Did you ever get to the end of a chapter in a book, and realize that don't know what you just read? Or sit through a class and afterwards can't remember anything the teacher said? This happens because you're not becoming involved. It's not enough to look at the words in a book or sit through a lecture. You need to participate in the learning process.
TECHNIQUE FOR READING TEXTBOOKS Instead of reading an assignment just to get it over with, try to become aware of what the author of the book is saying. One effective method for reading textbooks is called SQ3R. It stands for: Survey - flip through the chapter and read the summary. Question - what do you want to find out about this topic? Read - Pay attention to what the author is saying. Recite - repeat the main points, either aloud or in your mind. Review - think about what you have learned, and take notes.
Doing these extra steps will actually save you time and energy. You'll understand the reading the first time, so you won't have to read it over again. And you won't forget important information.
USE YOUR NOTES Listening actively is also important. You can always read a chapter again, but "you can't go back to the lecture," says Helene Selco, study skills coordinator at Cornell University's Center For Learning and Teaching. "My suggestion is to take as many notes as possible."
Try to understand what the teacher wants you to learn. What is the main topic of each lesson? What are the important points? Does the teacher mention specific details that you need to know? How you use your notes is just as important as taking good notes. "Our focus is not so much on taking notes. It's what the student does with them afterwards," says Selco. "Summarize, Review, Remember, Reflect. If the notes stay in the notebook and the student doesn't think about them, then they're not valuable."
DO THE WORK Understanding the reading assignments, the class notes and doing the homework will make it easier to study for the test. Kevin Shaw, a senior at Niagara University, tutors other students in math. He says at the beginning of the semester, "I have to push them to do the problems. The first test is a wake-up call." Then the students realize how important it is to practice solving problems. Homework offers you a chance to use the information that's being taught. It's one thing to read or hear about a topic, but real learning comes from the work you do yourself.
STUDY FOR TESTS Studying for the test won't seem as hard if you've been paying attention and keeping up with your work. You'll want to start studying at least a few days before the test, so the information has time to sink in. Starting early also gives you time to ask the teacher for help if you don't understand something. When you sit down to study, Selco suggests that you review, recite and rehearse. Review - go over the notes and reading assignments. Recite - for things you need to memorize, say the words aloud or to yourself. Rehearse - practice answering questions or solving problems from the textbook.
How you study will be influenced by the type of test (essay, multiple choice, etc.). The University of North Carolina, through its website http://www.unc.edu/depts/ucc/TenTraps.html, offers tips for preparing for different types of tests such as essay, problem (like math), and objective (multiple choice, true/false).
When preparing for essays, you'll want to focus on main concepts that the teacher emphasized. While reviewing your notes and text, try to think of possible essay questions and find the answers.. For tests that require solving a series of problems, the best thing you can do is practice. Make a list of all the formulas you want to memorize. Look in the textbook for problems to solve. In objective tests, the right and wrong answers may seem similar. You really need to memorize the details - definitions, lists, names, dates, and places.
START PRACTICING As you continue your education, the information you learn will get more complex. Practicing these techniques now will prepare you for handling college work. "Like any other skill that one learns, the more practice you have, the more comfortable you will be with the strategies," says Selco. After a few weeks, if you find these strategies don't work, look for other ones to try.
You can find other study techniques in books like Coping With College by Alice L. Hamachek, or on the Internet by searching for study skills. A student with no study skills can spend all his time studying without getting anywhere. It's important to have a plan. The sooner you start using these strategies, the sooner you'll see results.
SQ3R: TRY IT OUT! Survey - flip through the chapter and read the summary. Question - what do you want to find out about this topic? Read - Pay attention to what the author is saying. Recite - repeat the main points, either aloud or in your mind. Review - think about what you have learned, & take notes.
