Study time is not always a lot of fun. Most students don't like to study; they just want to "know it" enough to pass the test. In many cases, they also confuse reading for studying as if reading the material alone will be all that they need to do to learn the information. Studying, though, involves converting data into relevance, and this takes time to do. But any student, of any age, attending any school, public, private, or homeschool, can learn to study more efficiently by remembering a few common sense tricks to studying.
Planfor time to study. That means to turn off the television or cell phone, and don't try to squeeze in your study time around other events that are more important to you. Make studying the first appointment that you set, and then keep to your schedule. Schedule short blocks of time, such as 30 minute blocks, and give your full attention to the material during that time. When the time is up, take a break and get refreshed. Plan for several blocks of time with breaks interspersed if necessary. During the breaks, you can text your friends, check emails, or go to that movie, but studying comes first.
Decidethat you are committed to learning something important when you study. Don't let your mind wander off to other things. If you are intentional about trying to learn something, and intentional about looking for the meaning in whatever you are studying, you will find it. Studying begins in your mind in this way. You must be decided that this is worth it for you. No one can study for you - you have to decide this is important.
Organizeyour materials before you start studying. If you have to continually get up to go get other papers or books, you will waste all of your planned study time. Some students do this on purpose to avoid the work of studying. Be sure that before you sit down to study, you have the books, notes, handouts, pens, blank paper, and computer tools that you will need to study for that subject. Once you have everything in one place, then you can start the clock on your study session, but be organized about your tools to make the best use of your time.
Askquestions as you review your notes and textbooks. One of the best ways to study is to ask questions of yourself while you are studying. That creates the natural "response" mentality in which your brain will be looking to give the right answer. It's like a game. If you only watch someone play, or just read the material, you've only been a spectator. If you put your brain on alert by asking questions about the material as you go, then you will be a participant in the game. This makes what you are studying highly interactive and therefore much more meaningful. Good questions to ask include, "Why does this matter?" "What does this remind me of?" "Does this change anything?" "How does this affect me?" etc. The only rule to this game is to never accept, "I don't know" as an answer!"
Notice that all of these study tips are about your mental state in one way or another. Giving yourself time, motivation, readiness, and intrigue about what you are studying will move the material from just data into relevance. This is what makes studying much easier and certainly more efficient.
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Plants are shaped by cultivation and men by education. .. We are born weak, we need strength; we are born totally unprovided, we need aid; we are born stupid, we need judgment. Everything we do not have at our birth and which we need when we are grown is given us by education.
(Jean Jacques Rousseau, Emile, On Philosophy of Education)
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