EFFECTIVE STUDY TECHNIQUES

Here are some ideas that may help you get more out of the time you are investing in study. SET UP A STUDY AREA AT HOME Choose a place as free as possible from distraction. A specific place that you associate with study will help you to get into the right frame of mind as soon as possible. The area should be well-lit, properly ventilated and not too hot or cold. Sitting at a table or desk is best as it allows you to spread out papers and write notes. The library is a great place to study if you have nowhere suitable at home. REVISING CLASSWORK Ideas are easier to connect and understand immediately after they have been covered in class. Try to arrange your study time so that you can go over your notes the same day that you take them - even a few minutes can pay off. It will be easier to fill in any gaps and to recognise key information that you will need to spend extra time on. PRACTICE ACTIVE STUDY Active approaches, where you have to process the material and make links between information, are more effective for recall and understanding: Take a few minutes before you start to look at the big picture. What was the most important concept covered in class? Check the headings or learning objectives in the textbook for clues on how things fit together. Make a summary as you go, jot down important points, work out examples or try to rewrite information in your own words. Condense key points or develop some charts that collect important ideas in one place. Your final set of skeleton notes is what you should learn thoroughly. An extension of this is a technique called mind mapping (or concept mapping) which involves writing down a central idea in the middle of the page then putting related ideas radiating out from the centre. By focussing on key ideas written down in your own words, and then looking for branches out and connections between the ideas, you are mapping knowledge in a manner which will help you understand and remember new information. You can use lines, colours, arrows, branches or some other way of showing connections between the ideas generated on your mind map. Make sure that you are creating little tests for yourself all the time. Come up with some possible test questions based on the information and see if you can answer them - without looking. Extend your learning by reading another book or article on the same topic or discuss it with other students it may help to clear up any areas you didnt understand and give you some fresh ideas on the topic.

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MEMORISING FACTS, FORMULAE, ETC Decide what you really need to memorise, e.g. basic formulae, definitions, dates, lists, conversion tables, etc. Learn similar things as a group rather than one by one. Read the material to be memorised several times, then try to repeat it or write it down without looking at the book. Reciting information out loud and writing it down as well can help with long term memory. You can use mnemonics as a memory aid. One common sort is a rhyme e.g., thirty days has September. Others take the form of acronyms, making a word that is formed from the first letter of each fact to be remembered. This can also be used to remember subheadings in an essay. For example, the history of the League of Nations can be summarised as OPOSSUM: Origin Purpose Organisation Successes in setting disputes Successes in economic matters Utter failure in 1930's Main reasons for failure A similar technique uses the initial letters of a made up phrase. Each initial corresponds to a word beginning with the same letter and can help to remember the order of a list of items e.g., My Very Easy Method Just Set Up Nine Planets to remember the order of planets from the sun. Practice remembering all the time your memory needs exercise. Revise previously learned lists of facts at frequent intervals.

CONCENTRATION You can improve your concentration with training, willpower and persistence. If you have problems, start with very short study bursts, e.g. start doing something very specific for 20 minutes, have a break, do another 20 minute session and with practice and time extend your sessions If you have trouble getting started, revise or review what you last did on the module or in class and go from there. Sometimes it helps to start a session with the easiest task you have to get done - it can be motivating to just get something accomplished and it builds your confidence. That doesn't mean always saving the worst for last. Try to tackle your biggest challenges when you are at your best in terms of concentration and energy. If you find yourself day-dreaming or drifting STOP it immediately - take a break if you need to Take regular breaks- say, 5-10 minutes in every hour of study. Get up from your desk and move around during your break. Noting down what you have achieved in your study session will help keep you focussed and reinforce your efforts.

STUDY WITH A BUDDY Studying in a group or with a class mate can be helpful sometimes you can discuss tasks, share resources and ideas and keep each other motivated. Problems can arise though if you get distracted or arent equally committed. ENDING A SESSION Aim to leave at a point of interest and use the last 5 minutes to recall what you have studied.
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