You've been out of the classroom for a while, so your study skills may
no longer make the grade. But before you get down on yourself, remember:
It's not necessarily a reflection of your intelligence... even the
smartest students struggle as they work their way back into the school
groove.
If you're an adult student preparing to go back to college, consider
these seven tips to make sure your study skills are up to snuff.
1. Take a "sooner rather than later" mentality.
Juggling a career, family, and other activities since the last time you
were in school may have made you a pro at time management. So put those
skills to use when studying, which can help you avoid pulling the
dreaded all-nighter. Designate specific blocks of time throughout the
week to studying, advises Lynne Sarikas, executive director of the MBA
Career Center at Northeastern University in Boston.
2. Break it up.
Dividing your study time into smaller sessions over a prolonged period
of time will improve your odds of retaining the material when tested,
says Larry Chiagouris, professor of marketing at Pace University in New
York.
Vincent Miskell, area chair for humanities at University of Phoenix,
South Florida, suggests this strategy: If you have an assignment due on
Thursday, begin working on it, bit by bit, a week ahead of time.
"Normally, adults cannot pull all-nighters to finish a paper or
assignment, so they need to spread their efforts out during the week,"
he says. Start with thinking about your topic the Friday before, even
when you're doing non-school tasks such as washing the dishes. Over the
weekend, start researching and writing notes, with enough ideas to write
a first draft by Sunday night. On Monday, you can revise the draft and
add new research for a new version on Tuesday. You will be ready to
finalize the paper on Wednesday and turn it in the next day.
3. Carry it around.
Put your new backpack or tote bag to use. Take your textbooks, notes,
or an e-reader or iPad with reading and assignments wherever you go. If
there is downtime, turn that into study time, Miskell says. In those
15-30 minutes you're waiting to pick up your kids from school, or for
soccer practice to end, or for dinner to cook, slip in some required
reading or work on an assignment.
4. Take an active role in studying.
We're not talking about hopping on the treadmill with your textbook in
hand. Instead, don't just passively read or listen to a lecture online.
Develop a set of questions (or read those at the end of the chapter) so
you know what to look for when absorbing the assignment. To get even
more out of your study session, write out the questions and answers,
says Amy Copeland, owner of A Quantum Leap Educational Services, based
in Jacksonville, Fla. She adds that if you learn visually, draw a model,
create a chart, or use an illustration to grasp complex topics, which
will give you a visual aid for test time. Anticipating test questions
while reading can make your study time more purposeful and directed,
adds Pam Rose, director of the Learning Center at The College of Wooster
in Wooster, Ohio.
5. Jot it down.
After finishing your assigned reading for the day or week, open a
document on your computer or phone and make a file of notes or quotes
that you have just read. Leah Hanes, a Ph.D. student at Antioch
University, Los Angeles, says it's a great way to get a head start on
studying for future assignments. "By the time I begin my 30-page paper, I
often have 10 pages of notes on my topic," she says.
6. Get with a group.
Joining a group of students who study together, or pairing up with one
more person can help you stay on track and comprehend difficult
concepts. Share email, IM, Twitter, and Facebook connections with
classmates so you can ask each other questions, Sarikas says.
7. Give yourself a break.
After an hour of intense studying, take a two-minute break. Stand up
and walk around, which can clear your head, says Chiagouris, author of
The Secret to Getting a Job After College. Or let your body give you the
cue: If you find yourself turning the pages and not remembering
anything you've read, it's time for a break, Rose says. Recharge your
brain batteries by blocking out some time for yourself or with family
and friends, Sarikas says. "When the homework for the week is done,
celebrate and do something you enjoy," she says.
0 comments:
Post a Comment