25 Study Tips for the April Trek
I don’t know about you, but if I’ve got a lot of work and every day seems like a study binge, my brain gets tired and I need to change things up. We’re getting close to the end of the year. My gift to you is a plethora of study tips from multiple classmates, who answered the question, What is a study tip that works for you? Thank you to everyone who helped me out by offering ideas!
Clues for Comprehending Concepts
“I swear my teacher was speaking Greek today.”
Find out what kind of learner you are (visual, auditory, reading/writing based, kinesthetic, etc.) and key in on that in and outside of class. Some people have more than one best learning style.
Visual: draw pictures and color code.
Auditory: use audiobooks, read notes aloud, or talk through ideas with someone outside of class.
Reading/writing based: take notes and reread. Spell things out. Rewrite.
Kinesthetic: put ideas into practice, do practice problems, or make hand movements as memory tricks.
After the lesson, talk about it with someone. If I can teach the concept to someone else, then I understand it.
Write and rewrite. When you initially take notes in class, write in words you understand, or use pictures and try to visualize ideas. Don’t try to just copy and memorize!
Plans for Penning Papers
“What do you mean, two more pages??”
Start writing or planning as early as possible! (i.e. don’t procrastinate.)
Get all your thoughts out in bullet points prior to writing so that you don’t word-vomit later, and so that you can organize content before starting to write.
Outline content first, then focus on the grammar, word choice, and structure — that is, the writing — later.
Space out writing sessions so you can work for about an hour at a time, and not all in one sitting.
Write in color codes. Highlight parts of paragraphs, like theses, important claims, and evidence, so that you can look back and get a good idea of how your paper is organized and whether it needs changes.
Read your paper aloud to someone to help catch grammar mistakes and hear how it fits together.
Efforts to Equip for Exams
“I have a test and I don’t even know where to start…”
To learn terms, comparisons, and other data, say it aloud to someone like a roommate.
Write specific facts or details in a blue pen 7 times in order to memorize them.
Make flash cards.
Make a color-coded study guide.
To review notes, write key terms down on another paper. Without looking at your notes, write down their definitions, explanations, or importance. Go back and see what you knew and what you didn’t. Repeat until you can write down the definitions.
Use the Anki flash card app, which helps you time out when to review concepts in order to get them into long-term memory.
Instead of rereading notes, explain a page of notes without looking at it. Then look back at the page and take note of what you remembered and missed, then repeat.
The favorite: Use Quizlet!
An alternative idea: Just show up (although I’m not sure of the success of this suggestion in all cases).
Self-regulation and Systemization
“It might look like chaos in here, but I know where everything is.”
Make lists of the assignments you need to get done, so you can see it all and have steps to go through.
Work on things in blocks; don’t hop from one thing to another.
Physically move from place to place for different homework assignments.
Find a place where no one will bother you so you can concentrate.
Set timers to focus for a sitting and work on things without looking at your phone (or worrying about all the other things you also have to get done).
If you’re struggling to concentrate, move onto a different homework for a little while and then move back.
Set up unique places for unique homework assignments, so that whenever you go there, you fall right into the zone. Kind of like the rule: Don't spend time in your bed except when you’re sleeping.
Everyone learns differently, so hopefully a few of these options will help you through the slow April trek. Take these and finish strong!