Study Skills Student Support Services Daytona State College

Know Yourself Know When You Study Best  Know When You Study Best  Are you a morning or night person?  When are you most productive, awake, alert?  Do you let everyone know when it is your time to study so that you will not be disturbed.  Have you formed a habit of studying the same time each day?

Know Yourself cont.. Know Where You Study Best.  Know Where You Study Best. –Consider these distractions T.V.T.V. TalkingTalking WindowsWindows MusicMusic People Walking byPeople Walking by TelephoneTelephone Family and FriendsFamily and Friends

Quiet Please  Choose a place to study that is free of distractions.  This may be the library, the Academic Support Center, your own bedroom.  Be sure the environment you are studying in is comfortable.  Avoid studying in bed…you may just fall asleep.

Ready…Set…Study!!  Gather All Materials Needed. –Reference books –Writing Tools –Tests –Class Notes –Folders, Notebooks –Assignment(s)  Set Your Mind to Study.  Intend to have focused, effective study time.  Set realistic goals  Strive for quality as well as quantity  Strive for quality as well as quantity.

Ready…Set…Study  Map out a time line  For long-range assignments set short range goals.  Short-range “chunks” of work are easier to focus on and handle.  Divide time between subjects.  Study the hardest subjects first while your mind is fresh.  Leave routine and less difficult tasks for last.

Ready…Set…Study  Review familiar material first. –Titles/subtitles –Boldface type –Vocabulary Words –Review questions –Class notes/handouts

Apply It!  Apply knowledge of how you learn to warm up and study. –Write things Vocabulary wordsVocabulary words ListsLists DefinitionsDefinitions Diagrams/ChartsDiagrams/Charts –Make a tape of things to memorize –Write important information on 3 x 5 index cards to review at anytime

Break Time!  Take a Break!  Take a 5-10 minute break for every 45 minutes of study.  Take a short break between topics. –Do something physical –Get something to eat –Walk

Study Tips Break It Down! Break Down To Study for a Test Chapter One Sunday Night Review all 4 Chapters Thursday Night Chapter Two Monday Night TEST! Friday Chapter Three Tuesday Night Chapter Four Wednesday Night

I Can Not Remember It All!  It is less tiring to “spread out” study periods rather than to “cram.”  Too many ideas at one time are confusing.  The human brain can successfully process 6-7 ideas during one time period and maintain good retention of the information if enough repetition is used.  Good grades most often are lost due to lack of organization rather than a lack of information.

Repetition, Repetition, Repetition  Repetition is the key.  The more you review your book, notes, handouts, etc. the more likely the information will be retained.  You must review often so the information can be moved from short- term to long-term memory.  This is when true learning takes place.

Quiz Questions (Please answer the quiz questions and give a copy of the answers to a SSS staff member) 1. What should you know about yourself before you start to study? 2. Where do you study best? 3. What are common distractions when studying? How can you avoid them? 4. What materials should you have before you start to study? 5. What should you study first; difficult or less difficult material? 6. What material should you review first? 7. What is the benefit of index cards and other study aids? 8. Should you take breaks when studying? If so, how long and when should you take a break? 9. Why can cramming for a test lead to failure? 10. Why is repetition important?