Skip to Main Content

Student Success Services: Studying

Connect with a Student Success Advisor

For learning skills support connect with a Student Success Advisor. 

Studying

Tips for Studying:

  1. Studying is not something you only need to do before a test or exam. Begin studying from day one of your term.
  2. Become familiar with the Learning Outcomes for each course by reviewing your course outlines.
  3. PLAN! Create blocked times in your schedule and prioritize these as study times.
  4. Avoid cramming at all costs! It has proven ineffective, and you are likely to forget what you have studied.

Guide to Effective Studying

Study Principles

Principle

When to Do This

Why This Principle is Important
Intend to Remember Before you sit down to study – convince yourself that it is time to concentrate Your intention is crucial. If you don’t actively plan to remember something, you won’t remember it. Even though you are reading the words, you will quite likely be thinking of other things.
Get an overview of the task, put the pieces together. Whenever you begin a new learning project. Getting a preview of everything you are trying to learn will help you later as you read, practice, etc.
Learn Actively Always!! Most learning time should involve active techniques, such as, creating cue cards, mnemonics, visuals etc.
Take Breaks If you plan on studying more than 1 hour. Taking breaks in your study routine can positively affect both your attention abilities and focus.
Review immediately after learning.  At the end of each study session and before you begin the next set of objectives. Most forgetting takes place immediately after learning occurs. Remember, you are not re-studying, you are reviewing, so it doesn’t take long.
Review Again Regularly prior to the test. Reviewing helps retain information in long term memory.

Apps & Resources

  • Learning Scientists
    Videos from cognitive psychological scientists interested in research on education with the main focus being on the science of learning.
  • Pomodoro Timer Online
    Pomodoro Timer Online app is a time management method based on 25-minute stretches of focused work broken by five-minute breaks. 

chat loading...