By Danielle Rockley, Program Assistant, General Academic Tutoring Center
Learning how to study effectively is key to achieving your academic goals in college. Here are some tips to help you develop healthy study habits.
Go to class
First things first: make sure you actually go to class. You might face many distractions in college that can keep you from the classroom, but if you set the habit of always going to class, you’ll stay on track with your learning and have less catching up to do when you need to study for exams.
Study a little bit every day
We’ve all tried to cram all the material in an overnight session the day before the exam, but this is not the way to be successful. You might retain some knowledge, but there is only so much you can learn in a short amount of time.
Give your brain the space and time to absorb the material. Studying every day and spacing out your learning helps you solidify your understanding of the material. This also gives you time to ask the professor or other students questions to better grasp the concepts.
Take movement breaks
The brain and body are connected, so make sure you take time to move around in between study sessions. You can exercise in many ways, like going for a walk, working out in the gym or even dancing around in your room.
Teach the material to someone else
Try the “see one, do one, teach one” method. Here’s how it works:
- See one – Start by learning the material in class by listening attentively.
- Do one – Then, go home a practice what you’ve learned by completing your homework. If you run into questions, follow up with your professor or a tutor to get a better understanding.
- Teach one – Once you think you have a solid grasp on the material, try teaching what you’ve learned to another student. By explaining what you’ve learned to someone else, you will solidify and expand your knowledge.
Sleep
Once you’ve put in the time in class learning the new material, practicing the concepts with your homework and studying for the exam, you need sleep to save these concepts in your brain. Your brain is a part of your body and pulls a lot of energy to function properly, so you need time to rest and recover. Get in bed just a little bit earlier than normal. Your brain and body—and maybe even your grades—will thank you for it.
References/further reading
- “Better Ways to Learn” By Tara Parker-Pope
- “Managing Test Anxiety: Ideas for Students” by Jim Wright
- “Optimizing Learning in College: Tips From Cognitive Psychology” by Adam L. Putnam, Victor W. Sungkhasettee and Henry L. Roediger