STUDYING:How did you learn how to study?

Created by: Deborah WellsNovember 30, 2011

CI 551Final Project

Central QuestionWhat strategies and approaches to studying enhance student learning?

1. What are successful test taking strategies in general?

2. What are successful test taking strategies to prepare students for objective tests?

3. What are successful strategies to prepare students for essay tests?

4. How can a teacher assist students to manage resources to prepare for tests?

Improving your Study SkillsHow can you improve your study skills? Start by asking yourself the question,

"Who am I?”

It may sound like a simple question but, according to some experts, knowing yourself – sometimes called "intrapersonal intelligence" – is just as important to your success in school as your ability in math or language.

Find your "study style"

Improve your study skills by defining your study preferences. Do you study best when curled up on a comfy chair, or do you fall asleep? Do you like a bustling study environment, or are you easily distracted? When do you study best – early morning, during the day, or late at night? All these factors are important in determining the best study routine for you.

Get Started

Strategies for success

The following five strategies can help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of your study skills, and how you can get the most out of you study time.

Ask yourself: Am I the type who dives right in, or is getting started the most difficult part of any task? An effective way of beginning an assignment is to break it into smaller parts. For example, if you have four chapters to read, start with only one or two chapters in the first session.

Once you've broken the assignment down this way, your first task is more manageable and you'll find it easier to begin. After that, schedule as many sessions as necessary to complete the entire assignment. Knowing that part of the assignment is already completed will make it easier for you overall.

Time Management

Do you use your time well? The key to time management is planning. Map out study sessions in writing, so that you can see how much needs to be accomplished in an allotted study time.

To manage your time successfully, you need to see the study plan – much like a builder needs to see the blueprints for a building. Using a calendar or a day planner can be helpful for this purpose. In addition, schedule study sessions in time slots that fit your study habits; for example, every day after school, or every evening after dinner.

Organize Assignments

Are you the organized type? If not, you could try using a color-coded folder for each area to be studied (e.g., a red folder for English, a green folder for social studies, etc.). All loose notes and materials related to that subject area should be placed in the folder regularly, so that when it's time to study, you'll be prepared.

Take Notes

Do you have trouble taking notes? Trying to write down a teacher's speech word-for-word is nearly impossible and infinitely frustrating.

Instead, pick out key words and phrases; this will help you learn to summarize your thoughts.

Think of each note-taking session as if you are creating the skeleton or the frame of the area covered. The skeleton still needs to be "fleshed out", however, in order to provide a full picture. You can do this by going back and adding more details to your notes after each session.

Taking NotesNotes are summaries of the main ideas and key details that the teacher wants you to understand and remember. Effective note-taking organizes these summaries so that they can easily be reviewed and practiced. Here are a few key ingredients to effective note-taking:

1. Listen to or read the complete thought. Don’t write something down until you understand it.

2. Learn the signals that your teacher and textbook use to stress main ideas and key details. Some of these signals may be the following:

•repeating key points•raising the voice to emphasize key points•spelling key terms•speaking slowly•writing key points down•using phrases such as “key to” “most importantly” “main idea” “in

conclusion”•using transition words such as “first” “next” “finally”

Taking Notes (cont’d)3. Don’t write down everything that the teacher or textbook says. Be selective. If you already know it, don’t write it down.

4. Use your own “shorthand” symbols and abbreviations. Think text messaging!

5. Ask questions about main ideas and key details that you don’t understand.

6. Use a note-taking organizational pattern that fits with the information being presented. A one-size-fits-all note-taking format is not the best approach. Use different formats for different organizational patterns and purposes.

Review Material

Do you avoid reviewing material until right before the test? This is a bad idea. No other study skill is more important than reviewing, which you should do at least three times before a test.

First, review as soon as possible after your first contact with the subject matter – immediately after class or after school, for example.

This session will reinforce the material that is still fresh in your mind. At regular intervals afterward – weekly, monthly, or whenever your schedule permits – review the material again.

Then, immediately before a test, review the material once more. Repeated contact with the material will help you know it inside and out.

A.S.P.I.R.EA Study Skill

A: Approach/attitude/arrangeApproach your studies with a positive attitudeArrange your schedule to eliminate distractions

S: Select/survey/scanSelect a reasonable chunk of material to studySurvey the headings, graphics, pre- and post questions to get an overviewScan the text for keywords and vocabulary: mark what you don’t understand

P: Piece together the parts:Put aside your books and notesPiece together what you've studied,either alone, with a study pal or group:summarize what you understand.

I: Investigate/inquire/inspect:Investigate alternative sources of information you can refer to:other text books, websites, experts, tutors, etc.Inquire from support professionals (academic support, librarians, tutors, teachers, experts,) and other resources for assistance Inspect what you did not understand.

A.S.P.I.R.E(cont’d)

R: Reexamine/reflect/relayReexamine the content | Reflect on the material | Relay understanding

Reexamine: What questions are there yet to ask? Is there something I am missing? Reflect: How can I apply this to my project? Is there a new application for it? Relay: Can I explain this to my fellow students? Will they understand it better if I do?

E: Evaluate/examine/explore: Evaluate your grades on tests and tasks: look for a pattern Examine your progress: toward achieving your goalsExplore options: with a teacher, support professional, tutor, parent if you are not satisfied.

Ever Feel Like This?

Multiple Intelligence Theory

• According to Howard Gardner, human beings have nine different kinds of intelligence that reflect different ways of interacting with the world. Each person has a unique combination, or profile. Although we each have all nine intelligences, no two individuals have them in the same exact configuration -- similar to our fingerprints.

The Visual Learner

Recognizing your preferred learning style is key in finding out how best to study and revise. A few simple changes to your studying routine that fits with they way you learn can make an enormous difference to your rate of success.

Visual learners learn things they see: they prefer written reports, like pictures and diagrams, take copious amounts of notes and make endless lists. If you recognize yourself here, then these study tips will help.

If you're still not sure of your learning style, take a look at the article called ‘What’s Your Learning Style?’ that can be found on this site.

Study TipsVisual Learner

In class, sit near the front so you have a clear view of the teacher or lecturer. Facial expressions are very important to visual learners, and any visual aids used in the lesson will also be vital to remembering. Do approach your teacher at the end of the lesson if there is anything you are unclear about; simply having a one-to-one conversation, and therefore a clearer view of their face and expressions, may be the switch you need to understand.

Take lots of notes and write down any explanations. You will not retain anything you hear for long without writing it down. Look carefully at any pictures or diagrams shown to you, and copy them if there is time. After class, make yourself some flashcards, use graph paper to make diagrams and use different color highlighters to color-code your notes. This process of reproducing the information you are given will help to imprint it on the memory. Organize your work, rewrite, and reorganize; continually looking at and reproducing the work, as well as making it neat and tidy, will help reinforce the points you are trying to learn.

Linguistic LearnerStudy Tips

Take a lot of notes.

Read through the information plenty of times.

Look through dictionaries, encyclopedias and the internet to find out more about a term or topic they don't understand.

Write a story to help them remember.

When studying graphs or charts, they should put them into words first to help them understand better

Study Tips for Visual Learner (cont’d)

Make mind-maps, flow diagrams and time-lines – depending on the subject you are studying – to help make the information more visually pleasing. Also, re-creating the material in a variety of different visual formats helps to assimilate and process new ideas and facts. Do participate in class discussions, as your tendency is to switch off during verbal interaction. By forcing yourself to take part, you will be less likely to miss any important information – which you will then, of course, write down!

Try and visualize pictures to go with information you are trying to remember. This can be especially useful in learning foreign language vocabulary. For example, I still picture a cat eating a cake every time I say the Spanish for word cat – gato (gateau).

Find a suitable place to study. As you need to focus solely on visual information in front of you, try your best to shut out any other form of stimulation. A library cubicle is ideal as it is quiet and no other visual distractions will catch your attention. Do not study with music or the TV on in the background. If necessary, use noise-reducing earplugs to cut out any outside noise.

Test taking tipsStudy Tips

Tests are a way for you and your teacher to measure how well you have learned the material covered by the class. Think of them as a challenge! Here are some tips for studying for tests.

Before the TestBe sure to find out the following details ahead of time.

• what material the test will cover• what type of test it will be (multiple choice, true false, short answer, essay)• how the test will be graded• how much the test will count toward the final grade

•Study in a place that is free of distractions. Have ready all the things you will need, such as paper, pens, or a calculator.

•Study at a time when you are alert and not hungry or sleepy.

•Don't wait until the last minute to study! Short daily study sessions are better than one long session the night before the test.

Before the Test (cont’d)

•Set a goal for each study period. If you are being tested on three chapters, set up four study sessions, one for each chapter and one for a review of the main ideas in all three chapters.

•Repetition is key! Read and reread your class notes and the relevant chapters in the textbook.

•While you are reviewing your notes, cover them up periodically and summarize them out loud. Pretend that you are explaining the material to someone else.

•Create your own study aids. Make an outline from your notes of just the main ideas.

Make a timeline of important dates or the order of events. Make flashcards for studying vocabulary or events and important dates. Make up your own quiz or test based on your notes and have a friend, parent or sibling test you.

http://www.easynotecards.com/

Before the Test (Cont’d)

•Do any practice exams or study sheets provided by the teacher. These will help you focus your study session and give you confidence.

•Get help from the teacher if you do not understand something.

During the Test

• Read the instructions carefully. Ask the teacher if you are unsure about anything.

• Read the entire test through before starting. This will help you pace yourself.

• Answer the easiest questions first.

• Leave the most time for questions that have the highest point value or require a lot of writing.

• Do only what you are required to do. Don't waste time doing things that you will not receive credit for, such as copying test questions onto your paper.

• Write clearly.

• Leave time to check over your answers.

Testing and Time LimitsWhen taking the test, time limits tend to effect the outcomes on both males and females. One study showed that while it is possible that time limits can affect the scores of all test takers, some have suggested that such limits differentially affect female and minority test takers. Some claim that the “fast-paced or speeded nature” of the SAT puts female test takers at a disadvantage on certain test sections because they approach problem-solving differently than their male counterparts-female test takers, they say, are more likely to work problems out completely, to consider more than one possible answer and to check their work.

Affects Time has on Standardized Test Results

Sample Sizes, Means, and Standard Deviations for Research GRE Quantitative Scores Timing condition Statistic Standard (45 min.) Extended (68 min.) Difference

N 3,904 3,749 M 664 671 7 SD 125 121

Table 2 Sample Sizes, Means, and Standard Deviations for Research GRE Verbal Scores Timing condition Statistic Standard (30 min.) Extended (45 min.) Difference

N 4,197 4,098 M 454 461 7 SD 122 120

After the Test

• When the test is returned, read the teacher's comments carefully and try to learn from your mistakes.

• Save tests for later review for end-of-term tests.

How to Answer Multiple Choice QuestionsEmphasize that multiple choice tests are not multiple choice guess tests. Teach students to choose not Guess on multiple choices. (This requires problem solving skills.)

When offered “multiple choices” anticipate the most correct answer before reading available choices.

Then look for the best answer among those provided. If all the choices appear to be correct, select most correct answer by eliminating wrong answers.

Develop reasons why the other answers are wrong. (Again, students should mark and return to these most difficult questions after answering the more obvious questions.)

Teacher might effectively demonstrate or model the technique using examples

Answering Essay Questions

The principal strength seems to be that essay tests can tap higher mental processes such as creativity, critical thinking and evaluative skills. The usual recommendation of test experts is to use essay tests to supplement objective tests and only when higher mental processes are to be measured.

When students answer essay questions, the administrator/teacher is measuring the ability of the student to come up with reasoned opinion based on data available to him or her.

Conclusion

There are many components that go into test preparation. Studying doesn’t begin the night before the test. Many students think they can cram four weeks of information into one night. Granted, some students can, but on average it is not effective for most students. Studying begins with a positive attitude and a plan of action. Taking notes throughout the unit of study and reviewing material daily throughout the unit.

The night before the test should be a simple review and clearing your mind for the test the next day. Not all students study the same way that is why it is important to learn early in school “how” one studies best and develop excellent study habits.

Bibliography

Aspire. Retrieved from http://www.studygs.net/aspire.htm

Bridgeman, B., McBride, A., & Monaghan, W. (2004). Testing and Time Limits. ETS R&D Connections. Educational Testing Services, 6.

Easy Note Cards; Study Smarter (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.easynotecards.com/

Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory.http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/education/ed_mi_overview.html

Pennington, M. (2010, August 15). Free resources for teaching study skills. Retrieved from http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/study_skills/free-resources-for-teaching-study-skills/

Rubenzer, R. (2002). Scoring best on all life's tests--by using your "whole brain.". Gifted Child Quarterly, 23(1), 78-100.

Study tips for Visual Learners. Retrieved Fromhttp://edufire.com/content/articles/86-study-tips-for-visual-learners

Study tips for Linguistic Learners. Retrieved fromhttp://www.parent24.com/School_7-12/development_behaviour/Study-tips-for-linguistic-learners-20090506