STUDY SKILLS - University of Iowa



STUDY SKILLS (Will B. Goode, 04)

INTRODUCTION

1. 3 Types of People Here (Struggling with all school, Struggling with some school, Not-so-much struggle)

2. “I’m not stupid” (Grades are a small percentage intelligence and a big percentage study skills)

3. 5 Study Skills (I.Intent to Remember, II.Categorizing / Labeling, III.Meaningfulness, IV.Space your Studying, V.Mnemonics).

I. INTENT TO REMEMBER (decide to learn it)

~ What were you wearing one year ago?

1. Select what you want to learn (make a list).

2. Attend, Concentrate, Focus

3. Ex. When reading – highlight, outline, summarize.

II. CATEGORIZING/LABELING (7 item rule)

~ You can only hold about 7 items in your short term memory (ex. Phone #’s)

a. 8474366203

b. (847) 436-6203

1. Organize stuff into meaningful groups.

2. Label info

3. Categorize

4. Diagram / Chart/ Table it

5. Make an Outline

6. Condense into a learnable amount (magic 7)

III. MEANINGFULNESS (more than memorizing)

~ Grandma vs. the “secretary of state”.

1. It’s easier to remember stuff that is meaningful and/or makes sense to us.

2. Therefore we need to understand what we read/study.

a. Paraphrase / Summarize in your own words.

b. Relate to Stuff you already know and relate to stuff you’re learning.

c. Analyze and Criticize it.

d. Know how it applies and make an example.

3. Make associations

a. Highlight keywords / Color code.

b. Make visual clues to yourself.

IV. SPACE YOUR STUDYING (it’s not a marathon)

1. It’s more effective to space out studying.

a. Reduces fatigue (mental and physical) and frustration.

b. Reduces boredom – helps focus.

2. Study for 1 hr. – then take a 10 min. break – repeat a few times then stop.

3. Reward yourself after studying for 2 – 3 hours (schedule lunch, dinner, or your favorite T.V. show after the study session).

4. Plan weekly/daily study schedules.

5. Break Assignments into small parts.

6. Use Study Cards or Study Sheets.

7. Regular, frequent review is important.

V. MNEMONICS (how to remember random info) NASA, Roy G. Biv, FACE / EGBDF

1. Acronyms help you remember info that doesn’t have its own organization (ex. dates, names, unrelated facts, long lists).

2. Reduces material to manageable bits of info.

3. Only need to remember one phrase, rather than many phrases.

4. Good for learning sequential info.

5. Can make studying more fun.

CONCLUSION: Decide to study in categorized and meaningful clumps (of 7), a couple of hours at a time, using acronyms if necessary.

STUDY TIPS (Will B. Goode, 04)

When, Where, and How to Study

1. Study difficult & boring subjects first

2. Study in “tolerable doses” – avoid marathon sessions (1 hour then a 10 min break – do this cycle a few times, then stop studying).

3. Change subjects when you become bored/tired.

4. Be aware of your best time of day to study.

5. Study “before” classes that require discussion or recitation (look over assigned readings or homework).

6. Study “after” class (briefly review notes).

7. Start “big” projects well ahead of time (even just organize what needs to be done early on).

8. Make goals visible – put up signs (post-its; write on a big calendar).

9. Have a plan – set priorities (MAKE A LIST).

10. Do first things first / Concentrate on one thing at a time (just worry about what you’re working on – not on everything else on the list).

11. Check off completed tasks – reward yourself.

12. Have a regular study area – one where you can concentrate (coffee shops & libraries work nice).

13. Don’t study where you sleep (you’ll want to sleep when you’re studying & you’ll want to study when you’re trying to sleep).

14. Be comfortable – but not too comfortable.

15. Put up “do not disturb” signs.

16. Learn to say “no” to interruptions (turn off the cell – you can check it during scheduled breaks).

17. Get off the phone (see above).

18. If your own thoughts/feelings are interrupting you – write them down and attend to them later.

19. Limit TV watching (if you binge on TV, pick favorite few shows and watch them and only them – schedule a show as a study break or try taping).

20. Keep materials for one subject together (separate folders and notebooks – different colors help).

Learn it Actively

1. Motor Activity gets the brain fired (chemically and electrically).

2. Pace back and forth.

3. Sit on edge of chair.

4. Stand.

5. Use hand gestures.

6. Say it out loud.

7. Write it down.

8. Review while taking a walk (or riding an exercise bike).

9. Teach someone else.

Be Aware of Your Time Management

1. I procrastinate too much and end up cramming for tests (and my grades reflect it).

2. Make a list of your own top ten time wasters (T.V., Cell-Phone, Naps, Shopping – None of these are bad, but need moderation).

3. Get a good schedule and write in it (University Planners buyable at IMU, University Calendars printable online, PalmPilots).

4. Ahead of time, write down due dates / deadlines for the entire semester. Schedule time on days before a test to study. Do this at the beginning of the semester when you get the Syllabi: Especially if you get bogged down with school and extracurricular by mid or late semester.

5. Make a daily “To Do” List – with priorities first.

Know Yourself as a Learner

1. Know your learning style. Try some of these techniques out and see what works and what doesn’t.

2. Some of us are visual learners (pictures, colors, powerpoint) and some are verbal learners (lectures, discussion, memorize out loud).

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