| Submitted
by: Angel Matos
I. Setting a Superior
Study Environment
Should I study in my room or the library? Alone
or with others? To be sure, finding a good place to study is
somewhat a matter of personal taste. More important than anything
else, however, is whether the place you have selected enables
you to work with the greatest amount of concentration and the
fewest distractions. The reason for this is simple: your learning
effectiveness drops every time your concentration is interrupted
during study. By selecting a place with few distractions to
begin with, most of your mental energy can then be used for
learning instead of for blocking out distractions.
Set aside a fixed place for study and nothing
but study. Do you have a place for study you can call your own?
As long as you are going to study, you may as well use the best
possible environment. Of course, it should be reasonably quiet
and relatively free of unique temptations like radio, TV, bed,
and people. After a while, study becomes the appropriate behavior
in that particular environment. Then, whenever you sit down
in that particular niche in the world you’ll feel like
going right to work.
It is often helpful to study with friends. Having
a friend close by, even if studying a different subject but
also intensely working, is a tremendous encouragement. The best
reason for studying together for the same class is to build
on the knowledge base one has already acquired by studying individually.
With all participants having previously dedicated individual
time to studying, everyone can receive the maximum benefit.
In this way, group study can become a time to complete one’s
understanding of the material by viewing it from the unique
perspectives of others. Those who have more difficulties gain
by having the material re-explained to them, and those who know
more learn the material more thoroughly by explaining it. It
is not a good idea to study with a romantic interest.
You need a good study place to be prepared to
study. Virginia Tech provides a tool to compare your actual
study places in order to determine which is the most appropriate;
you can access this tool on Internet at HYPERLINK “http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/studydis.html”
http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/studydis.html.
The following points are essential to have a
superior study environment:
Availability
- Your Study Place does you little good if you cannot use it
when you need it.
Interruptions
- It is important to have uninterrupted
study time. You may have to hang a DO NOT DISTURB sign on the
door or turn the phone off.
Distractions
- Research shows that most students study best in a quiet environment.
If you find that playing a stereo or TV improves your mood,
keep the volume low.
Study Materials
- Be sure your Study Place includes reference sources and supplies
such as pens and pencils, paper, ruler, calculator, and whatever
else you might need. If you use a computer for your schoolwork,
it should be in your Study Place, but be careful because Internet
messengers are one of the biggest distractions.
Desk
or table
-
While working on an assignment or studying for a test, use a
desk or table that is large enough to hold everything you need.
Allow enough room for writing and try to avoid clutter.
Storage
Space
- You need enough room to store your study materials. Be sure
you have enough storage space to allow you to keep your desktop
or other work surface clear of unnecessary materials that can
get in the way.
Chair
- A chair that is not comfortable can cause discomfort or pain
that will interfere with your studying. A chair that is too
comfortable might make you sleepy. Select a chair in which you
can sit for long periods while maintaining your attention.
Illumination
-
The amount of light you need depends on what you are doing.
The important thing is that you can clearly see what you need
to see without any strain or discomfort.
Temperature
- If your Study Place is too warm or too cold, you might become
sleepy, thinking may slow down and become unclear. Select a
temperature at which your mind and body function best.
II. Making a Comprehensive Schedule
For
best results, you should first schedule the set parts of your
day. Your classes fit into this category because you should,
even if for some reason you study on your own, try to attend
all of them. Keep in mind that the purpose of attending class
is to learn the subject.
Be
certain to schedule personal essentials that are a bit more
flexible, such as eating, sleeping, and exercising. Remember
that you learn best when you are healthy. The average person
needs at least six hours of sleep a night. Exercise to keep
your heart in shape so that it can supply the oxygen your brain
needs; twenty minutes of some sort of aerobic exercise every
other day should be enough. Health is more than the body and
it is important to remember where you’re headed in life,
so also schedule your spiritual needs: church and prayer.
Intersperse
your study periods throughout the week. Retention is aided by
regular study. A rule of thumb is two hours of study for each
hour of class, but as you might have up to eight hours of class,
this should be adjusted as you discover how much time each class
requires. Remember that each minute of study during the day
is one and a half times as effective as a minute at night. Don’t
forget to schedule recreational or free time.
Some
general principles for making a schedule:
Be
realistic in scheduling - A schedule shouldn’t
be an unattainable wishlist, but a real guide to help you plan
your time well. You won’t be doing yourself any favors
if you get discouraged and give up.
Be
flexible in following your schedule - From time to
time, things will come up that require you to deviate from your
schedule.
Evaluate
your schedule periodically - Every couple of weeks,
look over your schedule to see how well it is serving you and
how realistic it is. Revision may be necessary.
This
article was adapted from Studying Strategies Techniques of many
Universities, such as: Harvard, Columbia University, Wake Forest,
Virginia Tech, University of Texas, and George Washington University.
|