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
- BLOCK OFF A SET AMOUNT OF TIME TO WORK ON YOUR ASSIGNMENTS EACH DAY
4.) TIME MANAGEMENT
- RECORD ALL ASSIGNMENTS IN A PLANNER OR CALENDAR
- PRIORITIZE YOUR ASSIGNMENTS BASED ON ORDER OF IMPORTANCE AND DEADLINE
- BREAK LARGE ASSGNMENTS UP INTO SHORTER TASKS ACROSS MULTIPLE DAYS
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
- 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