study skill strategies

Study Skill Strategies

With help from

Martha Williams, RN, MS

Objectives

• Determine what type of learner you are by completing learning style inventory

• Organize study materials by keeping a health sciences notebook. (handout with rubric)

• Develop better listening skills• Write clear, concise lecture notes by learning a

variety of methods (Cornell handout)• Utilize reading strategies for improving reading

comprehension• Explore varying techniques for improving memory• Implement strategies for taking tests with various

types of questions.

Introduction

• Developing good study skills is vital to your success in this class.• If developed now, they will be invaluable to you as you make the

transition from high school into college.• This lesson will assist you in developing the following skills:• Determining what type of learner you are• Organizing your time by preparing a study schedule • Following instructions• Becoming a better listener• Writing more useful lecture notes• Improving your reading skills• Developing strategies for successful test taking

Learning Style Inventory

• Determine how you learn best through completing learning style inventory (administer inventory of choice-handout and on-line references)

Attitude(handout)

• This survey on attitude is designed to help you know yourself better

• There is no right or wrong answers, but you must be honest with yourself

• To learn and apply quality study skills, it is essential to have a positive attitude

• Your attitude and motivation will make all the difference

Time Control

• Do you have a large monthly calendar?

• Write all important tests, deadlines, and activities on a large monthly calendar

• Place in a conspicuous location

• Use color to highlight important dates

Time Control

• Use daily planning sheet to prioritize time (handout)

• Do you have a weekly study plan? (handout)• Use the blank weekly study plan to visualize and

organize your time• Lightly pencil in your classes and block out

times to eat, sleep, work, or study

Time Control

• Do you plan for a least one hour of study for each class period?

• By keeping a regular schedule, you study time will soon become habit forming

• Do you plan for study breaks?• Remember to limit your straight study time to

no longer than one hour• Take a 10 minute break between study

periods to refresh yourself and rest your mind

30 Minutes a Day

• ’30 Minutes a Day Bring Good Grades Your Way

• By reducing and reviewing your notes the same day, you keep information in your head

• It will only take about 5-10 minutes to go through your notes!

• Do this three different times during the day=30 minutes!

Apply 30 Minutes

• Make and carry flashcards

• Study during commercials

• Go to Class-your attendance is vital to your success

Time Control

• Do you preview text assignments?

• Do you review class notes from the previous class before your study time?

Get Organized

• Keep a notebook (handout on requirements)

• Use a 1 ½-2 inch binder to keep your notes, handouts, study guides, homework, etc. organized

• Date each lecture and number all pages in sequence

Listening

• Listening means paying attention to and making an effort to hear what the other person is saying.

• Good listening skills require constant practice.

Listening Techniques

• Diversified Health Occupations (6th edition) – page 208

• Show interest and concern for what the speaker is saying

• Be alert and maintain eye contact with the speaker

• Avoid interrupting the speaker


• Pay attention to what the speaker is saying• Avoid thinking about how your are going to respond• Try to eliminate your own prejudices and see the other

person’s point of view• Eliminate distractions by moving to a quiet area• Watch the speaker closely to observe actions that may

contradict what the person is saying


• Reflect statements back to the speaker to let them know they are being heard

• Ask for clarification if you do not understand part of a message

NotetakingFour Systems

• Cornell Format – we will look at in detail• Outline Format

– Represent key ideas by Roman numerals• Other ideas relating to each key idea by uppercase letters, numbers

and lowercase letters

• Paragraph Format– Involves writing detailed paragraphs, with each containing a

summary of a topic• List Format

– Effective when taking notes on terms and definitions, sequences and facts

Cornell Notetaking

Why should youtake notes?

• To minimize your “rate of forgetting”

Dr. Walter Pauk, Cornell University Reading Center

Don’t take notes = Forget 60 % in 14 days

Take some notes = Remember 60 %

Take organized notes and do something with them=

Remember 90-100% indefinitely!

Cornell Notetaking

• Dr. Pauk created the Cornell Notetaking System, which is used at Stanford, UCLA’s School of Engineering, most Law Schools, and of course, at Cornell University

• The Cornell System requires you to review notes and think critically after learning has taken place

Questions

Labeling

Notes

Reflection

First & Last NameClass Title

PeriodDate

Topic

Questions,Subtitles,Headings,Etc.

Class Notes

2 1/2”

3 to 4 sentence summary across the bottom of the last page of the day’s notes

Subject: Why take Cornell notes? Date PPRROOCCEESSSS

((oouuttppuutt)) MMaaiinn IIddeeaass ((iinnppuutt))

How can Cornell notes help me organize my ideas? Which side for diagrams? Why use concept maps? What are the benefits to me?

Can be used to provide an outline of chapter or lecture. Organized by main ideas and details. Can be as detailed as necessary. Sequential-- take notes as they are given by instructor or text in an orderly fashion. After class, write a summary of what you learned to clarify and reinforce learning and to assist retention. Can be used as study tool: 1. Define terms or explain concepts listed on left side. 2. Identify the concept or term on the right side. Can be used to provide a "big picture" of the chapter orlecture. Organized by main ideas and sub-topics Limited in how much detail you can represent. Simultaneous - you can use this method for instructors who jump around from topic to topic. After class, you can add questions to the left side Can be used as a study tool -- to get a quick overview and to determine whether you need more information or need to concentrate your study on specific topics.

Subject: Notetaking Date: SSuummmmaarryy:: There are a couple of ways that you can take notes. The Cornell method is best when the information is given in a sequential, orderly fashion and allows for more detail. The semantic web/concept map method works best for instructors who skip around from topic to topic, and provides a "big picture" when you're previewing materials or getting ready to study for a test.

•Summary is added at the end of ALL note pages on the subject (not page)•Summary added AFTER questionsare finished•Summary should answer the problem stated in the subject.

Cornell Notetaking

When should youtake notes?

• Notes are a record of your learning, so take them when:

You listen to a lecture You read a text You watch a film You work in a group on

an activity You need to recall

information about what happened to you in a class, meeting, or activity--which means always!

Cornell Notetaking

What do you notice that is different about Cornell Notes?

• They are divided into two parts: questions and notes

• There is a reflection at the end

• There is room for a topic

• They are labeled with name, date, class, period or other information

Cornell Notetaking

What types ofquestions should I place on the left side?

• Questions which are answered in the notes on the right

• Questions you still need the answer to--ask a friend or the teacher after class

• Questions the teacher might ask on a test

• Higher level thinking questions

Cornell Notetaking

What else could I place on the left side?

• Key terms, vocabulary words, or dates

• Diagrams or figures• Reference pages in a

text• Steps in a solution

process• Notes to myself about

actions I need to take

Cornell Notetaking

What are somegood tips fortaking thenotes on the right?

• Write only what is most important:

listen for repetition, change in pace or volume, numbering, explicit clues (“this is important,” or “on the test”);

watch for gestures, or clues to organization;

look for material being written down by instructor or shared in a visual manner

Cornell Notetaking


• Write in your own words (paraphrase)

• Write using abbreviations (check a dictionary for these and create your own)

• Draw a figure or diagram• Leave space where you think

you might need to “fill in” info later

• Use bullets, arrows, and indenting to list key ideas

• Write legibly

Cornell Notetaking


• Actively listen Use SLANT Maintain eye contact with

the speaker, group, or presentation source

Nod your head at appropriate times

Frown when you do not understand

Ask relevant questions Answer questions posed by

the instructor Make a written record

Cornell Notetaking

What are the steps to takingCornell Notes?

• Set up your page Draw your margins Label clearly

• Take notes Use your best strategies

• Actively listen, analyze, ask questions

• Review, revise, reflect Look over notes and highlight, edit,

or add info Write your questions and reflection

Effective Notetaking

• Always read your assignment before you come to class

• Otherwise the lecture may sound as if it is in Greek

• Be prepared• Identify some serious

students and get to know them

• Get phone numbers in case you have questions or need help during the semester

• Copy everything the instructor writes on the board

• Especially examples, solutions, outlines, & definitions

Take Notes on all:

• Definitions• Lists• Formulas or solutions• When in doubt, write it down• In discussion in classes, jot notes on important

points• Such as conclusions reached during discussion

Notes

• Use symbols, diagrams, or drawings to simplify ideas

• Listen for signals from your instructor about what is important

• Voice changes usually indicate important points

• Repetition is a clue that an important point is being made

• Gestures may indicate a major point

• Stay involved with class discussion.

• Ask questions, especially when things are unclear

Make it Easy

• Abbreviate, Omit, Invent and Simplify

• Distribute handout (abbreviations for notetaking)

Improving Reading Skills

• Not everyone is blessed with good reading ability

• Reading can be developed with practice

• We will discuss a five step strategy that will improve your reading skills by becoming a more critical reader

• SQ3R

S - Survey

• Spend no more than 10 minutes to take a “sneak preview” of the reading you have been assigned

• Previewing provides an overview of the way the chapter is organized

• Smart travelers use a roadmap

S - Survey

• You should examine the title of each chapter• Note heading and subheading and the relationship

between the important headings in each chapter• Glance at diagrams, graphs or visuals• Quickly skim the introductory and concluding sections

of each chapter• Notice any study questions at end of chapter

Q - Question

• Begin with the first section of a chapter

• Always read with the intent to answer a question

• Use words such as who, what, when and where, or how

• Turn each heading into a question

R #1- Read and Underline

• Read each section with the question you developed in mind

• After each section, go back to the beginning and underline, highlight, or mark material

• Read a paragraph or a section of the text and go back and underline only main points

• Do not underline the first time you read material

Read and Underline

• Vertical lines -- place vertical lines in the margin to emphasize main points of several lines

• Asterisks -- use asterisks for main points and for other important points or ideas that may be important

• Definitions and examples -- underline all definitions. Write definition in margin. Put ( ) around examples

Read and Underline

• Don’t highlight everything-just key points

• Circle or boxes - some circle or box important concepts, ideas or subheadings

R #2-Recite and Write Study Notes

• Once you have formed questions on your reading and found the answers, now you are ready to recite the answers

• Recite the answers out loud or to yourself

• Write brief study notes

• Write a sentence summary of the main idea in each paragraph if the material is extremely difficult for you

R #3-Review the Entire Chapter

• Reread each heading• Review the underlined

and highlighted material• Answer the questions

you formed on each session

Memory Training

• Human beings are capable of extraordinary feats of memory

• You are not born with it but develop it through the use of various techniques, and considerable practice

• These memory steps if learned and practiced, can make your studying easier

Memory Training - #1

• A. Spread your memory work over several sessions– Shorter periods of memory work, not more than two

hours each, are far superior to six hours of frantic cramming

Memory Training #2

• Recite material aloud• When you study or

memorize, recite the answers to your study questions so you can hear them

• Question yourself aloud and answer yourself

• Quiz each other

Memory Training #3

• Expect to remember• Your attitude is the secret• Believe in yourself and

in your ability to learnElephants never forget

Memory Training #4

• Organize the material• People who recall long

lists of numbers often can do so because they have found a pattern or relationship

Memory Training #5

• Test and retest yourself• Memorize the first item• Go on to the second item and memorize it• Now repeat the first item and the second by memory• When you know those two, go to the third• Memorize the third item and repeat items one, two, and

three

Memory Training #6

• Overlearn

• Review material that you have learned several times

• When finals come around your will have mastered material

Memory Training #7

• Use hooks, catchwords, and silly sentence

• Study before you sleep

• ROOSTER-catchword for remembering how to train our memory

• R-Recite material aloud

• O-Organize your material into a meaningful pattern

• O-Overlearn

• S-Spread your memory work over several sessions

• T-Test and retest yourself

• E-Expect to remember

• R-Recall-use hooks, catchwords and silly sentences

Taking Exams

• Look over the entire test• Know how much each question is worth and budget

your time accordingly• Check the clock every 10 minutes to insure you will not

be caught off guard and run out of time• Answer the easiest questions first• Put a check by those that are harder and return to those

questions last

Taking Exams

• Place another line through the check when you complete the harder questions

• Underline key words in the question

• Make special note of negative words like “not”

• Ask for clarification

study skill strategies

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