Study Tips

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Breaks

·                     - Take a 5-10 minute break for every 30-45 minutes.

·                     - Take a short break when switching subjects or topics.

·                     - Too many new ideas at one time are confusing. The human brain can successfully process 6-7 ideas during one time period and maintain good retention of the information if enough repetition is used

 

When to Study

·                     - It is better to spread out study periods (a little each day) rather than cram the night before the test

·                     - Use spare moments - for example standing in line, waiting for someone or something, etc

·                     - Review information just before you go to bed. your subconscious will continue processing information which helps long-term memory.

 

Misc.

·                     - Break information into smaller parts

·                     - Seek help if you don’t understand something

·                     - Study the hardest material during times when you are the most alert and focused

·                     - Continually quiz yourself and try to relate previously learned materials to current studies

·                     - Over learn - continue to review after you know the information

·                     - Use the buddy system - find another student to discuss the material with and quiz each other

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Create study sheets

Why?
By combining info from various sources in one place it forces you to concentrate on the information and rewrite main ideas one more time. The study sheet is then an efficient and effective format to study and you can put away many other sources.

How?

·                     - Review all notes, worksheets, handouts, and the teacher generated study guide if available

·                      - Organize by topics

·                     - Spread out by topic

·                     - Paperclip together sheets on similar topics

·                     - Write one sheet per topic that summarizes the main ideas on that topic from all sources

·                     - Leave a margin on the left side where you can write clues to help you remember info

·                     - Recall clues are words or simple phrases that jog your memory

·                     - Use graphic organizers, outlines, mind maps to give you a quick and comprehensive view and to show connections between related material

·                     - Highlight material that is especially important or that you need to study more

·                     - Write words and short phrases - they’re easier to remember

 

Tips to help you remember information

Meaning

·                     - Start by making sure you understand the material well, you are unlikely to remember what you don’t understand

·                     - Link what you are trying to learn with what you already know to make it more meaningful

·                     - Clarify, categorize, and organize information to help you remember it

·                     - Find a way to make information meaningful to you (relate to something in your life or how info might be useful)


Repetition

·                     - The average adult can only remember about 50% of what he/she just read, 24 hours later it drops to 20%, so repeated review is important.

·                     - Brain research suggests that information or thoughts create paths in the memory called neural traces. By using and reusing information through review the paths are deepened allowing for faster recall of information

·                     - Memory study is best distributed over several short blocks of time to increase the amount of recall.


Creating Memory Aids

·                     - Generally visual information is processed on one side of the brain and verbal on the other, so if you make a picture or graphic to go with the information it can help you store the info on both sides of the brain increasing the chances of remembering it.

·                     - Categorize information into meaningful subgroups


Mnemonic Strategies

·                     - Get Physical: orally recite information, write information several times, walk/pace wile reciting or reading, gesture with hands or face

·                     - Visualize: form pictures in your mind, your mind remembers pictures more easily and for longer than words

·                     - Link Information:hook new information onto old information
group or chunk material together, remember similar/associated material when memory is blocked to jog memory.

 

Reff: *http://www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=134&Itemid=24*

 

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