Study Skills

Student Support Services

Daytona State College

Know YourselfKnow Yourself

Know When You Study BestKnow When You Study Best Are you a morning or night person?Are you a morning or night person? When are you most productive, awake, alert?When are you most productive, awake, alert? Do you let everyone know when it is your time Do you let everyone know when it is your time

to study so that you will not be disturbed.to study so that you will not be disturbed. Have you formed a habit of studying the same Have you formed a habit of studying the same

time each day?time each day?

Know Yourself cont..Know Yourself cont..

Know Where You Study Best.Know Where You Study Best.– Consider these distractionsConsider these distractions

• T.V.T.V.• TalkingTalking• WindowsWindows• MusicMusic• People Walking byPeople Walking by• TelephoneTelephone• Family and FriendsFamily and Friends

Quiet PleaseQuiet Please

Choose a place to study Choose a place to study that is free of that is free of distractions.distractions.

This may be the library, This may be the library, the Academic Support the Academic Support Center, your own Center, your own bedroom.bedroom.

Be sure the environment Be sure the environment you are studying in is you are studying in is comfortable.comfortable.

Avoid studying in bed…Avoid studying in bed…you may just fall asleep.you may just fall asleep.

Ready…Set…Study!!Ready…Set…Study!!

Gather All Materials Gather All Materials Needed.Needed.– Reference booksReference books

– Writing ToolsWriting Tools

– TestsTests

– Class NotesClass Notes

– Folders, NotebooksFolders, Notebooks

– Assignment(s)Assignment(s)

Set Your Mind to Set Your Mind to Study.Study.

Intend to have Intend to have focused, effective focused, effective study time.study time.

Set realistic goalsSet realistic goals Strive for quality as Strive for quality as

well as quantitywell as quantity.

Ready…Set…StudyReady…Set…Study

Map out a time lineMap out a time line For long-range assignments For long-range assignments

set short range goals.set short range goals. Short-range “chunks” of Short-range “chunks” of

work are easier to focus on work are easier to focus on and handle.and handle.

Divide time between subjects.Divide time between subjects. Study the hardest subjects Study the hardest subjects

first while your mind is fresh.first while your mind is fresh. Leave routine and less Leave routine and less

difficult tasks for last.difficult tasks for last.

Ready…Set…StudyReady…Set…Study

Review familiar Review familiar material first.material first.– Titles/subtitlesTitles/subtitles

– Boldface typeBoldface type

– Vocabulary WordsVocabulary Words

– Review questionsReview questions

– Class notes/handoutsClass notes/handouts

Apply It!Apply It!

Apply knowledge of how you learn to warm Apply knowledge of how you learn to warm up and study.up and study.– Write thingsWrite things

• Vocabulary wordsVocabulary words• ListsLists• DefinitionsDefinitions• Diagrams/ChartsDiagrams/Charts

– Make a tape of things to memorizeMake a tape of things to memorize– Write important information on 3 x 5 index Write important information on 3 x 5 index

cards to review at anytimecards to review at anytime

Break Time!Break Time!

Take a Break!Take a Break! Take a 5-10 minute Take a 5-10 minute

break for every 45 break for every 45 minutes of study.minutes of study.

Take a short break Take a short break between topics.between topics.– Do something physicalDo something physical

– Get something to eatGet something to eat

– WalkWalk

Study TipsStudy TipsBreak It Down!Break It Down!

Break Down To Study for a Test

Chapter OneSunday Night

Chapter Two Monday Night

Chapter ThreeTuesday Night

Chapter Four Wednesday Night

Review all 4 ChaptersThursday Night

TEST!Friday

I Can Not Remember It All!I Can Not Remember It All!

It is less tiring to “spread out” study periods rather than to “cram.”

Too many ideas at one time are confusing. The human brain can successfully process 6-7 ideas

during one time period and maintain good retention of the information if enough repetition is used.

Good grades most often are lost due to lack of organization rather than a lack of information.

Repetition, Repetition, RepetitionRepetition, Repetition, Repetition

Repetition is the key.Repetition is the key. The more you review The more you review

your book, notes, your book, notes, handouts, etc. the more handouts, etc. the more likely the information likely the information will be retained.will be retained.

You must review often You must review often so the information can so the information can be moved from short-be moved from short-term to long-term term to long-term memory. memory.

This is when true This is when true learning takes place.learning takes place.

Quiz QuestionsQuiz Questions(Please answer the quiz questions and give a copy of the answers to a (Please answer the quiz questions and give a copy of the answers to a

SSS staff member)SSS staff member)

1.1. What should you know about yourself before you start to study?What should you know about yourself before you start to study?2.2. Where do you study best? Where do you study best? 3.3. What are common distractions when studying? How can you What are common distractions when studying? How can you

avoid them?avoid them?4.4. What materials should you have before you start to study?What materials should you have before you start to study?5.5. What should you study first; difficult or less difficult material?What should you study first; difficult or less difficult material?6.6. What material should you review first?What material should you review first?7.7. What is the benefit of index cards and other study aids?What is the benefit of index cards and other study aids?8.8. Should you take breaks when studying? If so, how long and when Should you take breaks when studying? If so, how long and when

should you take a break?should you take a break?9.9. Why can cramming for a test lead to failure?Why can cramming for a test lead to failure?10.10. Why is repetition important?Why is repetition important?