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Show .. - FOCUS: STUDY HABITS ~ Ill® ... .. . . ... THE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL• SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY• MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1995 THE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL• SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY• MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1995 • Hand in assignments on time, every time. Effective study techniques are usually developed th rough Study procedures: application of a number of basic learning skills and specific practices. • Schedule definite times and outline specific goals for study time. The effectiveness of these varies from student to student depending Allow at least two hours for every subject each week for a review of on the student's needs and personal motivation. notes and text content. The following is a list of guidelines provided by the SUU Lea rning • Survey a book before reading it by briefly skimming all the Center so students m ay compare their current study techniques material that will be read during an allotted period of study time. against those that have been found to be generally effective. • Ask questions about what should be learned during that study Proper setting: time. • When selecting a place to study, choose a location which is • Read the material. Note important items of information. Look for conducive to concentration, which is free from auditory and visual answers to your questions. Realize that scanning is sufficient in distraction, and which provides optimal com fo rt {proper lighting, certain areas, while other areas may need to be read more ventilation and temperature, but not so relaxing that drowsiness analytically. results). • In terms of time, students should plan their . - - - - - - - - - - - ' - - - - - - - - - - , • Go over the content that you specifically schedule so that class time and study time want to rem ember and prepare notes on it in total less than 10 hours a day. A good guideline order to help your memory. is no less than 45 hours a week and no more Ask more questions and resurvey the than 60 hours a week. • material. • Work efficiently-try to study Interactive participation in class: continuously for 60-90 minutes, then take a Ask the instructor questions when fifteen minute break. Predict the amount of II' clarification of lecture points is needed, time each task will take and try to complete volunteer to answer questions posed by the each task within the predicted time. t·L-ough instructor in class, participate in class • Study early in the day rather than late at "1 y ~' discussions. night. Interactive participation out of class: i' • Ask the instructor for clarification of Proper strategy: • Use a study schedule or calendar to record SkilJS lecture information or assignments, or for assignments. Include what is required and comments on questions which have arisen in when it must be completed. your studies. • Gather the necessary materials using all • Engage in formal or informal discussions available resources. Ask librarians and instructors for assistance in with classmates on topics relevant to your courses. locating the most appropriate materials. • Clarify points which had not been clear during lectures or labs. • Review course content with other students. • Record important information on 3 " x 5" notecards which can be arranged advantageously. • Interact with other resource persons on campus !librarians, tutors, • For essay writing, make a rough outline first. Use large blocks of course assistants). time once you begin to write. Write quickly and continuously for the N ote-taking behavior: rough draft, put it aside for 24 hours, then rewrite it. Have someone • Preview the lecture topic before going to class. else proofread and make suggestions. Put it aside for another 48 • Reread the notes from the past few days before class begins. hours, then prepare the final draft for typing. • Listen first- write second. • Complete the most difficult assignments during your best • Use the m argins in your notebook for headings, write lecture concentration periods. Save rewriting tasks for periods when your content in the body of the page. concentration is not as good. • Make special notes of content which the instructor stresses. According to material provided by SUU's C Learning enter, 'E"ective sttldy techniques are dewr:eJoined apinJicatiOn of a number of dbasic ]earning ·~ an speci,i,c practices., Vanessa Nielsen, a junior special education major from Pleasant Grove, says she studies best in quiet areas outside. Study habits vary for SUU students Highlighting chapters works best for Jennifer McPartland, a sophomore history major from Sandy. She said that marking key By MICHELLE CLEGG phrases and vocabulary words helped her remember the information for ASSOCIATE EDITOR tests. She usually studies on her bed, unless she is writing and takes Students have various study habits, whether good or bad. Som e breaks about every half-hour. follow the guidelines established by academic officials, some use their "If you don't take a break, you get tired of the subject," said ow n personal ideas. McPartland. She also adm its that studying when you're tired is a waste of time. Jen Larsen, a sophomore business major from Sandy has fou nd that her own personal study YOU On DOW Some students like peace and quiet. "I go to habits work best. She enjoys listening to soft my room or some place quiet," said Valarie music as she sits on the fl oor to study. If she Bellson since most of her homework cons ists of has procrastinated and feels rushed, she said reading. Bellson, a junior sociology from Z uni, the library works better because she doesn't get N. M. also prefers to be alone. "I can't be around distracted. When preparing for a test, she takes /1 people because it distracts me," she said. information needed and makes up a song to Bellson also makes sure to read on a regular help her remember it. basis, instead of procrastinating. "If I try to cram Other students work best when they develop it {reading material) in, it's useless. If you don't a system. Katrina Servantes, senior N. know something by the night before a test, communication major from Salt Lake City Unl, • • you're not going to know it just by reading all followed a dai ly schedu1e. . . . . _ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ' night before a test," she said. Servantes would go to a lounge area and read two hours every day. Students are all unique and so are their study habits. Different "That's when I got my best studying <lone," s he said. She also liked the techniques work for different people. The best advice, according to Servantes, is to just devise a personal organization of studying at her desk with all her books surrounding her. "When I was sitting there, I was s tudying." To help her memorize, she plan devised to work with your persona lity and thinking patterns. uses picture association. "That's the way my brain thinks, so word However, these study methods only work if put to use on a regular association wouldn't work," she said. basis. Study habits mean just that-"habits." 'If d 't k SOmething... yOU're not going tO knOW it just by reading all night be'ore a test,' said Valarie Bellson, a junior SOCioJogy major fr Z • M om I ~ .~. - - FOCUS: STUDY HABITS -·· i . .. Effective study techniques explained • . = ~ How· to impro·v e conc.entration CAUSE: STRATEGIES: • I am easily distracted Eliminate your distractions: • Get enough sleep • Study when rested • Eat well so that you won't be hungry • Study with a partner to increase m otivation • Create a good study place • My mind wanders when I read Become an active reader: • Formulate a purpose • Underline main ideas • Summarize key ideas in margins •Lookup unfamiliar words • I can't find time to study Learn to manage your time: • Take fewer courses • Adjust work ho urs • Make a study schedule • Use a calendar and daily lists • My mind goes blank on tests Reduce test anxiety: • Prepare adequately for tests • Learn how to practice a relaxation technique • I don't have a goal Decide what you want to do: • Get a feel for college life • Visit the career developm ent center • Choose a m ajor; make career plans • I can't listen and take notes at the same time Learn how to take notes: • Sit up front • Watch the speaker's gestures and expressions • Listen for key words • Copy information from the board • Skip lines between main ideas • The assignment is too hard Make assignments easier: • Be sure you know what to do • Break long assignments into smaller parts • Allow plenty of time • Ask your instructor for help • . • Time management is the key Establish a specific study schedule and avoid deviating from it By JENNIFER MORLEY ASSISTANT EDITOR One of the top reasons students cite as keeping them from studying, is that there are too many distractions. With all the football ga mes, dances, club activities, tailgate parties, concerts and other events going on, who can find the time to study? According to Judith Bonniksen, director of SUU's Student Development Center, students should become aware of all the distractions that keep them from studying, and then schedule study time around them. Also, she says, students should choose a study location that is free from distractions like TV and radio. When scheduling study time, students should "place importance on quality time rather than quantity," Bonniksen said. Bonniksen also suggests following up in a timely manner by s tudying as soon after the lecture as possible. One hour spent soon after class will do as much good in developing an understanding of materials as several hours a few days later on. Once you have chosen a time and place to study, be consistent, Bonniksen said. Establishing habits of study is extremely important and knowing when and where you are llll l going to study saves a lot of time in making decisions. "Time management is the key," Bonniksen said. "For midterms and finals, study progressively throughout the quarter rather than cramming at the end." Other helpful tips Bonniksen provided- and other sources agreed with- include: • Utilize study groups and don 't be afraid to ask for help from professors or tutors. Dale Goodman, professor of career education at Brigham Young University, said, "Use an u pperclassman who is succeeding well in college, especially in your chosen major, as your role model. They have learned the laws for success in college. Learn these same laws from s uccessful students and follow them." • Use assignments and textbooks according to the course syllabus. • "Pre-prepare for class" by skimming over the reading assignment and the previous day's notes. • Take advantage of campus support services such as the Leaming Center and the Writing Lab. "If there are things about college you don't understand, ask questions of those who you know have the most accurate answers," Goodman said. • Above all, "use common sense and time management." Attending classes and preparing for classes has first priority, Goodman said. Schedule all other needed activities (relaxing and socializing) around study time. |