Visual Study Strategies

STUDY STRATEGIESSALT Center

Workshop1010 N. Highland Ave. Tucson, AZ 85721

(520) 621-1242

Source: Mary Beth Foster

Planning Reading/Notes Memorization

Motivation

Planning Reading/Notes Memorization

Motivation

Creating a Study Plan

29 30Reorg. Class Notes

May 1Review Ch. 8 & add notes

2Review Ch. 9 & add notes

3Review Ch. 10 & add notes

4 5Rewrite Notes & Make FlashCards

6Review Handouts Wkshts

7CreatePractice Test

8Review

All

9Review All

10History Test

11 12

Mark up those Margins

Think in ink while you read

Assign special colors to emphasize certain pts.

Use Stickies

Color Code Notes to Text

Use different highlighter colors for different topics in the textbook readings

Match those colors & highlight corresponding passages in your lecture notes

Visual understanding -- Notes

Reorganize notesOn bottom half of paper

Create graphics Use arrows, Use webs

Use boxes, circles, BIGPrint, highlighters, colors, etc.

During class take notes on top half of paper

Piece your reading together like a Jigsaw puzzle

Select a reading passage that describes the order in which something occurs

Study the passage Clip apart sentences in the passage (use

printed material or copied textbook pages) Scramble Reassemble in order

Memorization

SightSoundSmell

Use Your S-Senses

Visual Imagery (Sight)

Use drawings or pictures to create memorable visual associationsExample From Nutrition ClassKeratinization:Vitamin A deficiency

symptom - Bumpy Skin

Use Google Image Searching

Examples for Biology or Psychology class:

Make it unusual&

Vivid

Superior -

Huron –

Michigan -

Erie-

Ontario-

Superior -

Huron –

Michigan -

Erie-

Ontario-

Super

Horse

Must

Eat

Oats

Mnemonics (Memory Aids)To remember the Great Lakes in order of size

(water surface area)

Creating FlashCards

Term on one side Flip side to include

– Definition– Concept– Example– Memory trigger (visual

image, mnemonic device, etc.)

Use Colored Flash Cards

Tips: Assign colors that correspond to the terms being studied

Chemistry Examples: Acids might get red, bases might get blue

Nutrition: Different colors for fats, sugars, proteins Spanish: Blue for masculine words, pink for femin.

How to Use Flash Cards

1)Term to definition2)Flip3)Definition to Term4)Shuffle

Create a Jingle (sound) Neurotransmitter: “Low acetylcholine

levels can cause problems with memory, emotions, and language.”Source: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/genet.html

Old Macdonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-OAnd on his farm he had a cow,

E-I-E-I-OWith a "moo-moo" here and a "moo-moo" thereHere a "moo" there a "moo"Everywhere a "moo-moo"Old Macdonald had a farm,

E-I-E-I-O

Music - http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/mcdonald.htm

Neurotransmitters (sung to the tune of "Old MacDonald“)

My brain had a neurotransmitterB-R-A-I-NAcetylcholine in my brainB-R-A-I-N

with a feeling hereAnd a memory thereHere a word, there a memoryEverything you think, thinkMy brain had a neurotransmitter

B-R-A-I-N

Memorable Aromas (Smell)

Peppermint or Cinnamon GumStudies link these to higher performance on memory tests

Possible Reasons: Increased Sugar levels Chewing activity stimulates heart rate & increases focus Aroma opens pathways in brain Association (stimulates associative memory if used while

studying and while testing)

Motivation to Study or Study Limbo

Study Limbo(a time stretching study exercise)

Name something (other than schoolwork) that you push yourself to excel at? ____________________________________________________

Examples: a sport, a hobby, an art, an instrument, etc.

If you don’t have one, think of one you wish you could pursue & imagine the goals you would have to set to become accomplished at this activity.

Limbo Goals Write down small goals you

set for yourself during practices that keep you striving to work harder & longer.

_____________________

_____________________

_____________________

_____________________

Examples: A limbo artist might tell

himself, one more time. Bend the knees more.

A piano player might say repeat this line 5 times without any mistakes.

A puzzle enthusiast might promise not to quit until 10 more pieces are placed.

A runner might say just 1 more lap, & then after that might add ½ lap.

Encouragement

Add some of the comments you say to encourage yourself.

___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

Reflect

How can you set similar goals when studying?

What are things you can say to yourself to help push you to study longer and more effectively?

Visualize

Visualize yourself as you study as being the runner, the piano player, the limbo artist (whatever you chose above).

Stretch your goals by repeating the goals and comments you made above.

Example: “I’m running a long race. I’ve got to push myself. Just one more lap, just one more page, just one more sentence, just one more...