Study Space
from collegeinfogeek.com
Creating a Study Space:
In order to create a study space, follow these four steps;
1. Remove all distractions. The goal of a study space is to maximize the attention you can devote to studying while minimizing the amount of effort necessary to do so. You can’t do that if the space is full of distractions.Naturally, what puts you in a studious mood will differ from person to person, but here are some things you should probably avoid in your study space:
Essential Study Space Items:
General Study Space Tips:
In addition to having the right materials, here are a few more principles that will make your study space (and study time) more effective:
Creating a Study Space:
In order to create a study space, follow these four steps;
1. Remove all distractions. The goal of a study space is to maximize the attention you can devote to studying while minimizing the amount of effort necessary to do so. You can’t do that if the space is full of distractions.Naturally, what puts you in a studious mood will differ from person to person, but here are some things you should probably avoid in your study space:
- Video games.
- Your phone.
- Lots of open tabs (link to study apps for students that can help avoid this).
- Multiple monitors unless it’s really imperative to your work (a separate external monitor is fine if you’re using it as your main screen or as part of a standing desk setup).
- Messy food/drinks/junk food.
Essential Study Space Items:
- Comfortable yet ergonomic chair or standing desk. (If standing, something soft to stand on (a yoga mat or soft rug works great).
- Your computer, if necessary.
- Textbooks or e-reader with relevant books loaded.
- Notebooks.
- Index cards.
- Pad of paper to write down distracting thoughts. While studying, you’re bound to have “great” ideas or just to remember stuff you need to do.Don’t let these thoughts distract you–just write them down on the paper to get them out of your head and let you review them later.
- Plenty of writing utensils appropriate for the subject (mechanical pencils for math, etc).
- Calculator or other subject specific tools as necessary.
- Good lighting. If you can’t see your paper, it will be harder to work and it will make reading more difficult. Natural light is best, but a good desk lamp can make a world of difference as well.
- Whiteboard and dry erase markers (not essential, but super helpful for practicing math, sketching out designs, brainstorming essay, etc).
- Tactile thinking aids. For example, a Rubix cube, some putty/clay, or even just a pen to click.
- Water
- Healthy snacks that don’t make a mess (nuts, banana, granola bar, carrots, dried fruit, etc). These help keep your blood sugar up, ensuring that you can stay in the “flow state” for longer.
- Inspiring decorations like some inspiring quotes written on index cards.
- Paper calendar. This is way more helpful than you might think. For example, when you’re writing an essay and need to check the date without distracting yourself by going on Google or looking at your phone.
- Study music or ambient noise
- A kitchen timer.
- Headphones. Great for blocking out distractions wherever you are.
- Try to study near a window, so you have some natural light coming in or experiment with different brightness levels until you find something that works well for you. Lighting is especially important if you’re reading from a paper textbook or doing other paper work (such as math problem sets). If you’re having to squint at the book, then you probably need more light (or glasses).
- The actual warm-cold temperature of the room you're in is also a big factor. Not only can an environment that’s too hot or cold cause you to be consciously distracted, but it can also cause you to make more mistakes in your work unconsciously.
General Study Space Tips:
In addition to having the right materials, here are a few more principles that will make your study space (and study time) more effective:
- Make sure all your study materials are functioning. Do this before you start studying. You can get derailed easily if something silly happens like your pen isn’t working, your pencil runs out of lead, or your computer isn’t charged.
- Make your study space ergonomic. Don’t slouch, keep your feet on the floor, position your screen at eye level (otherwise you’ll wreck your neck), and type with your wrists in a neutral position.
- Take breaks every 30-60 minutes. Besides being good for your health, regular breaks also boost your productivity and focus.
SQ3RSurvey:
Read only the chapter title, subtitles, italicized terms, and bold face words. Make predictions about what the chapter is about. Question: Go to the first major heading. Predict what will be in that section. Using interrogatives: (who, what, where, when and why) turn heading into questions. Write down the questions. Do this for each major heading. Read: Read the chapter, section by section. Try to answer the questions you wrote down about each heading. Recite: After you read a section, cover the page or pages and recite (say out loud) what you can remember from the section. Review: Look at the section. Review it to see if you missed any important information. Mnemonic Devices*Memory tricks that give you clues about the topic of study.
* Can be acronyms, sayings, jingles, songs, acrostics * There are some common known Mnemonic Devices but you can also make up your own to help you study. * Examples: Acrostic: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (helps you to remember the order of operations by making words into a sentence using the first letter of each operation) – Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply, Divide, Add, Subtract Jingle: Columbus sailed the ocean blue in nineteen hundred and forty two. (helps you remember the date Christopher Columbus sailed his voyage). Song: The alphabet song (sets information to a song to help you remember your letters and alphabetical order.) Acronym: Roy G. Biv (helps you to remember the order of the colors in the spectrum or rainbow by creating a new word with each of the first letters). Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet Saying: Bigger on the Bottom so you Better Borrow (helps you remember what to do when subtracting with regrouping and you find that the bigger number is on the bottom of the problem. Graphic Organizers* Venn Diagrams: two overlapping circles. Used to compare and contrast two things. Write things that are similar in the part that overlaps. Write things that are different in the outside parts. This is helpful when trying to organize and understand material. Can be used in reading to compare and contrast two characters or two stories. Can be used in social studies to compare and contrast two events or two historical figures.
* Five Ws Chart: List of questions to answer. This is helpful when trying to organize and understand detailed information. Can be used in reading to understand the details of the story. Can be used in social studies to understand an event or historical period. Can be used in writing to organize the information you want to share in your writing. * Story Map 1: Write out the details of a story, including the setting, characters, problem, plot and events, and resolution to the problem. Can be used to organize writing or to organize and understand a reading passage. * Spider map, Cluster/Word Web 2, Describing Wheel: Start by writing the topic of study. Then on the other parts of the graphic organizer write details, definitions, sub-topics, etc. that relate to the main topic. Can be used to organize and understand information in social studies or science. Can be used to organize writing or understand a reading passage. Find graphic organizers you can print at the link below. 5 Times RuleDo something over and over again for five times.
Use this for: * Spelling Words: Say them or write them over and over again 5 times. Then try writing or saying the words out loud to see if you learned them. * Vocabulary words: Write down words and definitions over and over again 5 times. Then try writing or saying the definitions out loud to see if you learned them. * Math Facts: Write or say the math facts over and over again 5 times. Then use flashcards to test yourself on your math facts. To Do ListsFind a full page to-do list and an agenda sized to-do list to print at the link below.
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Flash CardsA study skill that has been around for a long time, for a reason! This study skill can be very beneficial if used correctly.
WHAT TO USE THEM FOR:
Use Index Cards or paper cut into smaller pieces.
Click or ClunkAt the end of a sentence, paragraph, or section, ask yourself if you understood what you read. If you can tell yourself what you just read, say “Click” or click a pen, or flip your click or clunk bookmark to the green ‘click’ side.
If you did not understand what you read, say “Clunk” or flip your click or clunk bookmark to the red ‘clunk’ side. Then go back and re-read the sentence, paragraph, or section using context clues and pictures to help you understand. |
Study Skills by Learning Styles
Linguistic: Likes to read, write, and tell stories. Is good at memorizing names, places, dates, and trivia.
Write short rhyming poems to remember facts.
Create stories about the topic to help learn the information.
Repeat facts out loud.
Have someone quiz you.
Use word associations to remember facts.
Use Mnemonic Devices Ex: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally =Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction
Logical/Mathematical: Likes to do experiments, figure things out, work with numbers, ask questions, and explore patterns.Is good at math, reasoning, logic, and problem solving.
Make categories or charts.
Use graphic organizers.
Make up test questions.
Create and use lists of key points from your material.
Organize information into numerical categories or in time order.
Musical: Likes to sing, hum tunes, listen to music. Is good at picking up sounds, remembering melodies, noticing rhythms and keeping time.
Use rhythm and music.
Create songs/raps to help learn information.
Tap a specific rhythm to match the syllables in the main ideas you are learning.
Use rhymes to help remember key points.
Listen to classical music with no words quietly in the background.
Spatial/Visual: Likes to draw, build, design and create things, look at pictures, watch movies an d play with machines.Is good at imagining things, mazes/puzzles, maps and charts.
Visualize the story.
Write out and re-write your notes.
Use flashcards.
Use Highlighters.
Color-code.
Circle, underline.
Use graphic organizers.
Organize information into categories with different colors or symbols for each category.
Create pictures, maps, diagrams, cartoon, and charts.
Bodily/Kinesthetic: Likes to move around, touch and talk and use body language.Is good at physical activities (sports/dance/acting) and crafts.
Walk/Pace while reviewing test information.
Take breaks while studying and move around during the break.
Use flash cards.
Jumping or simple dance moves to match key points.
Use the Room system or Loci System: Example: If you have to memorize a series of events for social studies, study each one in a different location in your house so you can associate it with that loci.
Interpersonal: Likes to have lots of friends, talk to people and join groups. Is good at understanding people, organizing and communicating with others.
Cooperating – study with a buddy.
Have someone quiz you.
Teach your material to a family member.
Intrapersonal: Likes to work alone and pursue own interests. Is good at understanding self, focusing inward, pursuing interests/goals and being original.
Work alone.
Set daily studying goals.
Quiz yourself.
Write short rhyming poems to remember facts.
Create stories about the topic to help learn the information.
Repeat facts out loud.
Have someone quiz you.
Use word associations to remember facts.
Use Mnemonic Devices Ex: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally =Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction
Logical/Mathematical: Likes to do experiments, figure things out, work with numbers, ask questions, and explore patterns.Is good at math, reasoning, logic, and problem solving.
Make categories or charts.
Use graphic organizers.
Make up test questions.
Create and use lists of key points from your material.
Organize information into numerical categories or in time order.
Musical: Likes to sing, hum tunes, listen to music. Is good at picking up sounds, remembering melodies, noticing rhythms and keeping time.
Use rhythm and music.
Create songs/raps to help learn information.
Tap a specific rhythm to match the syllables in the main ideas you are learning.
Use rhymes to help remember key points.
Listen to classical music with no words quietly in the background.
Spatial/Visual: Likes to draw, build, design and create things, look at pictures, watch movies an d play with machines.Is good at imagining things, mazes/puzzles, maps and charts.
Visualize the story.
Write out and re-write your notes.
Use flashcards.
Use Highlighters.
Color-code.
Circle, underline.
Use graphic organizers.
Organize information into categories with different colors or symbols for each category.
Create pictures, maps, diagrams, cartoon, and charts.
Bodily/Kinesthetic: Likes to move around, touch and talk and use body language.Is good at physical activities (sports/dance/acting) and crafts.
Walk/Pace while reviewing test information.
Take breaks while studying and move around during the break.
Use flash cards.
Jumping or simple dance moves to match key points.
Use the Room system or Loci System: Example: If you have to memorize a series of events for social studies, study each one in a different location in your house so you can associate it with that loci.
Interpersonal: Likes to have lots of friends, talk to people and join groups. Is good at understanding people, organizing and communicating with others.
Cooperating – study with a buddy.
Have someone quiz you.
Teach your material to a family member.
Intrapersonal: Likes to work alone and pursue own interests. Is good at understanding self, focusing inward, pursuing interests/goals and being original.
Work alone.
Set daily studying goals.
Quiz yourself.