Study Pairing Strategy

This is a great way to motivate yourself to approach that assignment that you just don't feel like doing. 

1. Identify the particular assignment you need to complete.
2. Imagine things you enjoy doing that you could pair with the dreaded assignment.
3. Set yourself up with both the thing you like to do and your assignment. Time to begin!

Here's an example that follows these directions:


First, I identify the assignment.

Then, I like to think about things that make me feel more comfortable and then pair them with my work. For example, I am currently working on a paper, but have a heated blanket that is helping me feel relaxed.

Other ideas:

• Make a cup of hot cocoa/tea/coffee and get comfortable in your favorite study spot.
• Find your favorite relaxation snack (mine would be chocolate!) and have it readily available as you work.
• Listen to music that motivates but does not distract. For me, this depends on the mood, but I have been known to use techno, folksy, or acoustic music (violin/cello) without any words. 
• Make sure the clothes you are wearing make you feel comfortable and keep you at a perfect temperature.

Finally, begin. You can do it!

~~~

R. L. Williams

Memorizing Concepts in a List

So I have my list of concepts to memorize for a quiz. The first step I take may be to memorize the list in order; know concepts based on what came before and what came after. However, to solidify the definitions outside of the context of an ordered list (quizzes may not include terms in order), there is something else I can do.

a) Look at the list. Be able to identify definitions without looking at them on paper, using the structure of the ordered list to help.

b) Create another list with the terms out of order. Try to remember definitions for each term. Check off the terms that I know easily off the top of my head, but put a star next to the terms that are harder to remember when decontextualized from their original list order.

c) Create another list, just using the terms next to which I put a star. Repeat steps one - three until I have checked off all of my terms.

This is very helpful for strict memorization. However, if I want to remember these concepts long-term, the best way to do this is to find a way to use them or link them to something that is happening in the "real world", The more I use concepts, the more familiar they will become to me.

Example:

Art Concepts - List 1 (original list of concepts)
1. Contrast - [definition]
2. Shading - [definition]
3. Aestheticism - [definition]
4. Pointillism - [definition]

Art Concepts - List 2 (out of order list of concepts)
3. Aestheticism*
1. Contrast
4. Pointillism*
2. Shading

Art Concepts - List 3 (starred concepts: Use these two terms to repeat the cycle)
Pointillism
Aestheticism

Balance and Mastery

A problem I often run into when studying is how to balance my time. Do I spend a lot of time on one thing, or a little bit of time on many things?

The problem: 

If I A) spend a lot of time on one thing: Maybe I can move towards a greater mastery of that one thing. A musician learns mastery through hours of practice. So a student can be a master if they focus on one specific thing?

If I B) spend a little bit of time on many different things: Mastery of individual things will take longer. The phrase goes, "Jack of all trades, but master of none." So then, a student might not master anything if they focus on too many little things?

Both approaches have difficulties. 

Approach A depends on the method of study. One person could learn a lot from three hours of study, whereas another could learn little and end up frustrated from having wasted so much time.

Approach B, too, depends on the method of study. While one person may not be able to master learning when they only spend a little bit of time on each subject, another person could develop strategies to work on relevant tasks that, when done in a short amount of time repeatedly over the course of a week or a month or a year, will lead to mastery.

This all goes to say that mastery of learning depends largely upon the learner and if they have acquired sufficient strategies to accomplish their goals regardless of time constraints.

*Edit: 6.29.2017 @ 11:00 am: After a little more experience and reading advice from others, something to help with both mastery and balance seems to be to start with the biggest, most valuable task, start early, make a written (pen and paper) plan that has doable increments every day, and then stick to it! Easier than trying to get everything done in a 3 hour chunk on one day, and you have more time between working to complete other necessary tasks. But this will necessitate that you learn to prioritize assignments as well as plan far in advance how you will complete everything together.

-R.L.Williams

Study Block Schedule

The purpose of this block schedule is to create a fast-paced study session in which the possibility of falling asleep or getting distracted is minimized. The goal is to partition time in order to work on multiple things at once. It may be helpful to create a to-do list beforehand, from which to copy your assignments onto a block of time in your study block.

• Break Times
• The purpose of the 15 minutes of Prep Time at the beginning is to give your mind a rest to prepare for what you're about to do.
• Do something that relaxes you or helps organize your study area for the least amount of distraction
• Turn off your phone
• Drink a glass of water and make sure you have enough food or snacks available to keep you going
• This will help prepare your mind and motivation and help you feel awake.
• The purpose of the periodic 10 minute break time is to give you a chance to refocus.
• Do something that relaxes you.
• If needed turn on phone to check messages or missed calls, but immediately turn back off.
• Do NOT let your waste time exceed the allowance.
• If needed, shorten it.
• Papers
• Give more time than regular miscellaneous homework.
• Understand what the paper topic is.
• Explore related resources.
• Collect in a table or on note cards quotes or paraphrases with source info.
• If paper is on a book, READ THE PROMPT BEFORE THE BOOK. 
• This will help focus reading on collecting relevant information.
• If you have multiple papers, give both the same level of focus.
• Miscellaneous Homeworks
• Anything outside of your main assignments
• May be reading for next class, or filling out a worksheet
• Use this time creatively to knock things off your to-do list

Sample Study Block Schedule: 

15 minutes - Prep Time - turn off your phone!

30 minutes - Paper 1 - read prompt, understand your goal

30 minutes - Paper 2 - read prompt, understand your goal

15 minutes - Misc. Homework 1 - define vocabulary words

15 minutes - Misc Homework 2 - worksheet

10 minutes - Break

30 minutes - Paper 1 - collect evidence from resources

30 minutes - Paper 2 - collect evidence from resources

15 minutes - Misc. Homework 3 - complete online module

15 minutes - Misc Homework 4 - read assigned article

10 minutes - Break

30 minutes - Paper 1 - divide evidence into paragraphs

30 minutes - Paper 2 - divide evidence into paragraphs

15 minutes - Misc. Homework 5 - email teacher with questions, clarify misunderstandings

15 minutes - Misc Homework 6 -  etc.

10 minutes - Break

Total study time: 4 hrs, 30 mins

Total Prep/Break time: 45 mins

Total time used: 5 hrs, 15 mins