Effective Study Strategies and Note-Taking for Students
Motivation Strategies for University Students
People have different sources of motivation. Here are three strategies that university students can use to develop motivation:
- Studying together is beneficial. When students meet and discuss a certain subject, new ideas are born. This enriches their thinking and engraves information in their brains.
- Rewarding oneself is also motivating. After a long day of studying in a library with classmates, there’s nothing more rewarding than hanging out with favorite friends. Some students prefer to watch a movie or play a football match to relax.
- Keep long-term goals in mind. Remembering their goals will certainly inject a new spirit of hard work into their veins despite all the obstacles they face.
Effective Note-Taking Tips for Students
Good grades are often the result of good notes. There are many different ways to take notes while studying. Here are three suggestions for students to make effective notes:
- Use a good notebook and colorful pens. Colors usually make the brain more active. Engaging many colors in note-taking is more effective than using only one colored pen.
- Pay careful attention to the professor’s explanation in class. Do not try to write down everything without understanding the concepts.
- Revise notes regularly. Make sure they are organized and clear.
There are other ways of note-taking, yet these are three methods for new students.
Addressing Concentration and Memory Challenges
This text sheds light on two major problems that a university student named Dina suffers from: the inability to remember what she reads and a lack of concentration. This absence of focus is mainly due to her struggling to complete her assignments. Worrying too much doesn’t help. She has to be relaxed before starting her revision. I suggest that she study at home instead of going to the library next time because the environment can affect our degree of concentration. Concerning her inability to remember what she reads, my solution is to take notes effectively while reading, and to write down important information. Using summarizing and paraphrasing techniques will be of great help to her. Ultimately, we have to remember that people are different and don’t have the same degree of concentration. Each one should discover the method that works best for them.
Skill: Test Preparation
Before you walk into the classroom:
- Know your material.
- Consider tutoring.
- Be rested and ready.
- Set your alarm.
- Feed your body appropriately.
- Be familiar with the format.
- Ask your instructor about an alternative testing environment.
- Let your friends know your schedule.
- Keep accurate time.
- Arrive early.
- Avoid negative people and talk positively to yourself.
As you are in the exam class:
- Relax and concentrate.
- Review the entire exam.
- Do the easy items first.
- Block your test paper.
- Remove yourself from distractions.
Skill: Reading
Before reading:
- Preview and develop a big picture of a text before reading. This will enable you to better identify what’s important to read.
- Develop a set of questions you want to answer before you start reading a text. This provides direction and focus as you read.
While you read:
- Read aloud.
- Develop a picture in your mind. This will make it easier to remember.
- Highlight important passages that support central themes and concepts. Be selective.
- Circle key terms and vocabulary with a pencil, and write definitions in your notes or in the margin.
- Write a brief summary.
Reasons you forgot what you read:
- You didn’t understand the material.
- You didn’t learn earlier background material.
- You didn’t know what to remember.
- You didn’t understand the vocabulary.
- You got bored.
- You got distracted.
- You couldn’t establish relationships.
SQ4R Method
- Survey: Scan the reading material to get an overview.
- Question: Ask yourself questions about what the assignment will address.
- Read: Read your material and mentally answer questions.
- Recite: Write what you just read in your own words (paraphrasing).
- Record: Mark important things.
- Review: Review what you have read once you have completed your material.