Study Skills 101 Carrie E. Love, BSN, RN Academic Support Coordinator, CSON Get Organized! • Develop a comprehensive schedule/calendar for school, work, family and “me” time. • Create a daily To Do list. • Review your calendar and To Do list for a couple minutes in the morning and evening. Update it as necessary. • Put your notes in a secure place, like a binder with dividers, so you’ll be able to find what you need quickly. Manage Your Time Well • Assess your time management skills by looking at your usual schedule & looking for any “wasted” time that you could repurpose. • Prioritize & delegate—do the most important tasks first and get help where you are able. • Don’t expect perfection. No one is perfect! Developing Good Study Habits • Research shows it’s best to study at least 6-8 hours per week for each class. • Study in small chunks of time. Know what your learning style is and study based on how you learn best. • To retain the most information, study a little bit every day. • Always carry a set of notes wherever you go; you never know when you’ll be in a line or waiting room and you can take a few minutes to study! • Avoid distractions. Study Methods • Read your textbook…but do it efficiently! • Make flashcards or use an app like Quizlet. • Highlight important concepts in your textbook or make notes while reading. *Caution: Do not make flashcards for every slide on your PowerPoints or highlight an entire textbook page. A good rule of thumb is to make flashcards or highlight concepts you are still struggling to understand, not the concepts you understand well. Study Methods (cont.) • Use mnemonics or funny phrases to help you remember information. • Read out loud. • Form a study group with your classmates. .28 • Create a study guide out of your lesson plan. *Start this early. It’s not helpful to start on it a few days before the exam, because you spend more time making it, than studying it. • Review your notes the same day you take them (the afternoon/evening after class, work or after you’ve had time to decompress or eat). Test-taking Tips: Before • Develop good study habits & manage your time efficiently. • Go to all your classes and study labs. • Eat a good dinner and get plenty of sleep the night before. • Clarify with your instructor any questions you have about material that will be on the test. • Gather all supplies you will need the night before. Test-taking Tips: The Day of/During • Leave your house earlier than normal to avoid traffic, car trouble, etc. • Read all instructions carefully and fill out the information on your scantron before starting the test. • Do a “brain-dump” when you get your test. I.e., write down any information at the forefront of your mind that you may forget during the exam. • Make sure to read each word of the question & answers. • Pace yourself. Use your time wisely. Test-taking Tips: After • Go to any in-class test reviews offered. • Set up a time to meet with your professor to review your test in-person. • Analyze your strengths & weaknesses so you can improve on future exams. Managing Test Anxiety • Focus on the positive. You can do this! • Avoid negativity. • Make time for some fun & relaxation. Put it in your calendar! • Try not to rush or panic. Take a few deep breaths. Mentally tell yourself to “stop” if you’re feeling panicked or find your mind wandering. • Reward yourself for your accomplishments. Ask for help if you need it! Call the LMU Counseling Office at (423) 869-6277 Monday-Friday 8a-4:30p to speak with an attendant. Most Important… • Seek extra help as soon as you identify a problem or if your grade is suffering! • Tutoring is available for: • Course content & concepts • Clinical skills/SIM Lab support • Math/dosage calculation • Study skills • Note-taking • Test-taking skills • Tips for test anxiety • Time management/organization Contact Information: Carrie Love, BSN, RN (Academic Support Coordinator) email: Carroll.Love@LMUnet.edu phone: (865) 531-4149 Tagge Center webpage: https://www.lmunet.edu/academics/academic-and-studentservices/academic-support/tagge-center-for-academic-support/ phone: (423) 869-6080 Useful Links • Hourly Schedule Template: http://www.concordia.ca/content/dam/concordia/offices/cdev/docs/timemanagement/finding_time_study_grid.pdf • Time Management Quiz: https://www.ucc.vt.edu/academic_support/online_study_skills_workshops/Copy_1_of_Time_Management_Quiz.html • Exercise on Finding Time to Study: http://www.studygs.net/schedule/weekly.htm • Time Management for Right-Brained People: http://lsc.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Time-Managment-forRight-Brained-People.pdf • Learning Style Quiz: http://vark-learn.com/the-vark questionnaire/?p=questionnaire • Study Tips for Your Learning Style: http://www.lonestar.edu/23203.htm • Study Environment Analysis: https://www.avc.edu/sites/default/files/studentservices/lc/StudyEnvironmentAnalysis.pdf • 20 Strategies to Stop Procrastinating: http://www.concordia.ca/content/dam/concordia/offices/cdev/docs/timemanagement/20_strategies_stop_procrastinating.pdf • Exam Prep Self-Assessment: https://thinktank.arizona.edu/sites/thinktank.arizona.edu/files/files/pdfs/Exam%20Prep%20Self%20Assessment%20fall%202 013.pdf • Balancing School & Kids: https://asc.calpoly.edu/ssl/balanceschoolkids • Studying with ADHD: http://www.studygs.net/adhd/index.htm References California Polytechnic State University (n.d.). Academic skills center: Study strategies library. Retrieved June 17, 2019, from https://asc.calpoly.edu/ Dartmouth College (n.d.). Academic skills center: Learning resources. Retrieved June 17, 2019, from https://students.dartmouth.edu/academic-skills/learning-resources/learning-strategies How to Study.org (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.howtostudy.org/index.php Landsberger, J. (n.d.). Study guides and strategies. Retrieved from http://www.studygs.net/ Lincoln Memorial University (n.d.). Academic support resources: Study skills sites. Retrieved June 17, 2019, from https://www.lmunet.edu/academics/academic-and-student-services/academic-support/academic-support-resources.php Test Taking Central (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.testtakingcentral.com/ University of Waterloo Student Success Office (n.d.). The curve of forgetting [PDF file]. Retrieved June 17, 2019, from https://uwaterloo.ca/student-success/sites/ca.student-success/files/uploads/files/1038_tipsheet_thecurveofforgetting.pdf
