question the first time
around.
Finally, give serious consideration to where you study, and when
you study. Some students have a suitable atmosphere where they live, but
other students do better in the library, an empty classroom, or working out in
the recreation center. Time of day is important also. Pick the time when
your energy level is at its highest, and always study the more difficult
content/homework first.
If you want to learn more about studying and study skills for
college, consider taking TRS 105, College Success Strategies, a 3 credit
hour course here at KVCC. The Learning Center tutors can aid you in
studying effectively. Also the Counselors on both campuses are there to
help you make adjustments, and offer suggestions on how to get the most out of
your college experience.
