Effective Study Habits: A Comprehensive Guide for Students
Student Problems
Lack of method: Students may not have a good working system, don’t know how to study, are disorganized, and lose time.
Planning: Students may lack time management skills, struggle to organize or plan for exam weeks, resulting in work piling up and difficulty keeping up with teachers.
Lack of ambition: Students may fall into the “law of least resistance” and consequently receive poor grades.
Attitude Study
Students must approach their studies with optimism and conviction, persisting even when the material is challenging. They should strive to excel, avoid being complacent, and minimize wasted time. Flexibility, an open mind to new methods, humility, and the ability to learn from mistakes are essential.
Planning Study
Planning is crucial for successful studying. It helps students achieve better results and makes the process more manageable. Planning is simple and only requires organization and consistency. It’s recommended to review a topic three times for mastery and to use a calendar to schedule these reviews.
Attend Classes
Regular class attendance is essential to maximize learning and demonstrate interest to teachers. Absences should be limited to situations with good cause, as missing class represents a significant loss of valuable time.
Notes
Taking effective notes can make studying easier. Avoid simply copying everything the teacher says or relying solely on others’ notes, as this can hinder understanding. Focus on capturing essential material, listen carefully, leave margins, use lists, and consider abbreviations and symbols.
Study Place
The study place should be comfortable, quiet, free from distractions (television, radio, or music), well-lit, and at a comfortable temperature. Studying at a friend’s house can be distracting and is not recommended. Consistency in the study location is important.
Study Time
Students need persistence and should plan to study 2-3 hours daily to achieve stress-free test preparation. Study during times when the mind is clearest, set daily goals, and maximize the time available. When tackling tasks, start with medium difficulty, followed by difficult, and end with the easiest.
Phases of the Study
Before studying, ensure you have all necessary materials to avoid wasting time. Learning is most effective when done in stages. The first stage involves reading the lesson’s index, understanding the structure, and then reading the entire lesson. The second stage involves reviewing each section, highlighting key ideas. The final stage involves revisiting each section until you feel confident in your understanding. Finally, create a summary sheet outlining the lesson.
Study Material
Well-organized and structured study material makes learning easier. To create effective study material, attend class regularly and take your own notes. Summary sheets, which should be concise and capture the lesson’s key points, are also valuable. Mind maps can be helpful for studying.
Reading
Avoid reading word for word, subvocalization, and regression to increase reading speed. Fast reading saves time and allows for greater concentration. Lighting and posture are important factors for speed reading.
Underline
Underlining is a method for easier studying. By highlighting key ideas, you save time and effort when it comes to reviewing. This method is simple if you understand the difference between essential and non-essential text. Follow these underlining rules: read before underlining, underline paragraph by paragraph, highlight only key words, use colors, and include ideas, diagrams, and patterns.
Duties
Complete assignments consistently, ideally on the same day they are assigned. This allows the mind to process the information fresh and avoids late burdens. Communication with the teacher is important for resolving doubts.
Memory Performance
There are two types of memory: short-term memory, which is limited, and long-term memory, which has unlimited capacity and duration.
The memorization process has three phases: registration (influenced by factors like attention, motivation, and capacity), retention (requiring periodic review of learned knowledge), and retrieval (the ability to recall memorized information depends on the quality of the registration).
Memory: Information Channels
Individuals have different memory strengths. Some excel at visual memory (recalling images better than words), while others have strong verbal memory (remembering what they read more easily).
Memory Use
Organized study sessions can be approached in two ways: concentrated study (studying for many hours over a few days to master a subject) and split study (studying little by little with frequency, which is more efficient).
Dividing material can also be approached in two ways: global memory (treating the lesson as a whole) and memorizing parts (dividing the lesson into sections).
Tips to Improve Memory
Establish associations: Connect new concepts with existing knowledge to make memorization easier.
Chunk information: Divide information into manageable chunks for easier recall.
Group information: Organize information into small groups to aid memory.
Exaggeration: Use originality and exaggeration to retain more information.
Rhythm and rhyme: This common technique facilitates memorization.
Context: Sometimes, remembering something is easier if you try to recall the context in which you learned it.
Techniques Mnemonics
Mnemonics help memorize information better, faster, and more efficiently. Here are six methods:
- Method of chuck: Pair numbers 1-10 with rhyming words for easier memorization.
- Method A: Link elements to be memorized like a chain.
- Relato: Create a story incorporating the elements to be memorized.
- Method of sites: Link items to be remembered with a series of established locations.
- Phonics: Assign a consonant to each number 0-9.
- The initial method: Form an invented word using syllables from the elements of the list.
Oblivion
Memory can fail despite repeated studying, often due to poor preparation. The main causes include studying too late, not getting enough rest, and rushing through the material. Regular review and continuous learning are essential.
Waste of Time
The primary cause of wasted time is not knowing how to study effectively. All students waste time, but this can be minimized by learning to control it.
Rest
Maintaining good health is crucial for keeping up with studies. Students should plan their schedules to include time for relaxation and fun. During study sessions, take short breaks (maximum 5 minutes) to refresh and return stronger. If fatigue persists, rest is preferable to wasting time. Adequate sleep (8 hours) is as important as rest.
Food
A balanced diet is essential for good student performance. Avoid fast food, excessive coffee or tea, and sleep-inducing pills. Exercise is beneficial for both physical and mental health, helping to relieve stress.
Preparation of Exams
Exam preparation should begin on the first day of the course. It should be done gradually throughout the year so that by the time exams arrive, you can take some time off. However, as exams approach, increase the study rate and review each subject at least twice. Days before the exam, manage anxiety, maintain positive thinking, prepare materials, and prioritize rest, as fatigue makes reviewing more difficult. Avoid reviewing anything on the day of the exam to prevent unnecessary tension.
Examinations
Optimal exam performance requires daily review of coursework, leading to thorough subject preparation and confident test-taking. Time management is crucial, ensuring you have extra time to review the exam. A good presentation, projecting an image of seriousness and organization, can contribute to a positive impression.
Oral Exams
Unlike written exams, oral exams offer limited time for thinking, and tension increases as the teacher asks questions. However, they also provide an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the subject by answering questions in depth. For well-prepared students, oral exams are advantageous, but for those who are not, they can be detrimental. Speaking is different from writing.
Call for Papers
The first step in presenting a paper is to define the topic, which should be neither too broad (making it difficult to offer something new) nor too narrow (making it difficult to find information). Once the topic is clearly defined, begin researching, consulting at least four technical books, and then structure the work. When developing the paper, read it multiple times to ensure accuracy and clarity. Include the most important ideas without copying verbatim from sources. The index and bibliography are essential components, providing insights into the structure and sources consulted. An annex is optional.
Group Work
Group work fosters adaptability and acceptance of others’ ideas, which is beneficial in the future. Carefully choose team members to avoid conflicts. Begin with a preliminary meeting to discuss the topic, assign responsibilities, and determine individual tasks. Time management is crucial for maintaining progress and avoiding future problems. For group work to be successful, all members must be committed to the project. If one member fails to contribute, it can jeopardize the entire group.
Public Exposure
Public presentations are excellent opportunities to shine, even though they can cause anxiety and tension. The presentation itself is as important as the content. Focus on a few key ideas, manage the time allotted for the presentation (leaving time for questions), and make it engaging to capture the audience’s attention. Projecting a confident image and using appropriate body language can enhance your presentation. The beginning (grabbing the audience’s attention) and end (summarizing key points) are crucial moments in a public presentation.