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Study Techniques: Building the Perfect PlanThere’s a bunch of different study skills, study techniques and styles that people use when they study. But whatever the style, effective studying is a set of disciplined steps that map out a plan of action, and a schedule for those actions.
The Study EnvironmentEven the place where you decide to study can have an impact on how well you learn. Everyone has a different preference for studying environment. I like quiet, clean and private areas. You might like loud messy public areas. For different learning environments, please click here. If it's right for you, that's all that counts.Study Tools for the Next GenerationWhen I was in college, way back in the late 70's and early 80's, we bravely set off to college with a pack of pens, high lighters, binders and paper. If we had money left over, we bought text books and Cliff’s Notes. We didn’t have personal computers, much less laptops, and if we needed to call someone, we had to find a pay phone or go back home. Things have changed, and so have study techniques and study tools. For information on new study tools, please click here.The Exam CramYou can cram for an exam and make a good grade. Is this studying? Dunno. I do know that cramming isn't as beneficial in the long run, but you have to make the call based on your objectives and situation, but don't ever mistake cramming as a study technique. In a perfect world, you should schedule adequate time to prepare for an exam, which leads us to the alternative to cramming. That alternative is to have a set schedule of things to do as you go through your school year. These scheduled events would eliminate the need to cram, and probably give you better retention of the information. For tips on studying for exams, please click here.Studying is a Skill...Really!Now, every study skill takes discipline. But most things take discipline, so why should studying be any different?Think of studying as the development of a set of skills. These skills will be modified from time to time, and subject to subject, but once you master the skills, you are better prepared regardless of the subject. To learn about study skills, please click here. Effective studying is good note taking, repetition, reading, analyzing, researching, attending class, asking questions, doing and turning in homework, reviewing notes, and getting ready for exams. All in all, developing study skills is about organizing study time. To learn about organizing study time, please click here. These are all study skills or study techniques that anyone can master, but it takes conscious effort.My First College SetbackFor instance, when I first went to college, my biology professor told me that reading isn’t the same thing as studying.What?!?! For college study skills, please click here. Reading is a part of studying, but not studying in itself. What you extract from the reading, the notes you take, the highlighting you do, the piecing together of information...this is studying (i.e. study skills). For note taking help, please click here. I had scored poorly on my first exam, and I was explaining to him that I had read everything he required us to read. His words were a revelation.My Transition from High School to CollegeThis wasn’t high school anymore. My study skills and study techniques would have to be supplemented and refined. For high school study tips, please click here. I would have to change my study skills and techniques, then take it to another level.Having been unsuccessful in snatching the pebble from his hand, I continued my education (if you were born in the late 1970's or later, you probably don’t get the pebble reference...go research it grasshopper!).
Study GroupsThen, when I got to Law School, yet another set of study skills and techniques were added. Attending lectures, surviving the Socratic method, outlines, actually reading footnotes, and study groups came into play. For more information on study groups, please click here.And with the competitiveness of law school, I began searching for more study skills to develop. I had to study longer, study harder, drink coffee, take caffeine pills, lecithin and other memory improvement supplements, and even music. For tips on using music to enhance learning, please click here. Remember, none of these study skills work without preparation and discipline, so get your thinking caps on!
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