Student Academic Success Center





Academic Major Evaluation
Academic Achievement Plan
Personalized tutoring.
Test preparation in the HESI,
THEA, ACCUPLACER, and
GRE.
Location:


J.B. Coleman Library, Suite 306.
Phone: (936) 474-3176
Hours:

Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to5:00 p.m.
www.pvamu.edu/compass
email compass@pvamu.edu
How to Get the Most Out of
Studying
Dionna Smith
Active Learning
Note
Taking
Memory
Techniques
Reading
Information
Processing
Participating
Critical
Thinking
Learning
Style
How the Brain Retains
Information
How Memory Works
You remember approx:
 10% of what you read
 20% of what you hear
 30% of what you see
 50% of what you hear and see together
 70% of what you say
 90% of what you do
Memory Quiz Question
This in class workshop is sponsored
by the
Student Academic Success Center (SASC)
Basic Study Guidelines:
1. Designate a place for study and study only!
2. You must develop a habit of studying when you are in
this place.
3. Eliminate distractions; turn off cell phone and television
4. Break your work into small segments and create short
goals for each section.
a. Set specific goals – Example: I will study for one
hour a day for each class.
b. Specify what you will do – Example: I will read
chapter 3; I will create an outline for my paper, etc.
Set a goal that you can reach!
Note-taking in Class
Listen actively
Raise questions if appropriate.
Develop and use a standard
method of note-taking including
punctuation, abbreviations,
margins, etc.
Use a large notebook to take
notes to adequately indent and
use an outline form.
Leave a few spaces between
points so you can fill in additional
points later if necessary.
It is impossible to take down
everything the lecturer says so
spend time listening and take
down the main points.
Listen for CUES from the lecturer to
know when to write down important
points, transition from one point to
the next, repetition of points for
emphasis, changes in voice
inflections, enumeration of a series of
points, etc.
Most lecturers present a few major
points and several minor points in a
lecture. The rest are examples to
explain the material. Look for the
main points so you don’t waste time
on minor points.
Sit close to the front of the class to
avoid distractions .
FOCUS on understanding the material
and ask questions if you're not sure.
Why Is It Important to Edit Your
Notes?
There are many benefits to organizing and reviewing your
notes as soon as possible after a lecture:
 Because the information is still fresh in your mind, you
can write down other things you remember that you did
not have time to write during the lecture.
 You can discover what part of the lecture that was
unclear so you can ask the instructor or a classmate.
 You will remember more sooner than later. Unless you
review your notes within 24 hours; your retention will
decrease and you will be relearning rather than
reviewing.
Memory Question
The acroynmn for
Student Academic Success
Center
is
SASC
Retaining Information
Utilize multiple parts of the brain.
Storage and Retrieval
Utilize multiple parts of the brain.
Information is easier to retrieve when it is stored in
multiple parts of the brain.
Mnemonics




Sentence
Word
Drawing
Jingles/Rap
Memory Question
The acroynmn for
Student Academic Success
Center
is
SASC
Facts for Auditory Learners
You learn from hearing information through
audio tapes, your own voice, or lectures.








Use your own voice to assist in the learning process.
Read your notes or your textbook aloud to help you.
Try to sit near the front of the room. It will be easier for
you to hear your instructor.
When studying new information, create rhyming jingles.
Read out loud and restate main ideas to yourself as you
read material.
When reading or studying difficult material, summarize in
your own words what you have just read.
When working with math, learn by saying the problems
aloud. Then explain the concepts to yourself aloud.
Read an essay or paragraph you have written into a tape
recorder and then play it back. Then, revise your paper.
Facts for Visual Learners
You learn best by seeing information
through print, graphics, videos, or charts.









Make lists, write notes, and draw pictures.
Read the textbook before attending your lecture class.
Try to visualize how the information looks like on your page.
Preview your chapters by reading the headings, subheadings, and
outlines before reading the chapter. Underline and/or highlight them.
Draw a diagram or picture. Make a list. Use mapping. Make a chart to
help you retain information.
For vocabulary, use sight words, flashcards, and other visual aides.
In math, write the problem, visualize the problem, and make mind
pictures or tally marks on scratch paper.
Recopy notes.
Use a computer so that you can see the words you are thinking.
Facts for Kinesthetic Learners
You learn best by doing. The more you are involved
with the material, the easier it is for you to learn.









When possible, perform projects and experiments.
Write information down on paper.
Walk or ride a stationary bike as you learn or review material
Take notes and go back over them. Make special marks for
important material/s that you will need to review.
When working on difficult or confusing material, answer practice
questions in writing.
Tap your finger or move your foot as you listen to a lecture.
Draw a chart or diagram to help with difficult material.
Make and use study cards
In math, use objects, such as toothpicks or blocks, to solve
problems.
Review Questions
What does SASC stand for?
Review Questions
What does SASC stand for?
Ways to Retain Information and
Place it into






Attention
Interest
Selection
Understanding
Build background
Organization





Recitation
Notetaking
Review
Overlearning
Sleeping over it
Connect Information

Learn new information by making
connections.

Build upon what you already know.
Tips on Retention
261-1040
261-1040
261-1040
Study with others
Tell or teach
someone else
Repeat information *
Relate info to what you already know
Information Processing
Problems

Forgetting
Disuse
 Don’t Need or defensive forgetting
 Too much information to process
 Blocking

Learning information incorrectly
 Changing Cues
 Interference: Ex12

Weekly Flow Chart for Studying
Pre-read Text
And develop questions
Take notes
Go to class
Ask questions
in class
Review and edit notes
same day as lecture
Ask yourself
questions
Ask questions
of instructor
Read text selectively
Do homework
Review and integrate
Outline major
concepts
Review Questions
What does SASC stand for?
THE END
Identify Key Words, Themes
and Main Points




Often these are the ideas that the instructor repeats,
highlights, or illustrates with examples.
Usually courses have their own set of unique and
topic-specific terms.
Be sure to listen for new words and phrases and learn
their meaning in the context of the information being
presented.
Try to identify the broader picture or context to which
the material relates—even if your instructor doesn’t
specifically present it to you.
Listen for Clues


Note when a topic comes up more than once.
Transition speech signals the change of topics or
emergence of new key points:






“compare and contrast”
“specific dates”
“in addition”
“this will be on the next exam”
Lists usually signify important material that is easy
to test.
Instructors are most likely to test on ideas they
consider exciting, so listen for special enthusiasm.
Connect Ideas
 Paraphrase
what you hear
 Relate key ideas to what you already
know
 Make a note of unknown words
 Get involved
Develop Your Style


Successful students take good notes.
A successful note-taking strategy reflects:





the complexity of the course content
the lecturer’s style
your own learning preferences
Use any strategy that will help the key ideas
stand out for you.
Don’t take down every word in a lecture.
Master Note-Taking
Strategies






Identify the Session
Clearly
Reduce to Key Ideas
Take Notes from All
Relevant Input
Don’t Erase Mistakes
Use Abbreviations
Review Your Notes
Often




Tape Lectures
Organize Your
Materials for Easy
Retrieval
Request Feedback
About Your Notes
Evaluate Your NoteTaking Strategy
Other Note-Taking Tips






Use shorthand.
Write your notes in your own
words.
Put a star by things that you
don’t understand.
Think and record information in
pictures.
Explain yourself later.
Periodically evaluate the quality
of your notes.
Short-Term Memory: Listening and
Forgetting
 Most
forgetting takes place 24 hours
after you see or hear something!
 If you don’t review after class, you
can forget up to 70% of the material.
Tips









Read ahead in text before class.
Take notes on text before class and write down
questions.
Re-read notes from previous class.
Be ready for the message.
Listen to main concepts.
Listen for new ideas.
Repeat mentally.
Ask questions.
Sort, organize and categorize as you take notes.
Questions???