PowerPoint Presentation

Study skills workshopPresented by the Student Success Team at the Community College of the District of Columbia

If group is small enough, go around room and have everyone introduce themselves quickly and share what theyre hoping to get out of this. What aspect of studying do wish to improve most (eg time management, how to study, getting organized, etc) 1AgendaWhy are Study Skills Important? Getting Ready to StudyStudy environmentGetting motivatedGetting organizedStudy TipsMake a Plan of ActionToday is going to be a general overview of many different aspects of studying. In the fall well be offering more workshops on specific topics such as a whole workshop just on getting organized or just on time management, but today is going to include a lot of tips about all aspects of studying.2Why are study skills important?More efficient and effective use of your timeImprove your retention of informationImprove your gradesBefore showing info ask Ss why they think study skills are important.3Getting ready to Study: EnvironmentDo you have a good study environment? It should match these descriptions:I can stay awake and alert here.Distractions (people, activity) are minimalTemperature is comfortable (not too hot or cold).Lighting is adequate.Noise level is acceptable.Resources are convenient.

Awake/Alert: Dont study in your bedsignals sleep to your bodyDistractions: Turn off the TV, close your email, if possible turn of the computer or internetNoise level: Think about background noisedo you like some background noise when you study? A coffee shop might be a good place for you to study or maybe listening to some music would be helpful. Do you like complete silence? Consider the library.Resources: highlighters, pens, notebooks, assignment, etc.4EnvironmentApply It: Write down 2 spaces that fit this description. Make sure its a realistic study place for you (i.e.not too far or difficult to get to. It wont be a good study place if you never go!)

Students can write on back of packet (give 30 sec-1 min); share out some ideas5Getting ready to study: Get motivatedReward yourself!

Choose something to work towards. Decide how you will earn each reward (this may be different each time you study)Apply it: Write down 3 (small) rewards you could use to motivate yourself to study.

Sometimes the hardest part about studying is getting started. Here are some ways you can motivate yourselfWork towards something: What motivates you? Candy? A break? Watching TV? Decide how you will earn each reward: Will you get a reward after studying for 30 minutes? After studying a chapter? Outlining a paper?For example, I might reward myself with a handful of M&Ms after I finish a problem set. Share out!6Get motivatedRemember your long term goalsWhat are you working towards? Apply it: Write down the long term goal that is most important to you.Take breaks: You will be more effective if you study in chunksStudy with friendsWhat are you working towards?: Improving your GPA? Graduation? Transferring to a 4 year school? Starting a new career? Remind yourself of your end goal.Study with friends: you can motivate each other, but be careful that you wont just distract each other!What else motivates you to study? Share ideas7Getting organizedUse a calendar or plannerPut your assignments, tests, and quizzes from all your classes into one calendarSchedule days and times to study on your calendar and stick to it! Create a routine. (e.g., Mon, Wed, Fri from 10 am -1 pm)Think about the time of day when you are most focused. Schedule time daily for your hardest classApply it: We will do this at the end of the presentation

Treat scheduled study time like any other class or appointment.8Getting organizedKeep a separate notebook (or section of a notebook) for each classUse a binder or bound notebookdont keep loose papersUse dividers or sticky notes to organize sections of your notebooksApply it: We will do this at the end of the presentation, too.

Use dividers in a binder; If using a spiral notebook for more than one class, use a sticky note to divide the sections so you can quickly find your notes for each classyou may just divide by class or you may also want to divide within each class: you may have a section for homework, classnotes, articles your professor shares.-Keep your notes in chronological order

9Study tipsReview new material the same day you learn it. Dont study two very similar subjects one right after the other.Set reasonable short-term goals for each study session. For example: I will choose a topic and write a thesis statement for my paper.I will complete my problem set and study Chapter 4Apply it: Think about the studying you need to do for one of your classes. Pretend you are about to start studying right now. Write down two reasonable goals for yourself.-Review new material same day: even if you dont make a big study session out of it, do at least of quick review the same day you learned it. It will make it easier to remember next time you go to study-Studying similar subjects too close together will make it more difficult to remember the information because it will all blend together-When setting short term goals, think about how much time you have to complete the bigger assignment. For example, if the paper in 3 days, youre going to have to do more today than choose your topic and write your thesis, but that might be the goal for your morning study session. Then you might take a break and set another goal for your next study session.-Share out10Study tipsBefore you read...pre-read each chapter! It takes about 15-20 minutes, but is definitely worth it! (See handout about pre-reading)

Study actively! Highlight key information in your book or notebookAsk yourself questions as you readAnswer any questions given at the end of the chapter

-Quickly look at Pre-reading handoutPre-reading is basically looking over the chapter, reading chapter headings, captions, etc to get a general idea of what the material is about before you start reading. -Studying actively means engaging with the material in some way. -Ask yourself questions as you read: stop and ask yourself about what you just read. Pretend that someone walked in the door and said, what are reading about? Could you summarize for them? 11Study ActivelyCheck your understanding:Cover up the section you just read and summarize it to yourself or a friendWrite an outline summarizing the material you just readCreate flashcards with important vocabulary, formulas, or concepts. Put them up around your house Study them on the metroRewrite or type your notes to help you remember the material. Reword or summarize as you write/type.Cover up and summarize section you just read: for more difficult material, do this after smaller sections-You dont have to do all of these things each time your study. Different material will lend itself better to different kinds of studying; you also have to figure out what matches your learning style the best. Its a good idea to study in multiple ways to reinforce the information, but you dont have to go through all of this each time. Figure out what works best for you.12Study tipsUse mnemonic devices to help you retain informationMnemonic devices are methods for remembering pieces of information1) Rhymes. In fourteen hundred ninety two, Columbus sailed the ocean blueI before E except after C.2) Chunking (grouping items for better recall, particularly numbers)3) Acronyms (using the first letter from a group of words to form a new word) You can remember the names of the 5 Great Lakes, you just have to remember HOMES: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Eerie, SuperiorUse the sentence My Very Education Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas to remember the planets in order (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto (back when it was a planet)

What other rhymes or acronyms do you remember or use? Share out.See handout for one more mnemonic devicethe keyword method. Review or just mention the handout depending on time/engagement.13Study tipsDont cram for tests! You may remember the material for the test, but you wont remember it the long term The best way to study and put information in your long-term memory is to study in chunks over time. For example, see the 5 Day Study Plan

You will only remember material in the short term if you cram145 Day Study planDay Five: OrganizeOrganize and review your class notes and text notes carefully. Prepare a list of all topics that will be on the exam. List them in order of importance so you can focus your attention accordingly.Day Four: Review and Recall Review your notes thoroughly. That is, until you can recall all of the important information. Concentrate on the topics that are more difficult for you to remember. Use mnemonic devices or visualization to help you recall more effectively.Day Three: Rewrite Briefly rewrite all important information. Review these notes repeatedly. Trying to recall your own explanations will be more effective than trying to recall what the text and your professors have said.Day Two: Question Make a list of questions that might be on the exam and answer them in as much detail as possible.Day One: Prepare Review your notes and rewritten notes a few hours before the exam. Take time to relax before the exam. If you are afraid you will forget information or "blank out" when you receive the exam, write reminders on the back that you can come back to during the exam.

http://www.keene.edu/aspire/fiveday.cfm15How much time to spend studying?Plan to spend about 8-12 hours a week studying for each 3 credit class youre taking. Studying includes homework assignments, reading, writing papers, studying for exams, etc.

Thats about 32-48 hours a week if youre taking 4 classes.

This may seems like a lot of time, but its what will be needed to do the best you can. Think about how much time you have to do your best when you register for classes. Think about how many hours a week you need to spend at work; think about other responsibilities you may havecaring for a family member, etc. Be honest with yourself about how much time you have to devote to your schoolwork. Dont waste your time and money on a class if you dont have the time to give it your best. -Refer them to Cliffnotes article in packet to read about how much time to spend studying16Make a plan of action!1. Put all your remaining assignments and tests on a calendar.2. Schedule study time3. Organize your notes4. Make a specific plan for your next study sessionWhere will you study? (you already wrote down some ideas!)What is the date/time?What rewards will you use to motivate yourself? (you already wrote down some ideas for this too!)What are your goals for the study session?

17Additional resourceswww.howtostudy.org

www.how-to-study.com

http://www.keene.edu/aspire/sskills.cfm

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