Lifesaving Studying Techniques

As a student, I constantly promise myself I'll study, but usually those plans fall through until the last minute when the test is the next day. So here are a few techniques to try while you're in class to help get organized to study.

Basic tips for all learners and note takers.

1. RBDA - Read, before, during, and after class. (A tip from my conceptual physics teacher. He had a strong Chinese accent so he sounded like he was saying, "NO PDA!")
2. Take notes in class from lectures + textbook and try to find useful sights that you can take from outside of the classroom - it will give you an edge, especially in AP classes, where you'll have to do your own studying. 
3. Try to keep your notes for one subject in one specific place: one notebook, one binder, your choice. 
4. Be sure to date everything.
5. After you take a test, whatever you remember from the test and whatever you struggled on, go over your notes and highlight + make note that they were on the test.
6. Some people use different colored pens or highlighters to highlight important ideas/vocabulary.
7. Don't throw anything away until you are sure you don't need it. Teachers have dozens upon hundreds of students, so if something so happens to the gradebook, or you have a trip final where you can only use your notes, you'll be ready!
8. Title everything! Most likely you'll be busy too. How I usually title my papers is I put my name in the top right hand corner, below the date, and the class. Then in big letters, the chapter/source and full title and in the left hand corner what the content of the paper is (i.e. Chapter 1 Notes/ Chapter 10 Vocabulary)
9. Cite as much as possible- if your teacher questions where you got a particular piece of info from, you'll want to know what page of the textbook/article you got it from. It's also helpful to refer back to for more info later.

Basics (Without a strong foundation, all the details will fall apart.)

Cornell Notes

1. Read over the chapter or relevant content. Make sure you understand the concepts. 
2. Divide a paper in half and on the right, your notes, and put questions on the left.
3. Take note of important concepts and figures. Don't take note of every single detail. Make sure to mark areas where you didn't understand in your notes.
4. Write a summary.

Flash Cards

1. Usually index cards, with a phrase or word on the front: commonly used to study vocabulary. A helpful way to keep track of these is to keep a box to put them in and separate them based on chapter. I know one technique is to use differently colored cards to indicate different concepts/chapters. Keep them in a box or hold punch the corner and keep them on a keyring for safekeeping and fast studying.
1. I.E. For a history class, my teacher used to group concepts by PERSIA (Political; Economical; Religious; Social; Intellectual; Artistic), so students could use differently colored cards for each theme in each chapter.
2. Another way you can divide things is into classes like history, is person, event, setting, ideas, etc.

Everyone learns differently, so I've divided the study techniques into different types of learners. You can use these in your work/notes to bulk up and tailor your notes to suit you as you please.

Auditory Learners: Hear; learners who learn through listening.

Visual Learners: See; learners who learn through diagrams, images, and verbal imagery.

1. Try diagrams like...

• 2-D/3-D Models
• Graphics
• Charts
• Pictures/drawings
• Video/TV/Multimedia

Kinesthetic Learners: Touch; learners who learn through interacting with their surroundings like for sports or more interactive skills.

1. You can try...

• Physical activity
• Acting things out
• Role play

**Try using actual objects and equipment to help you connect the concepts.

Musical: learners who use rhythm and sound by creating little songs to use to study.

1. You'll be using...

• Musical instruments
• Music
• Radio/Stereo
• CD's
• Multimedia

Interpersonal - Learning through interaction - usually these learners learn more with their street smarts.

1. Some of the  best ways to learn like this is...

• Group activities.
• Seminars
• Dialogues
• Telephone
• Audio Conferences
• Writing
• Email

Intrapersonal - Learn based on what they are interested in or where their goal stands.

1.  You can try...

• Independent study
• Introspection
• Books
• Creative materials (scrapbooking, projects, etc.)

Other types of learners include...

Linguistic learners- these learners think in words, and pick up languages easily. They tend to use computers/games/multimedia/books/tape recorders and lectures.

Logical-These learners tend to reason/calculate and focus on the big concepts.

Renaissance Child - these learners are well rounded and draw from the mix of learning techniques.
Well, whatever your learning style, just do what you feel comfortable and most helpful to you. When it comes to knowledge the sky is the limit.

Until next time dreamers-sweet dreams,

Marilyn Nguyen

Sources and useful websites

http://www.tecweb.org/styles/gardner.html

http://www.academictips.org/acad/literature/notetaking.html

http://www.learningrx.com/types-of-learning-styles-faq.htm