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Learning Zone – Elizabethtown College

Academic success has many moving parts and each of the areas are linked together to create a total action plan. This workshop will be focusing on the areas of study skills and test taking strategies. Many students who enrolled in college are unprepared for academic challenges because they failed to use study strategies. Where do you start to develop study strategies?

How are your study habits?

You can take this Inventory on the Learning

Zone website:

https://www.etown.edu/offices/learning/Study_Skills.aspx

10 TIPS FOR STRONGER STUDY STRATEGIES….

We will be reviewing ten study skills and test taking strategies that will help you improve your study habits.

1. GO TO CLASS This one might seem obvious, but lecture style courses and early start-times may make you feel that you don’t have to attend or come up with a reason to skip class. The best way to prepare for tests is to attend classes and participate. This will help you begun the process of reviewing and will know what to expect on the exam (especially if you don’t have a total understanding of the subject matter from your class assignments.)

2. Find a Good Place to Study

Where do you study? Although some people swear by the library, scientists suggest that

alternating study spaces is a more effective way to retain information. Memory is colored by location, and changing your study locations

increases the likelihood of remembering what you’ve learned. Why not try different locations

on campus and see what works best for you?

3. Don't Categorize Yourself

Students often categorize themselves as visual or auditory learners, or as being left-brained or right-brained thinkers. It is more important to figure out which study strategies work best for you. You may need to use different study skills strategies for different courses. Seeing a peer tutor for the course or talking to your professor might help you with some study skills strategies that you might not have thought of on your own.

4. Develop Study and Homework Groups

Never underestimate the power of your peers, especially when working through a difficult problem set or reading assignment. Dividing and conquering is an effective way to reduce your workload -- and to make sure you understand the material. You might even make a friend in the process. The Learning Zone has group tutoring sessions for some courses or you could sign-up for a one-on-one session.

5. Manage Your Time The only thing worse than having a deadline is missing a deadline. Stay organized, cut down on procrastination and your work load will feel much more manageable. If you need more information on this subject, contact the Learning Zone about the workshop on time management or see the academic coach.

6. TRY AND PRACTICE THESE SIX

DIFFERENT STUDY SKILLS

7. How to Take Notes from a Textbook

Taking notes from a textbook does not need to be difficult. It is just a skill that needs to be learned and practiced.

Watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_6NMbf8XjU and give it a try.

8. Create a Game Plan…Don’t Cram!

Source: https://brandi-studies.tumblr.com/post/116077447723/fivedaystudy/amp

•Plan to spend 2 hours of studying each day. More difficult courses may require more study time•Spread your study time out over the 5 days before an exam, breaking down the material for the exam into 5 “chunks”. If you feel there is too much material to study in 5 days, just add more days to your study plan.•Each day add another “chunk” to study, while reviewing the material from the previous day(s)•Make sure you create a self test before the exam. This will help you retrieve the information in a testing format

9. GENERAL TEST

TAKING STRATEGIES

For best results, apply these strategies in the following order:

• Write Down Everything You RememberBefore beginning the test, write down easily forgotten information. Frequently refer back to these notes while completing the test.

• Read the DirectionsThoroughly read all test instructions.

• Briefly Look Over The TestOnce you've read the instructions, briefly review the test to identify question quantity and types, such as essays, multiple choice, etc.

• Put A Plan TogetherOnce you've reviewed the test, create a plan to finish it.

• Read Each Question Carefully

• It's Okay To Make Educated GuessesIf you get stumped on a question, underline and return to it later.

• Don't Make Careless MistakesRead the instructions for each section again after completing the test to ensure you've accurately followed the instructions.

If you filled out a scantron sheet, ensure bubbles have been properly filled and every question answered.

For more test taking strategies, visit the Learning Zone website: https://www.etown.edu/offices/learning/Test_Taking.aspx

10. UNDERSTAND STRESS MANAGEMENT

Look at how you currently cope with stress?

Managing stress is all about taking charge: of your thoughts, emotions, schedule, and the way you deal with problems. If you need more information on this subject, contact the Learning Zone about the workshop Academic & Social Balance, Connecting with Resources and/or contact Counseling Services on campus.

• 1. Go to class - regularly

• 2. Find a good place to study on campus, maybe two locations

• 3. Don't categorize yourself – Don’t compare yourself to your classmates, we all learn differently

• 4. Develop study and homework groups – Don’t be shy to use tutors

• 5. Manage your time – need help in this area? Ask for help

• 6. Try and practice different study skills

• 7. Learn how to take notes from a textbook. This will help you be prepared for class discussions

• 8. Create an exam game plan

• 9. Learn general test taking strategies

• 10. Understand how to implement stress management – need help in this area? Ask for help

Need more information? Visit the Learning Zone Study Skills page: https://www.etown.edu/offices/learning/Study_Skills.aspx

Help on Campus:

• Learning Zone – Has peer tutors available to help with study and test taking skills. You can also meet with the academic coach if you want to work on time management, organization and/or goal setting.

• Disability Services – If you had academic accommodation before college and would like to talk to someone about activating accommodations

• Counseling Services – If you would like to know more about understanding or dealing with Stress Management

• Academic Advisors/Professors – They are there to help you. They want you to succeed in your college goals.

Resources

• Renzulli, S.J. (2015) Using learning strategies to improve the academic performance of university students on academic probation. NACADA Journal: 2015, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 29-41. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-13-043

• Hassanbeigi, A., Askari, J., Nakhjavani, M., Shirkhoda, S., Barzegar, K., Mozayyan, M., Fallahzadeh. H. (2011). The relationship between study skills and academic performance of university students. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 30, pp. 1416 – 1424. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.276

Links:

Study habit inventory: https://www.etown.edu/offices/learning/Study_Skills.aspx

How to read a text book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_6NMbf8XjU

5 day Study plan: https://brandi-studies.tumblr.com/post/116077447723/fivedaystudy/amp

Test Taking Strategies: https://www.etown.edu/offices/learning/Test_Taking.aspx