“HOW CAN I STUDY MORE EFFECTIVELY”

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

The Three Stages of Good Note taking

Stage 1 – Get ready to take notes (Before Class)Review your notes from previous lessonsComplete all assignments and readings before

classBring all needed materials to take notes

Stage 2 – Taking notes (During Class)Keep your focus on the teacherListen 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

Stage 3 – Rewrite your NotesAfter class rewrite your notes

○ Change abbreviations to complete words○ Change symbols into words○ Change shorter sentences to more complete

sentencesAnswer any “?” you had in your notes

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

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

Specific Study Methods

There are many methods and techniques Available to use for studying

You will have to decide which method is bestFor you depending on:

-your learning style-the teaching method used-the course material to learn-the type of tests used

Using Acronymic Sentences Creating an Acronymic Sentence

Write each piece of information that needs to be learn in order

Underline the first letter of each wordWrite a sentence using the words that begin with

the underlined letters

Using an Acronymic Sentence is a good study method for remembering things That need to be learn in a specific order.

Example: The planets in order are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,Neptune, PlutoAcronymic Sentence = My Very Earthy Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas

Can you create an Acronymic Sentence to learn the Days of the Week starting with Sunday?

Using Acronyms

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

Using an Acronym is a good study method for remembering things That need to be learn in any order.

Example: “Homes” is an acronym that can be used to memorize or learn the 5 GreatLakes; Michigan, Erie, Superior, Ontario, Huron

Now can you create an Acronym for learning these Mississippi Cities: Tupelo, Shannon, Okolona, Indianola, Pontotoc, Columbus?

Using Peg words

Think of the fist piece of information to be remembered

Think of a peg word for the number one (the peg word should rhyme with one)

Create a picture in your mind to associate with that pe gword

Repeat points 1-3 with each piece of information you are to remember

Peg words can be used when one needs to remember a number of things like, Five reasons we should conserve energy. Each peg word is then associate with aNumber corresponding to the number of reasons.

Examples of Peg wordsNumber Word Peg word

One Run

Two Shoe

Three Tree

Four Door

Five Dive

Six Fix

Seven Heaven

Eight Gate

Nine Sign

Ten Hen

Example of Peg word useFIRSTLearning 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

SECOND

Create peg words for 1-3 to fit the

material

To be learns:

One = Fun

Two = Shoe

Three = Lee

THIRDMake some type of an association or connection

Between the peg woods and the main idea words

You must remember: Lee has Fun Shoes

FOURTH

Associate Lee with Lumber, Fun with

Food, and Shoes with Shelter

See if you can create a learning experience using Peg words for learning the following in formation:

The reason why not to smokeSmoking creates facial wrinklesSmoking 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!

Using FlashcardsFlashcards are a very useful tool in learning or remembering information suchas: Vocabulary Words and Meanings, Math Formulas, History Facts, and CorrectSpellings or Words.

Strategies on how to use Flashcards Make Flashcards as you learn to study

Carry blank cards with youOrganize your cards in decks by topic or subject

Use both sides of a Card when appropriateWrite 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 cardsThe more interesting looking the cards, the less bored

one becomes using them

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 oftenIf 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

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.

Using the Loci Method

Imagine yourself walking through a very familiar location or area (Your Kitchen)

Associate specific locations and activities with the items you want to remember

This is method of remembering items by imagining a place you are veryFamiliar with, and associating the item to remember to that location – Very good for Kinesthetic Learners (motion or movement)

Example: Imagine your kitchen. You want to remember three Presidents. ThePresidents are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Richard Nixon. Now pictureWalking into your Kitchen – Washington is eating cherries at the kitchen table, JeffersonIs reading at the table, and Nixon is standing with the refrigerator open.

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 EdisonAlexander G. Bell George W. CarverBenjamin Franklin

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?

Using the ASPIRE System A – Approach/Attitude/Arrange

Approach your studies with a positive attitudeArrange your schedule to eliminate distractions

S – Select/Survey/StudySelect a reasonable chunk of material to studySurvey the headings, graphics, pre and post-

questionsStudy marking any information you do not understand

P – Put aside/Piece togetherPut aside your books and notesPiece together what you have study and try to

summarize that information yourself

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

Using Study GroupsStudy 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

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

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?

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.

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

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