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Get it Together: Time Management and Study Tips. Dr. Kirstin Bratt Anna Urbanski, GA Academic Learning Center. Revised 2013 from originals by Victoria Williams and Melanie. Objectives:. Discuss strategies for completing each step in the learning process
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Get it Together:Time Management and Study Tips Dr. Kirstin Bratt Anna Urbanski, GA Academic Learning Center Revised 2013 from originals by Victoria Williams and Melanie
Objectives: • Discuss strategies for completing each step in the learning process • Develop time management strategies • Review and answer any questions
Where does learning happen? In your brain!! Your brain was born to learn, loves to learn and knows how to learn!
How can you maintain attention? In Class… • Have intent • Participate • Relate the subject to your own life • Ask questions • Take notes • Clear your mind • Relax • React When Reading… • Have intent • Ask questions • Test yourself • Build interest • Take notes • Highlight • Underline • Few distractions
Making Connections • In this step you interpret the information in a way that is meaningful to you. • Connect the information to what you already know • Personalize the information by applying it to your life • The more connections to the new information you make, the easier it will be to remember it.
Connection… • As you learn, the neurons in your brain begin to make connections…..
Review Practice… making mistakes is an important component of learning When you review, don’t just look over information, but test yourself to get feedback “do you really know the information?” As you rehearse, review, or practice what you have learned the synapses in your brain become stronger
Time Management • Make a term schedule • Write out all due dates (assignments, exams, etc.) from course syllabi • Include other activities and events • Make a weekly schedule • Fill in class, work, activities for a typical week • Schedule times to study for every class (include study breaks) • Be realistic • Include time for fun! • It won’t be perfect right away
Review…. • Attention! • Active reading, participate in lecture • Connection • To what you already know, daily life • Review • Test yourself, mistakes will help you learn • Time Management • Plan it out, be realistic!
The Top Ten Study Strategies Academic Learning Center St. Cloud State University
#1: Preview the text Why? • Helps you : • Determine what you already know • Determine how much you need to learn • Plan to break down the reading assignment so that you use your time efficiently
How do I do that? • Read the table of contents to understand the topics of each chapter and how they relate to each other. • Read all the headings and subheadings. • Learn all you can from pictures, maps and graphics. • Read the questions or problems at the end of the chapter. • Divide the assignment into smaller chunks and begin reading.
#2: Take notes • Write short summaries, questions or comments in the margin of the text. • helps you to engage with the text and gives you a running record of your understanding • Cornell Note Taking • Take notes in a separate notebook • Remember – you are synthesizing and summarizing, not copying. • Notecards (online and cell phone)
#3: Review your notes within 24 hours • Review your class notes within 24 hours in order to transfer what you’ve heard from your short term to long term memory • Take a few minutes each day to skim through your notes, fill in information you missed, and identify questions you have.
#4: Use the SQ3R Method • Survey • Question • Read • Recite • Review
# 5: Use the Five Day Study Plan Studying smaller units of material each day is an effective way to learn.
Key Features of this Plan: • Spaced practice • Integrated approach to learning • Task-oriented study • Goal-oriented study • Built-in repetition for learning • Flexible and easily modified to fit your learning style.
#6: Form a Study Group Some facts about study groups: • Provide • greater opportunities to question, review, clarify, and discuss • an audience to read, respond to, and discuss their drafts of their papers • variety of problem-solving strategies • Help to… • reduce procrastination • increase motivation • ease anxiety
#6: Form a Study Group IMPORTANT!Set an agenda to make sure your study session doesn’t become a social session • Practice problem-solving techniques. • Practice teaching one another. • Test each other . • Compare class notes. • Have each group member take responsibility for leading a discussion on one part of an assignment.
#7: Visual Aids • Time • Write due dates on a monthly or semester calendar • Create a weekly schedule with designated study times. • Make “to do” lists – cross off items when you complete them • Keep your calendar and “to do” lists in a highly visible spot – refer to them regularly • Materials • Create a map, chart, or outline of the main ideas • Online practice tests • End of chapter or section questions
#8: Be Conscious of Your Environment and Time of Day • Environment • Can mean the difference between productively completing an assignment and staring blankly into space • Consider: • level of background noise • level of comfort • types of distractions • Time of Day • Study your most difficult subjects when you are most alert, whether that be at 7am or 11:30pm. • Are you a Lark or an Owl?
#9: If You Have Trouble Beginning a Paper. . . Just Write! • Free writing • Instead of staring at a blank screen, just start typing whatever comes into your head • Once you’ve had a chance to start typing, begin to direct your free writing to ideas that are relevant to your paper • What if that doesn’t work? • Discuss your ideas with a friend • Ask your friend to just listen and write down what you say so that you have a record of your thoughts to use as the basis for your paper.
#10: Get to Know Your Professors • They’re experts in the content of the course • They’ve studied this material themselves • They’re well-positioned to help you develop effective study strategies in that particular course/discipline • The more they know you the more they can help you Visit office hours BEFORE you begin having problems – Make an appointment at the beginning of the semester so that your professors know who you are and how they can help you.
Do You Want to Know More? • Meet with Anna, the Graduate Assistant, to learn more about how to integrate these 10 strategies into your study habits • Additional On Campus Resources: • ALC Tutoring Center • www.stcloudstate.edu/alc • The Write Place • http://www.stcloudstate.edu/writeplace/ • The Miller Center (SCSU library) • http://lrts.stcloudstate.edu/library/default.asp • The Math Skills Center • http://www.stcloudstate.edu/mathskills/
QUESTIONS? Study Strategies Assistance Anna Urbanski, GA Centennial Hall 211B Email: alcga2@stcloudstate.edu Academic Learning Center Centennial Hall 236 (320) 308-4993 alc@stcloudstate.edu www.stcloudstate.edu/alc