Study Skills You too can succeed in college with helpful and innovative study skills.

Active Learning The key to succeeding in any class requires: – Effective note-taking – Active listening – Active studying – Active reading – Daily study/reading

Active Learning Preparing for class – Be well-rested for class. – Arrive on time with a note-book, writing implement, textbook, and all other requisite materials. – Avoid distractions by leaving your phone (and similar devices) in your car, or set to silent and keep in pocket/bag.

Active Learning Be Prepared – Instructors usually always post important documents in Moodle. Always check them BEFORE class. – Print out PowerPoint slides before class to annotate them as the lecture occurs. – Read the syllabus and all other important documents on the first day of the semester. Print out schedules and due date lists.

Active Listening Remove headphones from your ears. Face your instructor. Sit near the front of the room. Make eye contact with your instructor. In groups, follow the same guidelines.

Active Learning Effective Note-taking – One note-book per class (taking notes on computer rarely works; and on the phone NEVER works). – Date each set of notes. – Focus on writing only important information: Copy info the instructor repeats or writes on the board. Write down corresponding textbook pages from lectures and/or PowerPoint slides to read later. Make sure to write down major discussion topics and important details.

Active Studying Study Cards – Write down vocabulary words, formulas, major words or ideas on one side of an index card. – Write down definitions, answers, and supporting details on the other. – Review the cards daily by saying them aloud. – Ask a partner to flash the cards to you so you can answer them. – Flip through these quickly before tests.

Active Reading Your textbook is there to help! – Make sure you read what is assigned. – Read entire chapters as instructors often will not give specific pages, only chapter numbers. – Be an active reader by highlighting, underlining, circling, and otherwise annotating your text as you read.

Active Reading Set reading goals Pre-reading – Why am I reading this? – What questions do I have? – What do I want to learn? – What will be on my test?

Active Reading Reading – Make notes as you read. – Highlight and underline relevant information. – Repeat the main ideas of a paragraph after reading it for a comprehension check. – Answer questions as you read.

Active Reading Post-reading – What questions do you have after reading? – What questions have been answered? – What else do you need to read to understand the main idea? – What research do you need to complete?

Active Studying Mnemonic Devices – “Material that is difficult to master can be organized by finding key words in each point, noting the first letter, and arranging them into a valid or nonsense word” (Algier n.p). – Example: What are the common conjunctions in the English language? FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) – What are the formulas for Sine, Cosign, and Tangent? (Some Old Hippie Caught Another Hippie Tripping On Acid) Sine = Opposite ÷ Hypotenuse; Cosine = Adjacent ÷ Hypotenuse; Tangent = Opposite ÷ Adjacent

Active Studying Memory – Association is key to memory You remember about 10% of what you read. You remember about 20% of what you hear. You remember about 30% of what you see. You remember about 50% of what you hear/see together. You remember about 70% of what you say. You remember about 90% of what you do. (Algier n.p.).

Active Studying Final Tips – You will not learn through osmosis; be active in class! – Always ask questions when you do not understand. – Visit your professor during his/her office hours. – Form study groups with peers. – Read what you are required to read.

Active Studying Final Tips Continued – Do not skip classes. – Stay organized (date notes, keep folders, etc.). – Seek tutoring as soon as possible, if needed. – Review notes and study cards every day, not just the day before a test (cramming the day before will only stress you and you may do poorly).

Works Cited Algier, Ann. Everything You Need To Know About Studying. n.p. n.d. Print.

Works Referenced Deese, James and Ellin K. Deese. How To Study And Other Skills For College, 4 th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1994.Print. Gardener, John N. and Betsey O. Barefoot. Step By Step To College and Career Success, 3 rd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, Print. Greene, Lawrence J. StudyWise: A Program for Maximizing Your Learning Potential. New Jersey: Pearson, Print.

Works Referenced Piscitelli, Steve. Study Skills: Do I Really Need This Stuff? New Jersey: Pearson Education, Print. Stone, Megan. Study Strategies. Boston: Pearson, Print.