How Can I Study More

Effectively

Marcus Simmons
Tech Prep Coordinator
Itawamba Community College
 Taking Notes

All good study techniques

Start with good note taking
Habits. Knowing how to
take good notes will
improve your ability to
study more effectively
 The Three Stages of Good
Note taking
Stage 1 Get ready to take notes (Before
Class)
Review your notes from previous lessons
Complete all assignments and readings before
class
Bring all needed materials to take notes
 Stage 2 Taking notes (During Class)
Keep your focus on the teacher
Listen for signal statements like:
Most importantly
Remember that
Be sure to include.
Write quickly
Use abbreviation
Place a ? by things you are not sure about
 Stage 3 Rewrite your Notes
After class rewrite your notes
Change abbreviations to complete words
Change symbols into words
Change shorter sentences to more complete sentences
Answer any ? you had in your notes
 10 Study Habits of Successful Students
Try not to do too much studying at one time
Plan specific times for studying
Try to study at the same times each day
Set specific goals for your study time
Start studying when planned
Work on the assignments or materials that are the most difficult
first
Review notes before beginning an assignment
Eliminate distractions during study time
Call another student for assistance when needed
Review schoolwork over the weekends
 Preparing an Effective Place to Study
The Study Place should always be available to
you
The Study Place should be free from
interruptions
The Study Place should be free from
distractions
The Study Place should have all of the materials
on hand that are needed to study
The Study Place should have a large enough
desk or table
The Study Place should have a large storage
area available
The Study Place should have a comfortable
chair
The Study Place should have enough light
The Study Place should be kept at a
comfortable temperature
 Specific Study Methods
There are many methods and techniques
Available to use for studying

You will have to decide which method is best

For you depending on:

-your learning style

-the teaching method used
-the course material to learn
-the type of tests used
 Using Acronymic Sentences
Using an Acronymic Sentence is a good study method for remembering things
That need to be learn in a specific order.

Creating an Acronymic Sentence

Write each piece of information that needs to be
learn in order
Underline the first letter of each word
Write a sentence using the words that begin with
the underlined letters

Example: The planets in order are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,
Neptune, Pluto
Acronymic Sentence = My Very Earthy Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas
 Can you create an Acronymic
Sentence to learn the Days of the
Week starting with Sunday?
 Using Acronyms
Using an Acronym is a good study method for remembering things
That need to be learn in any order.

Write the facts you need to remember

Underline the first letter of each fact
Arrange the first letters to form a word.
The word can be real or non-sensible if you
can remember and pronounce it

Example: Homes is an acronym that can be used to memorize or learn the 5 Great
Lakes; Michigan, Erie, Superior, Ontario, Huron
 Now can you create an Acronym for
learning these Mississippi Cities:
Tupelo, Shannon, Okolona, Indianola,
Pontotoc, Columbus?
 Using Pegwords
Pegwords can be used when one needs to remember a number of things like,
Five reasons we should conserve energy. Each pegword is then associate with a
Number corresponding to the number of reasons.

Think of the fist piece of information to be

remembered
Think of a pegword for the number one (the
pegword should rhyme with one)
Create a picture in your mind to associate with
that pegword
Repeat points 1-3 with each piece of information
you are to remember
 Examples of Pegwords
Number Word Pegword
One Run
Two Shoe
Three Tree
Four Door
Five Dive
Six Fix
Seven Heaven
Eight Gate
Nine Sign
Ten Hen
 Example of Pegword use
FIRST
Learning the reasons to preserve the forests:
e
1. Forests provide food for animals fit th
2. Forests provide shelter for animals -3 to
r 1
3. Forests provide lumber for building and paper s fo
d
O ND gwor
SEC ate pe
Cre erial ns:
t
ma e lear
b
THIRD To = Fun e
e
Make s
om On = Sho e
e
Betwee e type of an a
n Two e = L
ss e
You mu the pegwoods ociation or co Thr
st reme and the nn
mber: main id ection
ea wor
Lee has ds
n with
Fun Sho
es b e r, Fu
T H it h Lum elter
R w
FOU iate Lee s with Sh
c e
Asso and Sho
,
Food
See if you can create a learning experience
using Pegwords for learning the following in
formation:

The reason why not to smoke

Smoking creates facial wrinkles
Smoking is very costly financially
Smoking can create terrible coughs
Smoking damages the sense of smell
Smoking causes bad breath

Remember to find the key words in the reasons first!

 Using Flashcards
Flashcards are a very useful tool in learning or remembering information such
as: Vocabulary Words and Meanings, Math Formulas, History Facts, and Correct
Spellings or Words.
 Strategies on how to use Flashcards
Make Flashcards as you learn to study
Carry blank cards with you
Organize your cards in decks by topic or subject
Use both sides of a Card when appropriate
Write words on one side and definitions on the other side
Flip the cards and learn the information both ways
Use flashcards in several different colors
Different colors can cue your answers
Illustrate the cards
Draw or cut pictures to place on cards
The more interesting looking the cards, the less bored one becomes
using them
 Do not put too much information on any one
card
Each card should contain only ONE piece if
information to learn
Always carry your cards with you
Review your cards often
If you always have your card, wasted or wait time
can become learning time
Change the order of the cards frequently
You need to learn the information, not which card
or answer comes next
You can use online flashcards also one great
site is FlashcardExchange.com
With FlashcardExchange.com you can use the flashcards
you create online In a game format or you can print the
cards or print in a study sheet format.

You have to register on the site, but the general services

of the site are free.
 Using the Loci Method
This is method of remembering items by imagining a place you are very
Familiar with, and associating the item to remember to that location
Very good for Kinesthetic Learners (motion or movement)

Imagine yourself walking through a very

familiar location or area (Your Kitchen)
Associate specific locations and activities with
the items you want to remember

Example: Imagine your kitchen. You want to remember three Presidents. The
Presidents are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Richard Nixon. Now picture
Walking into your Kitchen Washington is eating cherries at the kitchen table, Jefferson
Is reading at the table, and Nixon is standing with the refrigerator open.
The Loci Method is difficult for some
people are not Kinesthetic Learners.
See if you can apply the Kinesthetic
Learning Method to remembering
these famous inventors:
Thomas Edison
Alexander G. Bell
George W. Carver
Benjamin Franklin
 Using the Image-Name Technique
This method is very easy and short and used
for remembering people or places.

Example: remembering Jay Leno

by picturing his protruding, large chin.
Can you Think of an example?
 Using the ASPIRE System
A Approach/Attitude/Arrange
Approach your studies with a positive attitude
Arrange your schedule to eliminate distractions
S Select/Survey/Study
Select a reasonable chunk of material to study
Survey the headings, graphics, pre and post- questions
Study marking any information you do not understand
P Put aside/Piece together
Put aside your books and notes
Piece together what you have study and try to summarize that
information yourself
 I Inspect/Investigate/Inquire
Inspect what you did not understand
Investigate all available sources of information (textbooks, online,
dictionary)
Inquire from support professionals (Librarians, tutors, teachers, )
R Reconsider/reflect/Relay
Reconsider the content; what questions would you ask the author
Reflect on the material; how can I apply this material
Relay understanding; how would I make this information more
interesting or easier to understand to other students
E Evaluate/Examine/Explore
Evaluate your grades on tests and assignments and look for
patterns or weaknesses
Examine you progress on improving weak areas
Explore options for you with teachers, tutors, other students
 Using Study Groups
Study Groups can be very beneficial in some situations.
There are Several things to consider when thinking about
using Study Groups:

1. Benefits of a Study Group

2. Starting a Study Group
3. Characteristics of a Good Study Group
4. Pitfalls of Study Groups
 Benefits of a Study Group
A support group can be a motivator
Easier to ask classmates questions
Your commitment might be stronger because the group depends on all
members
Study groups add a strong auditory aspect to your learning experience
One or more group member is likely to understand something that you
do not
You can learn new study techniques or habit from other members
You can compare your notes with other students
Teaching or explaining concepts to other group members will reinforce
your learning
Face it! Studying can be boring. Study with others can make the
studying more enjoyable
 Getting a Study Group Started
Get to know your classmates well before
asking them to join your study group you
should be able to answer yes to each of
these questions:
Is this classmate motivated to learn?
Does the classmate understand the subject well?
Is this classmate dependable?
Would this classmate be tolerant of other ideas?
Would you like to work with this classmate?
 Invite the correct number of classmates to your Study group
(the best number seems to be between 3-5 students per
group)
Decide how often and how long the Group will meet each
week (best is 2 or 3 times a weeks, and sessions between 60
and 90 minutes)
Decide where to meet (this location should be without
distractions)
Decide on the goals of the Group (goals can include;
reviewing notes, discussing readings, and study for exams)
Decide on a leader for the group, and if the leader will be the
same or change each week
Set an agenda for each meeting including specific member
assignments
Develop a contact list for the members with all of their
contact information and provide to each member.
Characteristics of a Successful Study Group
Each group member contributes
Group members actively listen without interrupting each other
Group members work together to resolve any problems arising without
the group
Members are prompt and come ready to work
The group stay on task according to the agenda
Members always show each other respect
Members should feel comfortable with constructive criticisms
Members should feel free to ask questions
At the end of each meeting, an agenda is set with assignments for the
next meeting
Above all, a positive attitude that we can do this together is maintained
 Possible Pitfalls of a Study Group
Do not let the Study Group get
distraction from the agenda
Do not let the Study Group
become a social group
Do not allow members to attend
unprepared
Do not let negativity slip into the
group
Do not let one or two members
dominate the group