Some Basics about Study Skills

1. Some Basics about Study Skills

2. Overview • Discovering your “learning style” • Creating a study schedules and activity logs • Setting and prioritizing goals • Managing your study session

3. Part 1 Discovering Your “Learning Style”

4. Learning Styles Inventory • Please take a moment to complete the “Learning Styles Inventory.” • Using the “Learning Styles Key,” enter the number of points you entered for each letter. Use the example below as a guide:

5. Learning Styles Inventory, cont. • If you look closely at the chart. • Notice the pale letters in each box. • Add the numbers that correspond to each letter. Using the example above, you would get the following results: V = (3 + 3) = 6 A = (1 + 2) = 3 R = (2 + 1) = 3 K = (0 + 0) = 0

6. VARK

7. Characteristics of Visual Learners • Remember diagrams and pictures • Have trouble remembering verbal instructions • Need an overall view and purpose before beginning a project • Tend to doodle, daydream, and/or look at pictures during class

8. Study Helps for the Visual Learner • Create drawings or charts to make sense of info • Use colors to highlight important points • Pay attention to diagrams, charts and pictures in text books • Use mindmaps ( with colors & diagrams) • Put visual aids in study area • Spread out study materials

9. Mind Map Example

10. Characteristics of Aural Learners • Easily follow verbal instructions • Like to hear someone explain • Like debating and discussing with others • Tends to talk to themselves while working • Enjoy reading aloud

11. Study Helps for Aural Learners • Participate in a study group • Say things aloud to remember information • Use a tape recorder. Record yourself reading texts and/or discussing issues with others • Read notes aloud when studying and after you have read something summarize it out loud. • If possible listen to pod casts of lectures. • Create and use mnemonic devices or music

12. Characteristics of Read/Write Learners • Tend to lose focus or start reading during lectures • Prefer writing and reading assignments to lectures • Often resent group learning situations and prefer to “go it alone” • Are avid readers

13. Study Strategies for Read/Write Learners • Make and complete practice tests • Write out notes multiple times • Organize visual information into statements and lists • Look for extra texts and reading materials related to the information

14. Characteristics of Kinesthetic Learners • Doodlers • “Trouble hearing” • Finger and pencil tapping • Trouble with grammar • Need to see the immediate purpose of what they are doing • “Lack focus”

15. Study Strategies for Kinesthetic Learners • Use motion and movement while studying • Walk around and switch positions frequently • Create song/dance routines to help learn difficult material • Relate facts or theories to your own experience • Learn or memorize information by teaching or telling someone else • Take frequent breaks

16. Multi-modal Learners About 60% of the population is considered “multi-modal,” meaning that they do not have single learning preferences. Instead, a multi-modal learner may have two or more preferences or switch preferences depending on the subject he or she is learning.

17. Applying Your Learning Style • Activity: Think of one skill, concept, or set of facts an instructor recently required that you learn. Now think about your preferred learning style, and describe a study method that would effectively help you learn the information by utilizing what you have learned about your learning style.

18. Part 2 Creating a Study Schedule and Study Logs

19. Why do you need a study schedule? Study schedules help you • manage your time more effectively. • set aside stress reducing recreational activities. • avoid procrastination. • obtain sufficient sleep. You don’t want to wind up like this woman.

20. Guidelines for Study Schedules • Color code the schedule • First block off the times of class, work, church, and any other times that are regularly occurring appointments • Specify study times for each subject (at least 1 or 2 hours for each hour you spend per week in class). • Schedule time for recreation, meals, transit, and exercise • Make sure to leave at least 8 hours for sleep each day. (Try to wake up at the same time everyday, even weekends.)

21. What is an activity log? An activity log is simply a record of the times you study and what specific activities you do during your study time. Activity logs also include your recreational activities (i.e. exercise, television, time surfing the web, etc…) and your meal times.

22. Why do you need a study log? Study logs help you • evaluate the effectiveness of your study schedule. • figure out which study methods work best for you. • recognize what activities are taking up the majority of your time and, if necessary, decide which activities should be limited and/or monitored more effectively.

23. Part 3 Setting and Prioritizing Goals

25. Types of Goals Long-Range Goals: Obtain a B.A. and Become a Teacher Intermediary Goal: Get Accepted into the Teacher Education Program. Short-Term Goal: Complete each Course this Term with a B or Higher Immediate Goals: Earn a B or higher on the Math Test Friday Complete Essay Draft by 8 P.M Wednesday

26. Four Steps to Achieving Goals • Set specific, clear, and realistic goals. • Set a specific target date and time to complete the goal. • Identify the individual steps involved in reaching the goal. • Plan a reward.

27. Application • Think about a short term goal you want to achieve. What immediate goals do you see involved in achieving that goal? • Think about an immediate goal you have for your studies. What steps do you need to complete to achieve this goal?

28. Part 4 Managing Your Study Session

29. Strategies for Study Sessions • Chunking • Creating a Study Ritual • Mental Rehersal • Controlling the Physical Environment

30. Chunking Breaking large assignments or concepts into smaller units of study. For example, if you were studying a biology unit on plants, you might break up the information into the following units: • List the characteristics of plants (what makes a plant a plant rather than an fungus or an animal) • Describe the different types of plants (gymnosperms, angiosperms, etc…) • Draw a sketch explaining photosynthesis • Write a paragraph describing plant respiration

31. Study Ritual A study ritual is simply a regular routine that you use to begin each session. Study rituals help you begin studying quickly. A study ritual might look like the following example: • A brief prayer • Creation of a “to do” list for the session • A warm-up activity (reviewing the previous lesson, previewing newly assigned reading material, etc…)

32. Mental Rehearsal – The Power of Positive Thinking When you use mental rehearsal, you are simply visualizing yourself as a successful student. Throughout your study time, take moments to think about succeeding on your next test or paper. Focus on replacing your negative self-image and excuses with images of success.

33. Control Your Physical Environment Lighting Noise Workspace

34. Quiz

35. Quiz • List your dominant study style preference and one study strategy that capitalizes on your study style. • What are the purposes of study schedules and study logs? • What are the four steps involved in achieving an immediate (or short-term) goal? • What is mental rehearsal? • What are the three components of your physical environment you should consider before beginning your study?