Antelope Valley School District

Effective Learning Techniques

1.) ENVIRONMENT

  • PICK A CONSISTENT PLACE TO COMPLETE YOUR WORK EACH DAY
  • MAKE SURE THE PLACE YOU CHOOSE IS QUIET AND COMFORTABLE
  • ENSURE THAT YOUR WORK AREA IS WELL-LIT, AND THAT YOU HAVE THE NECESSARY MATERIALS TO COMPLETE YOUR WORK

2.) PACE

  • WORK ON ASSIGNMENTS IN ONE HOUR INTERVALS< WITH BREAKS IN-BETWEEN
  • WORK DAILY TO AVOID LETTING WORK STACK UP ON THE PARTICULAR DAY

3.) PLAN AHEAD

  • CREATE A SCHEDULE FOR YOUR WORKLOAD; NOTE WHEN LARGE PROJECTS ARE DUE
  • BLACK OFF A SET AMOUNT OF TIME TO WORK ON YOUR ASSIGNMENTS EACH DAY

4.) TIME MANAGEMENT

  • RECORD ALL ASSIGNMENTS ON A PLANNER/CALENDAR
  • PRIORITIZE YOUR ASSIGNMENTS BASED ON ORDER OF IMPORTANCE AND DEADLINE
  • BREAK LARGE ASSGNMENTS UP INTO SHORTER TASKS ACROSS MULTIPLE DAYS
  • DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO LET PARTIES, LEISURE ACTIVITIES, OR DOWN-TIME AFFECT YOUR SCHOOLWORK TIME

5.) ACTIVE LISTENING

  • MAKE DIRECT EYE CONTACT WITH YOUR INSTRUCTOR WHILE HE/SHE IS SPEAKING
  • KEEP YOUR THROUGHTS ON TASK AS YOU LISTEN TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR
  • REMOVE ALL ITEMS THAT CAN BE A DISTRACTION TO YOUR LISTENING (I.E. CELL PHONE)

6.) ACTIVE READING

  • MARK WORDS OR PHRASES THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND
  • MARK UP THE TEXT: UNDERLINE MAIN IDEAS, HIGHLIGHT KEY WORDS, AND MAKE NOTES IN THE MARGINS
  • FIND THE MAIN IDEA IN EACH PARAGRAPH
  • WRITE A SUMMARY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE JUST READ TO FULLY GRASP THE MAIN IDEA

7.) NOTE-TAKING

  • TAKE NOTES DURING LECTURES, OR ON THE MATERIAL YOU ARE READING
  • USE PROVEN STYLES OF NOTE-TAKING LIKE CORNELL NOTES (NEXT PAGE)
  • ASK YOURSELF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MATERIAL
  • HIGHLIGHT MAIN IDEAS FOR WHAT IS BEING COVERED IN THE TEXT OR VIA LECTURE
  • DEFINE KEY TERMS
  • GO BACK AND RE-READ YOUR NOTES MULTIPLE TIMES TO FULLY  UNDERSTAND THE TOPIC OF THE SECTION YOUR WERE COVERING