Study SkillsStudy Skills

Created by: Pam HutzelmanCreated by: Pam Hutzelman& Amy Stoneburner& Amy Stoneburner

Fortis College - CincinnatiFortis College - Cincinnati

How to manage your time How to manage your time more effectivelymore effectively

Take ownership of your timeTake ownership of your time Planning your schedule Planning your schedule

Know your daily alertness patternKnow your daily alertness pattern Allow sufficient time for each aspect/subjectAllow sufficient time for each aspect/subject Long termLong term IntermediateIntermediate Short termShort term Making your schedule work!Making your schedule work!

Avoid Distractions/Time Avoid Distractions/Time WastersWasters

Computer Computer Phone – turn it offPhone – turn it off Visitors – do not Visitors – do not

disturb signdisturb sign Clear work area of Clear work area of

clutter clutter Ineffective planningIneffective planning Procrastination!Procrastination!

ProcrastinationProcrastination

Why do we Why do we procrastinate?procrastinate? PerfectionismPerfectionism Fear of failureFear of failure Fear of successFear of success LazinessLaziness RebellionRebellion

MotivationMotivationMotivation is influenced by both Motivation is influenced by both

internal and external factors.internal and external factors.

Motivation is not a stable trait.Motivation is not a stable trait.It is not an innate part of your character.It is not an innate part of your character.

Motivation can be improved!Motivation can be improved!

What is the relationship?What is the relationship?

MotivationMotivation Hard Hard WorkWork

MotivationMotivation Hard Hard WorkWork

Tips on overcoming Tips on overcoming procrastinationprocrastination

Set personal Set personal contract/goalscontract/goals

RemindersReminders RoutineRoutine Do it when you think of it!Do it when you think of it! Remind yourself of the Remind yourself of the

consequences of consequences of procrastinationprocrastination

Start preparing for tests in Start preparing for tests in classclass

Note taking strategiesNote taking strategies Go to every classGo to every class Develop good listening Develop good listening

habits habits OutlineOutline AbbreviateAbbreviate Identify main pointsIdentify main points Review notes that dayReview notes that day

NEWS FLASH!NEWS FLASH! It is VERY It is VERY

IMPORTANT that IMPORTANT that you read your you read your textbooktextbook

Don’t wait until last Don’t wait until last minuteminute

It is best to read It is best to read text before lecturetext before lecture

When to ReviewWhen to Review

Frequently during Frequently during the semesterthe semester

Attend study Attend study sessions run by the sessions run by the professorprofessor

Schedule several Schedule several final review sessionsfinal review sessions—not one long one—not one long one

The night before– The night before– briefly review main briefly review main points and get some points and get some sleepsleep

Do not study Do not study immediately before immediately before test timetest time

Ways to improve studyingWays to improve studying

Develop a scheduleDevelop a schedule Study one subject Study one subject

for one hour at a for one hour at a timetime

Keep all materials Keep all materials for one class in for one class in same notebooksame notebook

Predict possible ?’sPredict possible ?’s Go over previous Go over previous

tests (if available)tests (if available) Make ChartsMake Charts

Ways to improve studying--Ways to improve studying--continuedcontinued

Use visual aidsUse visual aids Instead of Instead of

highlighting, use highlighting, use SQ4RSQ4R Summarize, Question, Summarize, Question,

Read, Recite, Review, Read, Recite, Review, ‘Riting‘Riting

Avoid CrammingAvoid Cramming Make information Make information

personally personally meaningfulmeaningful

Quiz yourself Quiz yourself frequently and in frequently and in the way you will the way you will be testedbe tested

Get help when Get help when strugglingstruggling

Study EnvironmentStudy Environment Keep regular study Keep regular study

hourshours Be comfortable, but Be comfortable, but

not too comfortablenot too comfortable Use a clean, clear Use a clean, clear

work spacework space Assemble all Assemble all

required materialsrequired materials Limit distractions – Limit distractions –

QUIET!QUIET!

Avoiding Cramming IAvoiding Cramming IReview (Reading and Review (Reading and

Comprehending)Comprehending)Daily ReviewsDaily Reviews

Take 10 minutes after each lecture to Take 10 minutes after each lecture to review the day’s material.review the day’s material.

Do this within 24 hours.Do this within 24 hours. Use the recall column now.Use the recall column now.

Repetition Aids Retention

Avoiding Cramming IIAvoiding Cramming IIWeekly ReviewsWeekly Reviews

Allow one hour per Allow one hour per class each week to class each week to review all material review all material for the week.for the week.

Integrate all the Integrate all the information to get information to get the “big picture.”the “big picture.”

Weekends are a Weekends are a good time.good time.

Studying in GroupsStudying in Groups

Keep groups small; 2-5 peopleKeep groups small; 2-5 people

Ask each other questions Ask each other questions

It’s OK to disagree. It’s OK to disagree.

Take a break when needed, whether it’s to Take a break when needed, whether it’s to energize or cool off after a disagreementenergize or cool off after a disagreement

If you feel bogged down If you feel bogged down while studying…while studying…

Get up and moveGet up and move StretchStretch Drink waterDrink water ShowerShower

Then go back and Then go back and reviewreview notes notes

Keep yourself in good shapeKeep yourself in good shape

Get plenty of sleepGet plenty of sleep Eat nutritious mealsEat nutritious meals Exercise Exercise Take time out for funTake time out for fun Play hard, study hard, and don’t worry Play hard, study hard, and don’t worry

about one while doing the otherabout one while doing the other

Tips to Tips to Reduce…Reduce…

Don’t put your Don’t put your whole future on the whole future on the line with a single line with a single test. It’s unlikely test. It’s unlikely that one test will that one test will “make or break” “make or break” youyou

Learn relaxation Learn relaxation techniques to techniques to control anxietycontrol anxiety Deep breathingDeep breathing Muscle relaxationMuscle relaxation VisualizationVisualization Positive Self-talkPositive Self-talk

Test AnxietyTest Anxiety

Test AnxietyTest Anxiety

What causes it?What causes it? PressurePressure

““I’ve invested all this time and money, I I’ve invested all this time and money, I don’t want to waste it or have to re-take a don’t want to waste it or have to re-take a class.”class.”

Past experiencesPast experiences ““I never do well, no matter how much I I never do well, no matter how much I

study, so why study at all?”study, so why study at all?” Fear of failureFear of failure

If I don’t do well on this test, I won’t If I don’t do well on this test, I won’t graduate or get a job.”graduate or get a job.”

Tips to Reduce Test Tips to Reduce Test Anxiety--continuedAnxiety--continued

Don’t fall into the trap of having low Don’t fall into the trap of having low expectations - Studying can bring expectations - Studying can bring results!results!

Don’t try to compete with othersDon’t try to compete with others

Improve concentration by using self-Improve concentration by using self-disciplinediscipline

Tips to Reduce Test Tips to Reduce Test Anxiety--continuedAnxiety--continued

Budget your time Budget your time during the testduring the test

If you feel anxious, If you feel anxious, take a mini-break take a mini-break to get some water to get some water or fresh air or fresh air

Don’t change an Don’t change an answer unless you answer unless you know your second know your second one is correct!one is correct!

Don’t panic when Don’t panic when you don’t know an you don’t know an answeranswer Eliminate options Eliminate options

that are incorrect that are incorrect and make an and make an educated guesseducated guess

Where to studyWhere to study

Set the right atmosphereSet the right atmosphere To Avoid distractionsTo Avoid distractions To Be comfortable (but not too To Be comfortable (but not too

comfortable)comfortable) To Organize your work areaTo Organize your work area

Try to study in the same place Try to study in the same place every time – this will train your every time – this will train your mind for “work mode”mind for “work mode”

Try to study under same conditions Try to study under same conditions as when you will take the examas when you will take the exam

Academic success Academic success is within your reach!!!!is within your reach!!!!

Increase motivationIncrease motivation Find a positive Find a positive

study environmentstudy environment Actively listen and Actively listen and

take accurate class take accurate class notesnotes

Read text before Read text before classclass

Review daily and Review daily and weeklyweekly