[lil_twisty]

I will be taking a couple of classes soon and I am at a loss when it comes to study habits. Can anyone give me some good pointers? Much appreciated.

[Little Lulu]

Make studying a priority; set aside specific times to study.
Turn electronics off.
Break up your study sessions and don't put them off until late at night.
Put a star beside what you don't know and go over those things in more detail.
Ask for help if you need it, even if it is asking someone to quiz you.

P.S. - Recopying my notes was always a great way for me to study.

Best wishes and enjoy. Learning can be fun.

don't overdo it

study in segments and only do what you can handle at the time

make sure you make good notes to help you

be in a place where you can consontrate and are not easily distracted

perhaps get someone else to ask you questions on what you are learning

Originally Posted by lil_twisty

I will be taking a couple of classes soon and I am at a loss when it comes to study habits. Can anyone give me some good pointers? Much appreciated.

Hi, there. .

Here are some of things I've picked up over the last few years:
- Study every day, not just when a test is approaching. That way when test day comes, you're more confident because you've been spending time with your notes everyday, and they don't look foreign to you two days before a test or exam.

- On the day of lectures, go home and read through everything you've done.

- a healthy body is just as important as study habits. Avoid all nighters at all costs. When given an assignment, start with it on that day. Don't leave it too long. Even if you just draft out how to structure your assignment on the day you get it is great. You've made a start. Take it from there.

- drink plenty of water. It keeps your brain hydrated and helps you learn effectively.

- have plenty of fruit and veges, nuts. These nourish your brain.

- be patient with yourself. There will be times when you will feel like tearing your hair out for not understanding something even though you've been through it twice, thrice. Hang in there, and keep at it. That "Aha!" Moment will come. If not, don't hesitate to ask for help.

- when professors "recommend" a book, don't take it as a suggestion, get yourr hands on that book, and read it. I learnt that the hard way during my first year.

- take good notes during lectures. They're bound to help you out when you learn.

Don't work too hard. Take regular breaks. They aren't a waste of time. This was my main problem. I pushed when I didn't understand, and pushed some more without a break. That led to a couple of mental breakdowns and burn outs.

Prevent burnout by using the tips above.

Last, but not least, believe in yourself. You have the intelligence, drive and, determination to get through this and you will. Don't let a few pages get you down. . Remember that when things get tough.

Good luck to you!

[Walking Man]

I've never felt like a world-class student, but I finished a lot of school. The suggestions above are great. Getting enough sleep and not doing all-nighters is a big one. I would add: Make sure you visit the teacher at least once during office hours.

The last I was in school I started to realize that the most important thing was to the instructor happy. I don't mean kiss up. Lexa said that if your teacher "suggests" a book you need to read it (or, if you don't have time, at least check it out and skim it). If your teacher wants quantity, give it to 'em. If they want quality, give them quality. If they want lots of footnotes, do footnotes. If they are always talking about a certain book or author, make sure you check it out. Don't give them what they don't want.

I always had problems in school because I was very hard-headed and self-willed. If I disagreed with the teacher I would write a paper disagreeing. I would challenge them in class. I didn't do this to be contrary. I wanted the teacher to explain why they thought differently, and if possible to persuade me to change my mind. I did it because I thought that learning was all about discovering the truth for yourself, etc. Well, still I think that's true, but taking a class from someone is not the same thing as talking to Socrates in the marketplace. If your teacher wants discussion and questions, discuss and ask. But, if your teacher wants you to be a silent disciple, you have to be a silent disciple.

I look at it this way, you have to get whatever you can from each teacher. Some are good teachers, some are bad teachers. In any case, the teacher is going to give you the best instruction they can. Your job is to take whatever they give you. You don't have to agree, or like the way they teach, but you have to cooperate and do what they want you to do to the best of your ability.

[kim_johnson]

haha. I enjoyed your post, walking man.

I got used to being praised / trained to pick an unpopular position and defend it to the best of my ability. So... Either the field learned something new (it is a viable position, whoda thunk OR well... nobody in this field will be silly enough to defend that for a while).

It works alright for things like law and philosophy... Because they want you to do that. But for other subjects that style of... Opposition... Does not go down well. Yeah.

Heh.

[quote=Walking Man;4460556]
Well, still I think that's true, but taking a class from someone is not the same thing as talking to Socrates in the marketplace. If your teacher wants discussion and questions, discuss and ask. But, if your teacher wants you to be a silent disciple, you have to be a silent disciple. quote]

Ah, Walking Man . This part had me laughing out loud. Thank you for that!

[Crazy Hitch]

I found these Blogs for you here on PsychCentral.

Hope they help:

10 Highly Effective Study Habits | Psych Central

2 Important Strategies for Effective Studying | World of Psychology

[happywoman]

Thank you for these links Hooligan
I too am having difficulty with study habits but thanks to all this is a great thread.

[Perna]

Experiment with what works for you. I use to read all the books and blogs, papers, lists, etc. on study habits and realized they were like other self-help stuff and not necessarily "the" way to do things. I had to find how to get the material I wanted to learn learned :-) and that took accepting that I am not a textbook reader and figuring out other ways of getting the material. I procrastinate on my writing assignments but always get them done and turned in on time so I learned that it's okay for me to procrastinate and got off my own case You have been a student now for 12+ years, what has worked for you? Think about it, what would you like? Try stuff and experiment but mostly don't be down on yourself for doing it "wrong". We get/do what we want so just want to do what you do or do something else.

[Eris]

Originally Posted by lil_twisty

I will be taking a couple of classes soon and I am at a loss when it comes to study habits. Can anyone give me some good pointers? Much appreciated.

I have developed of a study habit model (untested), married with a scientifically proven, "back-door", nocturnal method of association that (I'm pretty sure) may improve your study if utilized properly. Again This model is untested. The approach for studying some of your subject topics does vary, so some of the results may vary as well.* This will require the purchase of some supplies, (nothing too expensive!) and dedicated, uninterrupted sleep.

If you're interested, message me, with what you're studying, and how long you typically study the subject topic for, and how go about studying it.
I'll write you back with instructions of how to perform the sleep aided study, how it works, and the science to back up my theory of my sleep aided study.
I'll include a flexible schedule model of study for a week to start. Then we'll see how that works out. I'll make any tweaks from there, and make a complete advised study schedule for whichever topics you request, for a month.
I'll also enclose a list of materials you need to purchase to perform the sleep aided study, (Also I will, if needed, include a list of places to shop, to gather any specific materials you would need while also being cost effective to better suit any specific course studies other than core subjects.)
* Some subjects topics may need more time to study each night, or more frequency, to equal the results of subjects topic that do not need practice.

This is open to anyone really, all I ask is you keep a record of grades before, and your grades for any subject being sleep aided a month after, and a daily log for each subjects sleep aided for a month of how well you stuck to the study program so I can kinda have some rough numbers to look at if you all don't mind