Copyright 2001, Christine L. Abela, M.Ed

THE 5-MINUTE STUDY SKILLS DRILL

What are Study Skills?

When college students hear the words, “study skills,” many think it refers only to the time spent reading and reviewing textbooks and notes and how well the information was learned.

However, a student’s overall “study skills” consist of a combination of skills that pertain to the student’s personal activities, in-class activities, and out-of-class activities.

Study Skills Include:

Personal Skills Asking for

assistance Setting goals Motivating oneself Finding interest in

what you are doing Time-management Stress-management Maintaining a

positive attitude Maintaining a

healthy lifestyle

In-Class Skills Attending class Listening Effective note-

taking Taking tests Group work Asking questions Participating in

class discussion

Out-of-Class Skills Finding resources Organizing material Editing/Reviewing

notes Reading effectively Writing Comprehending

material Remembering Completing

assignments Talking to instructors

Personal, in-class, and out-of-class skills are all learned skills that students can improve over time.

Discussing each skill that was listed on the previous slide is beyond the scope of this presentation because each skill can be a workshop in and of itself.

Therefore, we will focus on the basic elements that will you can engage in immediately to make a difference in your grades!

Tips Before You Begin Studying

Set Priorities in your life: Attending college is a big time and financial commitment; therefore, plan

to give yourself the time and resources necessary to be a success!!

Develop realistic goals: Don’t expect to do everything at once. Many tasks, including studying,

are better done in small chunks over time. In addition, some disciplines, such as math, computer programming, and foreign language MUST be worked on everyday for a student to become proficient in them.

Develop self-discipline: Having a good plan of action will not help you succeed unless you follow

it. Don’t let yourself get distracted from the studying you need to do.

Continued…

Manage your time: College students must balance their time wisely among classes, study

time, family, friends, and possibly employment; therefore, the more efficient you become at time-management, the easier it will be for you to juggle everything you need to do.

Assess your motivation: When you are motivated to study, you are more likely to stay focused and

absorb the material.

Utilize your personal style of studying: Not every technique or method works for everyone so take the time to

learn what works best for you. Once you know what techniques work for you, then you can become more efficient at studying.

Tips For Planning Study Time

The rule of thumb is that students should plan at least two hours of study time for every one hour in class per week (for instance, 12 credit hours = 24 study hours per week)

Study when you are the most attentive

Plan to study your most challenging class first because it will take the most amount of time and effort.

Schedule study time in blocks with a 5-10 minutes break every hour.

Allot time for nutritious eating & good sleeping.

Tips For Using Study Time Effectively

Use a regular study area so that studying becomes a habitual task.

Try to notice when your concentration is lacking and take a short break or, if possible, switch the subject you are studying to a topic that will hold keep your interest.

Discuss your study schedule with roommates and/or family members that live with you so they know when you need quiet, uninterrupted time.

Avoid phone calls, text messages, and visitors if they start to disrupt your study time.

Utilizing the basic tips for “using study time effectively”, for “planning study time”, and for “before you begin studying” will get you on the right track!!

Good Study Skills are necessary for college success, however, they are only one of many elements of success.