STUDY SKILLS
STUDY SKILLS - (Few Extracts taken from the internet)
Intelligent people are always eager and ready to learn
(proverb 18:15)
Study Skills are
strategies and techniques that enable you to make the most efficient use of
your time, resources, and academic potential.
Strong
study skills are essential to succeed in school and in LIFE. It isn't enough to just sit inside a classroom and hope
to soak up the knowledge a teacher or a lecturer is presenting. You must put
effort into learning, understanding, and applying the material. The earlier you
can develop these skills, the greater your chance of academic success.There is no magic bullet when it comes to developing good study habits. Not everyone learns the same way. So, not everyone will study the same way. Some people need absolute silence to review textbooks, lecture notes, and handouts to prepare for an exam. Others study better in a group bouncing ideas off one another. The study skills you develop will be based heavily on your learning style.
How to Successfully Study
It does not matter whether you are writing an English literature paper, reviewing algebra problems, or finishing up a chemistry lab report. There are a few key elements every successful student needs to include in a study plan.
1)
Prayer – “If any of
you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without
finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5). When you’re
studying it’s very empowering to pray and claim passages from the Bible to help
you stay focused and help you to get in touch with God’s power. You can pray
like this: Help me to remember that however complex the subject may be that I
am tackling, you can enable me to grasp it, understand it and remember the
details because you are the originator of all knowledge.
2)
Time-Management - It is not the amount of time you spend
studying that matters. It's what you can accomplish during that time. Spending
40 hours to prepare for an exam and only earning a C grade is surely a waste of your time. Develop a study plan and learn how to
manage your time effectively to maximize your results.
3)
Motivation - If you are not motivated and have a poor
attitude, your study session will not be very productive. You have just one
opportunity to pass that Geometry exam or ace the term paper. Pick a time of
day where you can get motivated to prepare for tests, write essays, and solve
problems.
4)
Concentration - The ability to concentrate is one of the
more important study skills you need to develop. You won't always be able to
study in absolute silence or be able to spend as much time as you would like on
a particular project. Learn how to overcome distractions so you can focus all
your attention on your studies - meditate.
5)
When in doubt, ask - If you aren't sure about a particular topic,
don't be shy. Ask your instructor, family, or friends for help. It is important
to address the problem area as soon as possible. Otherwise, you will end up
having to spend even more time studying to catch up.
6)
Repetition - The key to learning something well is repetition; the
more times you go over the material the better chance you have of storing it
permanently. Before you begin this process, however, it makes sense that you determine
the type of learner you are. There are three basic types of learning: Visual,
Auditory and Haptic (kinesthetic). Most
of us are, in fact, some combination of the three, but chances are one style
will suit us more than the other two. Take some time to look over the types and
figure out which category best describes your method of learning.
Learning Types:
a)
Visual Learners:
Visual learners study best when the material is graphic, i.e. charts, tables, maps, etc. When in class, visual people should look at the professors when they are speaking, participate in class discussions and take detailed notes during lectures. When studying, study alone in a quiet place and try to transcribe your material on paper. When possible make drawings, graphs or tables of complex abstract ideas and work alone. Visual learners often have trouble working while having a dialogue, even if the dialogue directly pertains to the subject matter.
Visual learners study best when the material is graphic, i.e. charts, tables, maps, etc. When in class, visual people should look at the professors when they are speaking, participate in class discussions and take detailed notes during lectures. When studying, study alone in a quiet place and try to transcribe your material on paper. When possible make drawings, graphs or tables of complex abstract ideas and work alone. Visual learners often have trouble working while having a dialogue, even if the dialogue directly pertains to the subject matter.
b)
Auditory Learners:
Auditory people work best when they can hear the material. Read aloud, go over your notes and talk to yourself about the important points. Before reading, set a purpose and verbalize it, after you've finished be sure to summarize out loud what you just read. Speak your ideas into a tape machine as if you were having a conversation with someone, if you can, talk to your friends about the material. Because Auditory learners sometimes have trouble keeping columns aligned, try doing math computations by hand, on graph paper.
Auditory people work best when they can hear the material. Read aloud, go over your notes and talk to yourself about the important points. Before reading, set a purpose and verbalize it, after you've finished be sure to summarize out loud what you just read. Speak your ideas into a tape machine as if you were having a conversation with someone, if you can, talk to your friends about the material. Because Auditory learners sometimes have trouble keeping columns aligned, try doing math computations by hand, on graph paper.
c)
Haptic Learners:
Haptic learners are the most maligned division; they are the people that can't sit still. Haptics have to pace around the room, they must have music or a television playing in the background and are almost constantly finding themselves distracted. Despite what parents and teachers have been saying to the contrary, Haptic learning is just as effective as the other two, more traditional, types. Instead of fighting against your nature, adapt to it and find a method that really works. Make studying more physical; work at a standing desk, pace around the room, do reading while on an exercise bike, chew gum. Try to use color when you can; highlight your readings, read with a filtered light, put posters and bright colors around your desk. Haptic people should vary their activities, if you feel frustrated or 'clogged up' do something different for a few minutes. Try and keep a list of distractions as they come to you; once you write them down, they won't bother your concentration as much. If you want to, play music in the background at whatever volume you choose to. When reading, try skimming over the chapter to get a solid basic meaning before you really dig in. Try to visualize complex projects from start to finish before you begin them. Visualization is a useful tool for Haptic people, it helps you keep a positive, productive outlook on the task at hand.
Haptic learners are the most maligned division; they are the people that can't sit still. Haptics have to pace around the room, they must have music or a television playing in the background and are almost constantly finding themselves distracted. Despite what parents and teachers have been saying to the contrary, Haptic learning is just as effective as the other two, more traditional, types. Instead of fighting against your nature, adapt to it and find a method that really works. Make studying more physical; work at a standing desk, pace around the room, do reading while on an exercise bike, chew gum. Try to use color when you can; highlight your readings, read with a filtered light, put posters and bright colors around your desk. Haptic people should vary their activities, if you feel frustrated or 'clogged up' do something different for a few minutes. Try and keep a list of distractions as they come to you; once you write them down, they won't bother your concentration as much. If you want to, play music in the background at whatever volume you choose to. When reading, try skimming over the chapter to get a solid basic meaning before you really dig in. Try to visualize complex projects from start to finish before you begin them. Visualization is a useful tool for Haptic people, it helps you keep a positive, productive outlook on the task at hand.
Another Useful Method - SQ3R
The SQ3R method is the reading and studying system preferred by many educators. Reading research indicates that it is an extremely effective method for both comprehension and memory retention. It's effective because it is a system of active reader involvement.
Step 1. "S"= Survey - Before you actually read a chapter, or go over a particular section of notes, take five minutes to survey the material. Briefly check headings and subheadings in order to understand the author's organizational pattern of ideas to be discussed. Scan all visual material. Read introductory and summary paragraphs. This preview will enable you to anticipate what the chapter is about.
Step 2. "Q"= Question - Create interest in the material by asking: What are the main points of the chapter? As you read, keep the question in mind and figure out the most important points. It gives you a clearly defined purpose for reading, and helps you maintain interest in the material.
Step 3. "R"= Read - Read the chapter actively for meaning. Go through the paragraph before underlining, then underline key words and phrases to help you recall the main points. Be selective, you don't want to highlight non-important points or miss anything that can help your comprehension. Summarize main concepts in your own words in the margins. The more active you are in the reading process, the more you will retain.
Step 4. "R"= Recite After every few pages, close your book and recite aloud the main points to the questions you posed in step 2. Try to recall basic details as to the author's intent by putting them in your own words. Verify your answer by checking the text. If you can't remember the text, read through it again. If you don't get it now, you won't remember it for a test. Take as much time as you need to answer your questions. Don't be frustrated, this takes more time but the information will be clearer in your mind.
Step 5. "R"= Review Finally - review the chapter every so often to fix the material in your mind. Keep rereading your margin notes and underlinings. Verbalize the sequence of main ideas and supporting facts to aid retention. Numerous reviews are a lot more effective than one cramming session the night before an exam. Review once right after you've finished reading and then every couple of days.
The SQ3R method is the reading and studying system preferred by many educators. Reading research indicates that it is an extremely effective method for both comprehension and memory retention. It's effective because it is a system of active reader involvement.
Step 1. "S"= Survey - Before you actually read a chapter, or go over a particular section of notes, take five minutes to survey the material. Briefly check headings and subheadings in order to understand the author's organizational pattern of ideas to be discussed. Scan all visual material. Read introductory and summary paragraphs. This preview will enable you to anticipate what the chapter is about.
Step 2. "Q"= Question - Create interest in the material by asking: What are the main points of the chapter? As you read, keep the question in mind and figure out the most important points. It gives you a clearly defined purpose for reading, and helps you maintain interest in the material.
Step 3. "R"= Read - Read the chapter actively for meaning. Go through the paragraph before underlining, then underline key words and phrases to help you recall the main points. Be selective, you don't want to highlight non-important points or miss anything that can help your comprehension. Summarize main concepts in your own words in the margins. The more active you are in the reading process, the more you will retain.
Step 4. "R"= Recite After every few pages, close your book and recite aloud the main points to the questions you posed in step 2. Try to recall basic details as to the author's intent by putting them in your own words. Verify your answer by checking the text. If you can't remember the text, read through it again. If you don't get it now, you won't remember it for a test. Take as much time as you need to answer your questions. Don't be frustrated, this takes more time but the information will be clearer in your mind.
Step 5. "R"= Review Finally - review the chapter every so often to fix the material in your mind. Keep rereading your margin notes and underlinings. Verbalize the sequence of main ideas and supporting facts to aid retention. Numerous reviews are a lot more effective than one cramming session the night before an exam. Review once right after you've finished reading and then every couple of days.
The SQ3R is time consuming at first, expect it to take ten to fifteen
percent longer to read a given chapter when you first begin. Research indicates
a 70% increase in retention after two months of using the system and
eventually, a reduction in time spent preparing for exams.
I hope above techniques will be practical and help you to be successful in LIFE. I would like to conclude with the
below bible verse:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
(Philippians 4:13)
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