The Basics of Study Skills
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Identify success strategies for use in the classroom.
- Identify success strategies for use outside the classroom.
- Formulate a plan to designate and improve a study space.
- Use in-class notes and reading notes to learn the material.
- Structure daily study sessions.
- Explain key strategies for effective studying.
- List some key study strategies for exams (and for learning).
Why do some students earn good grades and others do not? Answers vary. Students with poor grades have said students with good grades are born book-smart. Students with good grades answer that studying and hard work got them there. What do you think?
Everyone likes to receive good grades, it feels good when your hard work pays off. Take pride in your preparation, take pride in your studying, and take pride in your accomplishments. Students often know what they need to do to achieve good grades, they just don’t always do what they know needs to be done.
The purpose of this section is to help you develop good study habits and do the things that need to be done to get those good grades.
Before Class
Be Prepared for Each Class
Complete your assigned reading ahead of the deadline. Follow the syllabus and course outline so that you will be familiar with the content that the instructor is speaking about. Bring your course syllabus, textbook, notebook, and any handouts or other important information for each particular class, along with a pen and a positive attitude. Become interested in what the instructor has to say. Be eager to learn. Sleep adequately the night before class and ensure you do not arrive to class on an empty stomach. Many courses, both in-person and online, use digital platforms called Learning Management Systems (LMS). Examples of these are Canvas, Blackboard, and Moodle. All of the Maricopa Community Colleges use Canvas. It is important for students to check their e-mail regularly as well as Announcements or notifications from their instructor through the Canvas Inbox.
Know What the Campus Resources Are & Where They Are, and Use Them
There are many campus resources at your college, and it’s likely that they are underutilized because students don’t know they exist, where they are, how to access them, or that most of them are free. Find out what is available to you by checking your school’s website for campus resources or student services, or talk to an academic advisor, counselor, or student success coordinator about what resources may be helpful for you. Check to see where your campus has resources for Counseling, Tutoring, Writing assistance, a Library, Admissions and Records (or Registrar’s), Financial Aid, Health Center, Career Center, Disability Support Services, and other support services.
Read and Retain Your Syllabus
In addition to acting as a contract between the instructor and you, the syllabus is also often the source of information for faculty contact information, textbook information, classroom behavior expectations, attendance policy, and course objectives. Some students make the mistake of stuffing the syllabus in their backpacks when they receive it on the first day of class and never take a look at it again. Those who read it thoroughly, keep it for reference, and review it frequently find themselves more prepared for class. If there is something in the syllabus you don’t understand, ask your instructor about it before class, after class, or during their office hours.
Place Your Assignments on Your Calendar
Place all of your assignments for all of your classes with their due dates in your calendar, planner, smartphone, or whatever you use for organization. Successful students will also schedule when to start those assignments and have an idea of how long it will take to complete them.
It’s easy to put off studying if it’s not something we schedule. Block specific times and days for studying. Put the times on your calendar. Stick to the schedule. (Refer to Time Management).
Complete All Assigned Reading & Assignments (On Time)
There will be things that you are more interested in doing than your assignments and unexpected life happenings that will come up. Students who earn good grades have the motivation and discipline to complete all of their assignments. College courses have a significant amount of assigned reading and it can take a while to become comfortable with the workload. Some students fall behind early in keeping up with the reading requirements, and others fail to read it at all. You will be most prepared for your class and for learning if you complete the reading assigned before your class. Staying on top of your syllabus and class calendar will help you be aware of your reading assignment deadlines. In college, more reading is assigned with the expectation it will be done outside of the classroom. It is a big adjustment students need to make in order to be successful.
Take Notes When You Are Reading
For the same reason as above, it is helpful to take notes while you are reading to maximize memorization. Sometimes called Active Reading, the goal is to stay focused on the material and to be able to refer back to notes made while reading to improve retention and study efficiency. Don’t make the mistake of expecting to remember everything you are reading. Taking notes when reading requires effort and energy. Be willing to do it, and you’ll reap the benefits later.
Proofread and Have Someone Read Your Papers Before You Submit Them
You might be surprised to learn how many students turn in papers with spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors that could have been easily corrected by proofreading out loud, using a spellchecker program, or having someone read your paper. Rereading your paper with fresh eyes and reading out loud can help catch mistakes you may have missed or poorly constructed phrases. You may catch errors when you read aloud that you might not catch when reading your writing. Many schools offer writing centers or tutors who will read your paper and give feedback, make suggestions, and help shape ideas. Take advantage of these services if they are offered. Remember that it is always the student’s responsibility to have papers proofread, not someone else’s.
During Class
Attend Every Class
Attending each and every class requires a lot of self-discipline and motivation. Doing so will help you remain engaged and involved in course topics, provide insight into what your instructor deems most important, allow you to submit work and receive your graded assignments, and give you the opportunity to take quizzes or exams that cannot be made up.
Missing class is a major factor in students dropping courses or receiving poor grades. In addition, students attempting to make up the work from missing class often find it overwhelming. It’s challenging to catch up if we get behind.
Sit Front and Center
Even if your faculty says, “Sit wherever you want — sit where you are most comfortable,” think about where you would want to be if you were to attend a concert for your favorite artist. The answer is most often in front of the stage because the best experience is closest to the band. That’s why front-and-center tickets are the most expensive. There are some reasons sitting in the back works for some students, but you run the risk of sitting behind someone you cannot see over. And if you’re sitting in the back so that you can send text messages without being seen, work on something else, or so you can disengage (not pay attention without the instructor noticing), then you’re sitting in the back for the wrong reasons. Rather than hiding, you want to create the best learning environment, from both a visual and auditory perspective.
Take Notes in Class
Hermann Ebbinghaus, a German psychologist, scientifically studied how people forget in the late 1800’s. He is known for his experiments using himself as a subject and testing his memory by learning nonsense syllables. One of his famous results, known as the forgetting curve, shows how much information is forgotten quickly after it is learned. Without reviewing, we will forget. Since we forget 42% of the information we take in after only 20 minutes (without review), it is imperative to take notes to remember.
Ask Questions
Many students feel like they are the only ones with questions or who don’t understand something in class. Ask questions during class, especially if your instructor encourages them. If not, make an effort to ask your questions before or after class via the preferred method, your instructor’s preferred contact, or during your instructor’s office hours.
Watch Active Study Tools (4 minutes)
After Class
Structuring Your Everyday Study Sessions
It’s easy to put off studying if it’s not something we schedule. Block specific times and days for studying. Put the times on your calendar. Stick to the schedule.
Studying happens every day. It begins after each class or assignment when you review your notes.
You have truly learned material when you can readily recall it and actually use it—on tests or in real-life situations. Effective studying is your most important tool to combat test anxiety, and, more importantly, effective studying helps you to master the material and be able to apply it when needed in school and beyond.
Effective studying is an ongoing process of reviewing course material. To be effective, studying is something you do as part of an ongoing learning process, throughout the duration of the term, not just a few days before an exam.
Studying begins after each class or assignment when you review your notes. Each study session should involve three steps:
- Gather your learning materials. Take time to organize and merge your class notes with your reading notes. Stop and think, how do they complement each other? What do the notes tell you about your material? What aspects of the material are you unsure about? Do you need to reread a part of your text? Write down any questions you have for your instructor and schedule a meeting during office hours. It’s better to get your questions answered soon after you are exposed to the material for two reasons: (1) the question or doubt is fresh in your mind, (2) instructors usually build their lessons on material already presented, so not understanding will cause more confusion as new content is added. If you don’t take these steps now, you are setting yourself up for problems later in the course.
- Apply or visualize. What does this material mean to you? How will you use this new knowledge? Try to find a way to apply it in your own life or thoughts. If you can’t use the knowledge right away, visualize yourself using the knowledge to solve a problem or visualize yourself teaching the material to other students.
- Cement your knowledge. If you use the Cornell note-taking method, cover up the right side of your notes with a piece of paper, leaving the questions in the left column exposed. Test yourself by trying to answer your questions without referring to your notes. How did you do? If you are unsure about anything, look up the answer and write it down right away. Don’t let a wrong answer be the last thing you wrote on a subject, because you will most likely continue to remember the wrong answer. Summarize what you are learning from your combined content, this gives you the opportunity to think through and sort out what you know about a topic which will help you to better understand and remember it.
Studying in Course Units
At the end of each unit, use your notes and textbook to write an outline or summary of the material in your own words. After you have written the summary or outline, go back and reread your outline from the prior unit followed by the one you just wrote. Does the new one build on the earlier one? Do you feel confident you understand the material?
Studying for an Exam
Preparation for an exam should begin on the first day of class, not when the exam is announced or the night before an exam. Review your notes frequently to keep the material fresh in your head. At least a week before a major exam, review what the instructor has mentioned about the exam so far. Ask yourself these questions: What has the instructor said about what is included on the exam? Has the instructor said anything about what types of questions will be included? If you were the instructor, what questions would you ask on an exam? Challenge yourself to come up with some really tough open-ended questions. Think about how you might answer them. Be sure to go to any review sessions the instructor or student support services holds. Take practice exams offered in your textbook and supplemental software.
Now review your course unit outlines, and then re-read the sections of your notes that are most closely associated with expected exam questions. Pay special attention to those items the instructor emphasized during class or suggested might be on the exam. Read key points aloud and write them down on index cards. Make flashcards to review in your downtime, such as when you’re waiting for a bus or for a class to start.
More Tips for Success
- Schedule a consistent study review time for each course at least once a week, in addition to your class and assignment time. Keep to that schedule as rigorously as you do your class schedule. Use your study time to go through the steps outlined earlier; this is not meant to be a substitute for your assignment time. Spacing out your studying consistently over the term—rather than cramming in the week or two ahead of your exams—will have a dramatic effect on your ability to synthesize and memorize what you’re learning.
- Minimize distractions. Turn off your cell phone and get away from social media, television, other nearby activities, and chatty friends or roommates. All of these can cut into the effectiveness of your study efforts. Multitasking and studying don’t mix.
- Get yourself in the right space. Choose to study in a quiet, well-lit space. Your chair should be comfortable but provide good support. Remember that libraries were designed for reading and should be your first option.
- If you will be studying for a long time, take short breaks at least once an hour. Get up, stretch, breathe deeply, go for a short walk, and then get back to work. If you keep up with your daily assignments and schedule weekly review sessions for yourself—and keep them—there should be almost no need for long study sessions.
Study Space
Study In a Location and At a Time That Is Best for You
Some students study best in the morning and some at night. Some excel at a coffee shop, and others at the library. The place and time in which students often study is usually the most convenient for them. Students often find convenient places and times may also be full of distractions and thus are not good choices for them to study. It’s worth the effort to study at the time and place that will be most productive for you. For most students, it is best to turn off the cell phone and TV and to keep off the Internet (and social media) unless it directly relates to your work.
Tips for Effective, Individual Study Spaces
Most students more or less take what they can get when it comes to study areas. Schools usually offer a variety of nooks and crannies for students to hunker down and get their assignments done. The school library is a good (and quiet) place. Many common areas elsewhere on campus have tables, chairs, couches, and lounges to accommodate learners. However, most students end up doing the majority of their out-of-class work at home.
Home environments may be limited in terms of providing all of the recommended aspects of a good study space, but many of the recommendations can be either implemented or adapted from what a student has on hand or what can be improvised no matter what environment he or she is living in. Elements conducive to a more effective study/homework experience include such things as good lighting, ample supplies, comfortable seating, adequate space, and personalizing the study area to add a touch of inspiration and motivation.
Watch the video Study Environment (4 minutes)
Activity: Improving Your Study Space
Think about your current study area at home—the good, the bad, the ugly. Be thorough.
Read what the experts advise in the article How to Make a Study Space. List as many ways you think you can realistically improve, change, (or start over…) your study area. Remember, you might not have the advantage of a whole room, or even a corner of a room, but you can still make some changes to create a more effective study environment. Take notes from the article for each of the “Parts” of an effective study area featured, as well as the “Tips” at the end. Organize your list, titled “How I Could Improve My Study Area,” like this:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Tips:
Key Takeaways
- Success requires before, during, and after class planning.
- Effective studying is an ongoing process throughout the semester, not just before exams.
- Schedule regular study times in your calendar and stick to your schedule.
- Review class notes as soon as you can after class to improve retention.
- Pick a study space and time that is most effective for you.
Chapter Attributions
This chapter was adapted by Michelle Holbrook and Cheryl Colan from: “The Basics of Study Skills” by Leslie Jennings, licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license; from “Studying to Learn” by Liv Marken, licensed under a CC BY NC SA 4.0 license; and from “Studying to Learn (Not Just for Tests)” by University of Saskatchewan, licensed under a CC BY NC SA 4.0 license.
Media Attributions
Active Study Tools by Academic Success Center at Texas A&M University is licensed under the Standard YouTube license.