Developing Effective Study Habits Ateneo Chemical Society July 19, 2010 Judith M. de Guzman, PhD Soc-Org Psych

"Never regard study as a duty, but as the enviable opportunity to learn to know the liberating influence of beauty in the realm of the spirit for your own personal joy and to the profit of the community to which your later work belongs." Albert Einstein 2

I don't love studying. I hate studying. I like learning. Learning is beautiful. Natalie Portman The more you understand, the less you have to remember. Craig McCraw 3

Activity: Taking Stock Think of a subject/exam where you did well or felt good about. As you look back at your experience, identify the factors i.e. behaviors, thoughts, habits, strategies, that helped you do well in that subject/exam. 4

Some Factors that Affect Academic Performance Personal Factors Time management skills Stress management skills Study habits Personal resources – Life and academic goals – Learning modalities/ styles – Attitudes and habits (particularly procrastination tendencies) – Intellectual capabilities Environmental Factors Academic resources (e.g. books, handouts, ballpens) Appropriate study area (e.g. well-lit, few distractions, negligible noise) Familial (and other relationships) obligations and expectations Teacher support or non- support 5

6 What is your learning modality?

Learning Styles Assessment (Marcia Conner) Preferred way of approaching new information Our preferred styles guide the way you learn. They also change the way you internally represent experiences, the way you recall information, and even the words you choose. Total per column Column 1: Visual Column 2: Auditory Column 3: Tactile/Kinesthetic 7

8 Characteristics of a Tactile/Kinesthetic Learner Athletic Anti-desk Intuitive Creative Musical Impulsive Daydreamer Disorganized Learns by doing Procrastinates Does not follow directions Artistic

9 What kinds of study practices should a tactile/kinesthetic learner use to maximize study time?

10 Tactile learners may not study well at a desk.

11 They can pace or walk around while reciting a list or information from notes.

12 Should tactile learners take frequent “breaks” from study? A reasonable study schedule for secondary students is minutes of study and 5 minutes of break. TV watching and telephone talking should NOT take place during break.

13 In summary, tactile learners learn best when… Actively engaged in the class lesson. Given opportunities to move. Experiencing the learning. Experimenting. Being provided hands-on learning opportunities.

14 Characteristics of a Visual Learner Remembers what is seen and read Thinks in pictures or words Vivid imagination Makes lists Remembers faces but not names Sensitive to the appearances of things Information must be seen or written Facial expressions show emotions

15 What kinds of study practices should a visual learner use to maximize study time?

16 Visual learners should... preview a chapter BEFORE reading it.

17 …write down information. TAKING NOTES in class is a powerful way to maintain concentration.

18 …look at the teacher while s/he is talking. It helps visual learners to stay focused.

19 …try studying alone--most visual learners prefer to study in a quiet place.

20 …select a seat furthest from the door and window and toward the front of the class if possible.

21 …write vocabulary words in color on index cards and read them frequently. Definitions should be written on the back of the card and studied as well. Glance In the seventeenth century, an allusive satirical jest.

22 …use color and graphic symbols to highlight main ideas in notes.

23 In summary, visual learners learn best by Taking lots of notes. Working in a quiet place. Studying alone. Previewing work. Using color.

24 Characteristics of an Auditory Learner Remembers what is heard Talks while writing Know names but not faces Distracted by noise Games and pictures are annoying Writing may not always be legible Written information has little meaning Sophisticated speaker

25 What kinds of study practices should an auditory learner use to maximize study time?

26 Auditory learners should... try studying with a peer who is also an auditory learner.

27 …recite information that must be learned aloud.

28 …try taping study questions and answers. Then listen to them during exercise, walking to school, or before sleep.

29 …listen to tapes at least three times before a test and practice the long-term memory strategies

30 …record vocabulary or other important information on index cards and have someone else “quiz” them.

31 … read ALOUD whenever possible.

32 Auditory learners learn best… in study groups. reciting answers aloud. recording lectures and assignments in tapes. reviewing flashcards aloud. reading assignments aloud whenever possible.

Resolutions What will I do differently from hereon? 33

Learning Styles Inventory (Kolb) Based on the experiential learning theory 34 CE RO AC AE AC-CE AE-RO

Learning Styles Inventory (Kolb) Column 1: Items 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 – Concrete Experience (CE) Column 2: Items 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 – Reflective Observation (RO) Column 3: Items 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 – Abstract Conceptualization (AC) Column 4: Items 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 – Active Experimentation (AE) AC – CE = ___________ AE - RO = ___________ *Preserve negative signs if they appear 35 The column with the highest score reflects your learning style Rank the items from 1 to 4 with 1 as least characteristic of you and 4 as most characteristic of you.

Learning Modalities (Kolb) Concrete Experience (CE): The Here and Now – Relies heavily on feeling-based judgment over logic – Emphatic and people-oriented – Concern with uniqueness rather than theories – Intuitive – “Artistic” approach over systemic, scientific approach to problems – Learn best from specific examples Abstract Conceptualization (AC): The Big Picture – Relies on logical thinking and rational evaluation – Emphasizes thinking rather than feeling – Oriented towards things and symbols rather than people – Concern with building general theories rather than intuitively understanding unique, specific areas – Frustrated by unstructured “discovery” or artistic approach to problems 36

Learning Modalities (Kolb) Reflective Observation (RO): Watch and See – Reflection and understanding over action and practical application – Concern with what is and how things happen over what will work – Tentative and reflective approach to learning – Prefer to listen to lectures – Tend to be introverts Active Experimentation (AC): Get down to work – “Doing” orientation to learning – Emphasizes practical application – Concern with what works (pragmatic) rather than what is absolute truth – Learn best when they are engaged – Dislike lectures – Tend to be extroverts 37

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40 Source: LSI Technical Manual. The Hay Group Accommodator Converger Diverger Assimilator

41 Accommodator Strength lies in doing things, carrying out plans and involving herself in new experiences Risk taker Excels in situations where she has to adapt herself May be seen as impatient and pushy Business, marketing or sales Diverger Strength lies in imaginative ability, ability to view concrete situations from many perspectives Best during brainstorming Imaginative and emotional Broad cultural interests Humanities and liberal arts Converger Strength lies in the practical application of ideas Best during hypothetical deductive reasoning Unemotional Narrow technical interests Physical sciences Engineers Assimilator Strength lies in ability to create theoretical models Excels in inductive reasoning Less interested in people More concerned with abstract theories Basic sciences Research and planning Learning Styles Inventory (Kolb)

42 Memory Principles Make Effort Interest Intent Background Strengthen Visualization Recitation Association Control Amount and Form Selectivity Organization Time to Sink in Consolidation Distributed Practice

Developing Effective Study Habits Manage your time! – Prioritize! – Learn to say No! – Schedule and Re-schedule! – Make every second count! Make the most of your class time! – Prepare for class – Take notes – Bring your books – Listen and get to know your teacher Think and Understand! – Survey – Question – Read – Recite – Review Less distractions the better! – Focus. – This is my place! – Gadgets away! Know thyself! 43

44 DON’T WORK LONGER-- WORK SMARTER. HAVE A PLAN! 44