Representation of the psychological effect of study methods Tribune Content Agency
Finals are less than four weeks away, and you know what that means. Studying hard is going to be hitting campus. With that in mind, here are some study methods to help you during these stressful times!
Assistant Professor of Psychology at SXU, Greg DeGirolamo PhD, who teaches cognitive psychology reveals learning strategies that will help students study better and have greater success.
- Keep a planner. List all upcoming due dates to keep you on track to avoid missing assignments. Canvas’s calendar and to-do lists can help aid you in becoming more organized.
- Plan ahead. Break due dates into smaller chunks to prevent an overload of work. This can be done by writing two pages a day for an upcoming essay until you reach the due date.
- Make the content relatable to you. By connecting topics to your personal life, we can memorize better when it directly involves personal reminders.
- Draw. The brain can memorize pictures better than reading from the textbook. Make sure to draw diagrams and charts onto your notebook for better comprehension.
- Teach a friend. By explaining concepts and terms to a friend in your own words, you’re able to recall information better.
- Write to recall. Write down as many terms without looking at your notes to recognize which ones need more attention.
- Self-test yourself. Make your own multiple choice tests, quizlets, and flashcards to better utilize memorization cues and knowing which topics need more focus.
- Divide study sessions. Distribute studying time into 20-40 minute chunks to maintain focus, motivation, and processing of information.
- Avoid listening to music. Classical music is acceptable. Listening to lyrics can interfere with how the brain stores memory and information.
- Coffee anyone? If you drink coffee while studying, drinking coffee before an exam helps to improve testing results as you recall information better due to being in the same state as your study sessions.
- Study in similar environments as testing. The brain remembers information better when your surroundings (location, noise, etc) during study sessions are consistent in testing areas. Try to study in a quiet classroom if possible for active recall.
- Break subjects in smaller chunks. The brain will process information better when it manages the amount of content learned, making you less overwhelmed.
When students study in smaller, multiple sessions, our memory improves and keeps our brains active. It draws our attention to new information, as opposed to cramming the material into one study session. “Much like running in a race, we can become tired [if we don’t place limits],” says DeGirolamo.
A study guide technique DeGirolamo uses after taking a break includes looking back at his notes and then folding the paper. Have a second copy of the study guide and write down as much information memorized without looking back at your notes. This will not only test your memory but also give you an idea of what concepts you need to study more.
When students feel burned out, DeGirolamo says finding ways to recharge your battery and doing something fun that makes you happy can help. Spreading out your work can help to avoid this feeling.
Once a student becomes burned out, DeGirolamo recommends seeing Saint Xavier’s free counseling center to aid you in any issues you may be experiencing, whether this includes trouble with relationships, anxiety over testing, or a traumatic event.
The Center for Learning and Study Support (L110) at the Warde Academic Center is another great support system. They have tutors on hand that can help you study and master studying techniques.
Peer tutors will sit one-on-one with students on specific subjects to find the best method to help them understand the material better. Writing consultations are also provided for any subject needed. Since these tutors are also students, they’ve taken the same courses and can provide a better understanding of the student’s position.
Executive Director of Academic and Student Support, Joanna Nemeh PhD, mentions that consistently going to the tutoring center can ensure better success in keeping up students’ grades without a dipping point. Tutoring shouldn’t be a one-time thing, as learning can take time to understand the subjects fully.
Nemeh reveals the importance of pre-reading and looking at the material before class, which allows students to become better prepared for when the material is being reviewed in class.
A method that Nemeh suggests is telling concepts to family members in their heritage language as it helps students to associate the material more deeply into their lives and helps to embed the information into their brains.
“I think the most important aspect of studying is to not compartmentalize a subject, you have to have a conversation with the material, you have to associate it with your life,” says Nemeh. “Make it something important to you because if you are consistently just viewing your courses in a box then you are never really connecting with it.”
DeGirolamo mentions the importance of students maintaining their health and not shying away from reaching out for help. By setting up realistic expectations when creating our class schedules, students are able to create a balance between their personal and student life.
“Taking time to take care of your physical and mental health is key,” says DeGirolamo. “Find a silver lining in things and coming up with a plan can sometimes make things seem a little more hopeful and some people might see what sort of thing you can pull back from in life.”
If you are struggling, contacting your professors is essential to receive support and guidance in times that are troubling and create a plan to keep you on track to succeed with strategies to prevent further falling behind.
If you feel unable to complete a semester, taking summer classes can help students catch up on their progress or to work ahead. Saint Xavier allows students to transfer six credits from another institution. “When doing your course plan, be mindful of the classes you take and try to balance easier classes with some harder ones,” says DeGirolamo.
DeGirolamo mentions that conscientiousness and communication are key when applying these methods to your routines. Every individual is different, and therefore different methods may be applied for what works for them.
Correction: On April 29th, this column was edited to include all of the information regarding the Academic and Student Support.