Effective Study Techniques for Academic Success
Set yourself up for success by creating a distraction-free study space, spacing out your studying sessions, testing yourself, working with others, and completing assignments based on priorities. Additionally, vary your study methods and subjects to stay focused and engaged throughout your academic journey.
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How to Study the AST Way Source: Colorado State University s TILT Program
Set Yourself Up for Success Create a space or move to a location that is free of distractions Limited background noise, good lighting Get comfortable, but not so comfortable you re tempted to sleep Sit with upright posture at a table or desk Anticipate your needs Have all necessary academic materials with you before starting Have water with you, so that you don t need to get up when you re thirsty Keep yourself accountable, if you think you may become distracted Study in a room with your parents and ask them to prompt you to get back on task if you re distracted Keep electronics in a different location If you re using a word processor, turn off your WiFi
Study Methods Space out your studying Cramming the night before is never as effective as studying a little bit each day Review new material the day it is presented and spend some time skimming back over old material You will end up spending more total time studying and it will seem less unpleasant Test yourself to see what you can remember before looking at the material This builds a mental pathway that you can follow to access the information when you take a test Work alone, with a friend or a study group to make practice questions that you do not know the answer to Anticipate what you might be asked on a test based on what you deem important and what has been stressed by the teacher Make and use flashcards for small pieces of information
Study Methods (cont.) Complete your assignments in order of priority Make priorities based on deadlines, the number of points the assignments are worth, and which classes you are struggling in Complete your assignments in order of your enjoyment of them Do the hard classes that you don t like first, when you still have the mental energy Reward yourself by saving your favorite subjects for the end Re-teach the material from memory to a friend, parent, or even your pet Use a narrative structure, if possible (tell it like a story) Change up your studying habits New research shows this is better than sticking to a routine Study different subjects on different days and in different locations Change up the order in which you study and what methods you are using This keeps you more alert and focused, but be sure you are still in a low- distraction environment
Study Methods (cont.) Supplement your study materials as you go Your notes aren t finished when you leave class If you find relevant information that is not in your notes, add it to them and use it for future studying Review notes with a friend in your class Everyone misses some things in their notes but it s unlikely that you both missed the same things Focus on study methods that fit your learning style (but still use others occasionally) Visual learners might want to create visual aids Kinesthetic learners might want to study while moving around Auditory learners might want to read aloud Get creative Don t be afraid to use unconventional study methods or make up a new method Employ mnemonic devices, even if they only make sense to you
Maximizing Your Efficiency No one wants to have to study longer than they need to Do feel like you study for hours on end and you re still not getting it ? Diminishing returns The longer you study a single subject, with a single method, uninterrupted, the less effective it becomes Break up your studying Take a 2 or 3-minute mental break every 20-30 minutes (set a timer to remind yourself) Get up and move, do light exercises Do not use electronics or entertainment Switch studying methods or subjects
How NOT To Study Many students use these methods and believe they should be well- prepared, but are then confused when they do not perform well on tests We provide tips on how to fix these bad study habits When completing a study guide or homework from a textbook, do NOT ever guess the answer to a question A study guide is a courtesy from a teacher that shows you what to review If you don t know the answer on the study guide, you definitely won t on the test Even if you are 99% sure of your answer, find explicit evidence for it in your notes or text. If the assignment is graded and you choose not to consult your materials, you are essentially submitting yourself to a closed-book quiz when you do not have to Homework is for re-teaching yourself the material; if you do it wrong, you re going to learn it wrong
How NOT To Study (cont.) Do NOT only simply read a text once Take notes and actually review them Some Liberty Common teachers allow student to use their reading notes on assessments, so the more you write, the better your chances are of performing well Read a summary (in addition to, not instead of a text) especially for texts written in difficult language (e.g. much of the Liberty curriculum) Skim back over a text and notes the day(s) after you read When memorizing, do NOT only read over the material Write and re-write the material (use a dry erase board to save paper) Recite the material aloud from memory
A Note on Procrastination Source: Cindy Swindell, CSU Health Network Contrary to popular belief, procrastination is not usually a symptom of laziness It is actually a way to cope with anxiety induced by assignments It can result from (among other things): Uncertainty on how to complete the assignment Feelings of being overwhelmed by workload Desire to complete the assignment perfectly Disinterest in the assignment Lack of knowledge of the content of the assignment Procrastination is a short-term solution to a long-term problem It immediately alleviates the feelings of anxiety by removing thoughts of the assignment from your mind It only makes the problem worse, but cutting down the amount time you have to complete the assignment Ultimately, the anxiety of getting behind and scrambling to complete the assignment at the last minute will be worse than completing it earlier
How to Avoid Procrastination Because procrastination begins to negatively affect you once it s too late, the only way to fix it is by anticipating when it may happen and avoiding it As soon as you receive a long-term project or paper, thoroughly plan how to complete it and think of everything you will need to do If you don t know how to do something, seek help ASAP (teachers love to help, just not the day before a deadline) Anticipate how much work it will be and how busy it will make you Ask for a due date extension early on, if you think you will need one, because teachers will be more willing to do so at this time Remember that humans naturally underestimate how long a task will take, so allot yourself more time than you think you need
How to Avoid Procrastination (cont.) It s possible to procrastinate on short-term assignments, too Don t save assignments until study hall on the day they re due There will not be enough time to complete it well You will likely be distracted by your friends Do not start relaxing/entertaining yourself at home before you have completed your homework While taking breaks during studying is good, starting a new activity will actually make your brain more tired and you will likely have a hard time pulling yourself away from something that s more fun than homework If you don t leave yourself enough time to do homework, you may have to stay up late to complete it or not complete it at all
