11 Study Smarter, Not Harder

2 Preparing to Study....Be Nice to Your Brain Sit in a QUIET place. TV, cell phones, and music distract your brain. Sit in a QUIET place. TV, cell phones, and music distract your brain. Don’t procrastinate. It puts your brain under stress. Don’t procrastinate. It puts your brain under stress. Don’t study after you normally go to bed. Your brain wants to sleep at that time. Don’t study after you normally go to bed. Your brain wants to sleep at that time.

3 Preparing to Study....Be Nice to Your Brain Take breaks. Your brain gets tired too. Get a snack or take a walk. Take breaks. Your brain gets tired too. Get a snack or take a walk. Set reasonable goals and reward yourself-”I’m going to study for 20 minutes then take a snack break.” Set reasonable goals and reward yourself-”I’m going to study for 20 minutes then take a snack break.”

4 What Kind of Learner Are You? Auditory Learners: Learn by hearing Auditory Learners: Learn by hearing Use a study group Use a study group Study out loud Study out loud Pay close Pay close attention to lectures

5 What Kind of Learner Are You? Tactile Learners: Learn by touching or using Tactile Learners: Learn by touching or using Use practice questions Use practice questions Pay close attention to labs Pay close attention to labs 5

6 What Kind of Learner Are You? Visual Learners: Learn by seeing Visual Learners: Learn by seeing Use flashcards Use flashcards Review diagrams from the textbook Review diagrams from the textbook Pay close attention to class notes Pay close attention to class notes 6

7 Study Method #1: Repetition Review your notes the same day you get them. That’s when your brain remembers the best! Review your notes the same day you get them. That’s when your brain remembers the best! Then review your notes daily. Give your brain the chance to repeatedly see the information. Then review your notes daily. Give your brain the chance to repeatedly see the information.

8 Study Method #2: Writing Rewrite your notes Rewrite your notes Type your notes Type your notes Or do both! Or do both!

9 Study Method #3: Condensing Day 1: Write out everything you need to know. You’ll have several pages. Day 1: Write out everything you need to know. You’ll have several pages. Day 2: Condense this information into half the number of pages. Take out extra words not needed, not important details. Day 2: Condense this information into half the number of pages. Take out extra words not needed, not important details. Day 3: Condense this information into one page divided into four sections. Day 3: Condense this information into one page divided into four sections.

10 Study Method #4: Talking to Yourself Say or sing your notes out loud Say or sing your notes out loud Read only 1 sentence of the notes at a time Read only 1 sentence of the notes at a time Cover the sentence up and say it several times. Cover the sentence up and say it several times. Check your notes to make sure that you got the sentence right Check your notes to make sure that you got the sentence right This words great for diagrams too! This words great for diagrams too! Cover up the labels and try to guess them correctly. Cover up the labels and try to guess them correctly.

11 Study Method #5: Flashcards Make flashcards of information Make flashcards of information While studying flashcards, make 3 piles While studying flashcards, make 3 piles What I know What I know What I don’t know What I don’t know What I guessed right What I guessed right Focus your studying on the “What I don’t know” and “What I guessed right piles” Focus your studying on the “What I don’t know” and “What I guessed right piles” Try to arrange the flashcards in a huge web that relates all of the topics (see Mind Mapping) Try to arrange the flashcards in a huge web that relates all of the topics (see Mind Mapping)

12 Study Method 6: Mind Mapping Rewrite your notes using only key words and images Rewrite your notes using only key words and images A blank sheet of paper is used with related ideas organized around and radiating off the main test or quiz topic A blank sheet of paper is used with related ideas organized around and radiating off the main test or quiz topic

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15 Study Method #7: Study Buddy Use a study buddy Use a study buddy Have a friend or parent ask you questions about your notes. Have a friend or parent ask you questions about your notes. Answer their questions without looking at your notes. Answer their questions without looking at your notes. If you get a question wrong, ask your study buddy to tell you the right answer. Make a list of the questions you get wrong. If you get a question wrong, ask your study buddy to tell you the right answer. Make a list of the questions you get wrong. After the last question, have your study buddy ask you the questions you got wrong again. After the last question, have your study buddy ask you the questions you got wrong again.

16 Study Method #8: Mnemonics Catchy words or phrases Catchy words or phrases SPONCH= sulfur, phosphorus, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen =the 6 most common elements in Bio SPONCH= sulfur, phosphorus, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen =the 6 most common elements in Bio King Philip came over for good spaghetti= Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species King Philip came over for good spaghetti= Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species

17 Study Method #8: Mnemonics Visualizing Visualizing Fondant is a sweet, smooth, elastic icing. If it’s freezing you need a blanket. Fondant looks like a smooth blanket over a cake or cupcake. Fondant is a sweet, smooth, elastic icing. If it’s freezing you need a blanket. Fondant looks like a smooth blanket over a cake or cupcake. Buttercream is a light, creamy frosting. Buttercream is creamy! Buttercream is a light, creamy frosting. Buttercream is creamy!