STUDY STRATEGIES

Stress!

Many college students complain about too much stress. Some activities of a student are stressful: class discussions, presenting the first speech, and taking tests to name a few. Can learning take place without stress? I don't think so, but I do think that good study techniques and wise use of time in combination with some stress can help you become a better student.

Organized study is better than just studying. The following suggestions should be helpful to you in enhancing your study time.

Place

You should find a quiet place that can be made into your study space. It can be at home, here at Wayne, or at a public library. You should have a desk or table and all material you may need for studying.  In addition to pencils and your book you will want a current dictionary, calculator, paper, index cards, and a clock. A study space allows you to leave your books open and take short breaks.

Recitation, Mnemonic Devices, & Practice

The more physical senses you use in learning, the stronger the neural trace in your brain. The physical activity of thinking, pronouncing, and even hearing your own words involves not only your mind, but also your body in the process of learning. Recitation is a key way to increase the neural trace in your brain. Some students find mnemonic devices helpful. These are easily remembered words, phrases, sentences, or rhymes that are associated with difficult-to-remember principles or facts. An example used by biology students is the sentence; Kings Play Cards On Fairly Good Soft Velvet. The first letters of the words stand for kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species, and variety. You can make up your own mnemonics whenever you are having trouble remembering a list or principle.

Distributed practice allows you to learn more in less time. It uses small blocks of time for review rather than marathon sessions.

Study Time

Use daylight hours. Research shows that each hour used for study during the day is equal to one and a half hours at night. For a course in which you recite and discuss, it is an advantage to study just before class. The material will be fresh in your mind.

For a lecture course, retention and understanding are aided by a review of your lecture notes immediately after class.

Plan and organize your study time! The Learning Center has 5 x 8 inch cards that have a weekly time schedule on it. This allows you to schedule your class and study time in one format. Stop in and pick up two - one for you, and one for your family.

These are only a few of the many study techniques and time budgeting tips available to enhance your educational opportunities at Wayne College. Further information is available in The Learning Center, Room B-104. See you there!