Study habits seem to revolve around what the student needs to accomplish on a daily basis, rather than what a student aims to achieve in terms of a grade for a particular class. Better said, if the student has to work on a particular day, the student will put study time off until after work, causing study time to be less productive than if the student were to study before work time. If you are one of these students, then improve your study habits by following these simple rules.
In this post:
7 Ways To Improve Your Study Habits In College
1. Work Ahead
Generally, instructors issue a class syllabus at the beginning of the semester. Hang on to this document. It is best to place it in a binder, where you can easily access it when you need it. This is where you will find out about due dates and what you need to study before the next class. You may not be able to work ahead on written assignments, but you can start thinking about what you want to write on. As well, you can read ahead with the assigned readings that are documented in your syllabus. Be sure to always take your syllabus to class with you so that you can make any changes that the instructor chooses to make.
2. Read Material More Than Once
Textbooks are usually written in academic non-speak and take more than one reading to absorb the material. So, read the material once, then walk away from it. When you come back for a second read, you will know what the chapter covers, and you will be able to focus on the deeper meaning of the material. While you may find it hard to read a chapter for a third or fourth time, it will serve you well if you decide to do so. Try this at least once to see if it helps.
3. Proofread Multiple Times
When completing an assignment, one proofread rarely serves as enough. Be sure to proofread multiple times and proof your completed assignment at different times, as well. Even better, read your completed assignment aloud. You will be surprised at how many words you left out of your document. Give this a whirl. You will be glad that you did because it will help you get a better grade on your assignment.
4. Document Any Questions Arise
When reading or completing an assignment, document any questions that you need answering. These questions would be things that you would ask your instructor if he/she were with you while you were completing your assignment. Asking such questions after the fact can help with the learning process by clarifying what was/is not clear. As well, it may point out an issue of ambiguity that the instructor needs to address in the assignment. Take note, though, instructors do often leave some instructions ambiguous to promote creativity. It never hurts to ask, though.
5. Double Check Due Dates
Nothing makes a student feel worse than working hard on an assignment and then getting points deducted for turning the assignment in late. While some instructors may believe that you misunderstood the due date and give you grace, such reasoning fails to shine well on you because it acknowledges that you, as a student, may not be at the top of your game.
6. Avoid Distractions
When studying, be sure to stay focused on the task at hand and stay away from distractions such as the television, loud music, and people talking. The college library is usually a good place to study. Avoiding distractions will help you concentrate better while studying.
7. Use Study Aid Gadgets
Technology is wonderful and there are several study aid gadgets now available such as dictaphones to record lectures, digital scanning pens that take notes for you, and noise-canceling headphones in case you can’t find a quiet place to study.
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