How to Improve Study Habits and Get Better

How to Improve Study Habits and Get Better Grades. & Exam-Taking Tips

This only works if you “DO IT” Overview: • • Why Study? Maintaining Motivation. Being Organized. In Class. Before/After Class. But, I have lousy memory! Exam-Taking Tips

Why Study? • The Future – plan to become a hermit? • Jobs • Self-Respect • Grades

Maintaining Motivation • • Focus on the Goals Study Groups Self-Rewards Creating Routines – EXCEPT--no reading the text in bed!!

Getting Organized • • buy the books prepare a timetable--work, sleep, & play set a specific time for studying each course benefits of spaced/distributed practice versus massed practice • physical activity as part of routine

In Class • 80% of success in life is “showing up” • Confused? ? ? – Ask--10 other people will thank you • Asking Questions • Taking Notes – record concepts and key terms • not verbatim notes--LISTEN to Learn

Before/After Class • Read the text--systematically & actively – including the headings, tables, focus issues • Take notes--avoid the highlighter • Review your lecture notes • Check for the overlap between text notes and lecture notes--hint, hint • Read the text--again.

Memory Tips • Encoding – understand first, then easier to remember – focus--reduce distractions – ask questions (either your own, or from Study Guide) – use mnemonic devices – chunking – use different encoding techniques • self-referencing

Aids for Improving Retrieval • • Number your points Visualize the material Use other information to jog retrieval Free-associate Link to the things you do know State-Dependent Learning Use a system, e. g. : SQ 3 R

Exam-Taking Tips In part based on: Pfeifer & Ogloff, 1991) • Study/Come with the tools needed. • Have a strategy. – look at the weight of the different sections-apportion time appropriately. – read any essay questions early, the rest of the test might have retrieval cues. – Don’t Rush--you will usually be given ample time to complete an exam.

Recall Questions • Use an OUTLINE to organize your thoughts. • Answer the question being asked. ( Read the question carefully, answer all aspects/parts of the question. ) • Do not provide information not requested. (Do not waste time and space repeating the question or “padding. ”) • Resist the temptation to “guess. ” (Including your confusing material will likely confuse your “marker!”) • Keep track of time.

Essay-Style Questions--DO! • Answer the question being asked. • Complete all components of the question. • Whenever possible, do an outline first!

Essay-Style Question--Marking • • • Correct Content--All relevant points. Correct use of terms and concepts. Relevant examples. Integration with related content. Clear and concise writing--grammatical!

Exam-taking Tips • Have a plan – check that you have all the pages – put your name on everything! – read all instructions--CAREFULLY • Plan your time (allocate by value of questions). GOOD LUCK