How To Study...No, Actually

Hello! I have seen post after post about study tips, (I am guilty as well). But none of them actually tell you HOW to study. Now, most people have their own method, but I have had some people tell me that they just don't know how to study. I feel like either people figure out how to study in high school, or they just never really quite find their own method. I'm going to do my best to lay out the ways that there are to study.

Everyone learns differently, but there are 4 basic types of learners:
1. Visual Learners: Learn best by seeing things explained down on paper. These guys learn math best by seeing the process done.
2. Auditory Learners: Learn best by having something explained to them. Make sure you go to class! You'll get the most information from the professor's lectures.
3. Reading/Writing Learners: Learn best by reading instructions, reading the explanation that the textbook provides, etc.
4. Kinesthetic Learners: Learn best by doing something themselves. Want to know how to put something together? Just sit down and try to do it.

Methods of studying:
1. Flash cards: Do you learn best by repetition? Flash cards are great for vocab words. I also use flash cards for stepped processes. I also used them as fact cards for the different disorders when I was taking abnormal psychology. When studying flashcards, put aside the ones you got correct and mix the ones you got incorrect back into the deck in your hand.

2. Mind Maps: These are a great ways of writing down all the details associated with something in no particular organization. I don't do mind maps because I'm a little too much of a perfectionist to do mind maps. However, I know that they can be very helpful for some people, especially on the topics that have a good chunk of detail.

3. Practice Problems: This was so important for me during all of my math classes in high school. I did practice problem after practice problem. Practice problems are pretty much best for STEM classes, however, they can be modified to other classes. For example, if you're going to have short or extended response questions on an exam, you could come up with a list of possible questions and practice what you would say to each question. If I remember correctly, we were given practice extended response questions in AP American History. If your professor doesn't give your practice problems, ask around. If another professor is teaching the same class, perhaps he gives out practice problems to his students. Also, look around on the Internet, many professors at other universities put their materials online.

4. Record Lectures: If you are an auditory learner, this is a great option. Record your professors lectures and then play them back and listen to them. Take extra note of things that were said that seem important. I've seen some people listen to their lectures while they're doing every-day things like cooking, or walking on the treadmill. If you're going to do this, make sure that you're listening to your recorded lectures while you are doing tasks that don't require a whole lot of thought. That way you can pay attention to the recording.

5. Talk about it: This one is again great for auditory learners. You get to take the information and kind of kick it around. Find a way to talk about it. Teach your cat about the nervous system. Talk to your roommate about the symptoms of schizophrenia. Get together with a group of classmates and discuss your material. If you're with a group of classmates, y'all can discuss any questions. Chances are that someone in the group knows the answer. 

Blog Faves: The Organised Student

Good afternoon, all! Today, I'm going to introduce you to one of my favorite organization tools!

Ellen is a recent recent graduate from England who runs a studyblr (study oriented blog) on tumblr. There is a whole community of people who basically post "study porn." Its ridiculously motivational and I love it. Anyway, Ellen does a wonderful job running this blog and has created printable to help her followers. She has created an entire line of organizing printable FOR FREE! They are lovely and super useful! Check them out.

Her blog: The Organized Student.
Her Google Drive folder: The Organised Student Printables

Her printables include:

• 5 page study plan
• "My study planner"
• Topics to study
• Study plan
• Study schedule
• Motivation
• Weekly Planner (with or without times)
• Daily Planner (version 1.0 and 2.0)
• Assignment planner
• Definitions sheet
• Essay planner
• "Goal getting"
• Grade tracker
• Month @ A Glance
• Semester planner
• 24/7 Planner

I hope you all enjoy these printables as much as I do! Have a good day!

How I Study

Hello! Last week I published a post on my top 8 study tips. So, I thought I would follow that up with a post about how I personally study. As I said last week, what works for my may not work for you. But, for those of you who never studied in high school and need some ideas to get them kick-started in their college studying endeavors, look no further! So, I now present how I study:

• I got to class. What a shock! I put a lot of emphasis on this in my study tips post, but yes, I do practice what I preach. 
• I print out the power points. Especially for my bio class where its practically required, I print out the power point before class so I can spend more time listening and not furiously writing down everything on the slide. This also gives me the opportunity to write comments on diagrams and such. 
• I listen to classical music while I study. Personally, I cannot stand silence, especially while I'm studying. If I am studying, and my dorm is quite, it actually distracts me. So, heres what I do: I listen to the "Intense Studying" playlist on Spotify. It is 14 and a half hours of instrumental, classical music. While I feel a bit like I'm sitting in Panera, it does help me concentrate and focus.
• I keep a planner. Again, I put some focus on this last week, but seriously guys, I cannot tell you how much my planner helps me. I will easily forget about a 10-point assignment for english, or about a 1-page paper for psychology, but when I look at my planner, I am constantly reminded. I have developed a great system that works so well for me.
• I write my big due dates in the month view and the week view. ie. exams, big papers, big group projects, etc.
• I write everything down. Easy 10-point assignment not due until next week? Write it down. 25-point biology assignment that requires a trip to the museum? Write it down. Ballet class? Write it down. Study date with my lab partner? Write it down. 
• I schedule study time. For example, tomorrow after my last class, I am scheduled to work on my bio lab report for an hour and this weekend I am scheduled to start studying for my chemistry lab final for an hour.
• I color code with highlighters. Any time I am scheduling to work on psych or have a psych deadline, I highlight it in purple. Any time I am working on whatever English paper I have due next, I highlight it in orange. Every class has a color. Everything gets highlights in the right color.

A semi-blurry pic of a week in my Lilly Pulitzer planner. 

• I keep my desk organized. I'm a big organization person, so this is a big one for me. Everything has a place. Everything is in that place. I have desk organizers that I use to organize my supplies and I have magazine holder that organize my notebooks, lab books, and the textbooks that fit. I try to keep my desk cleaned off at all times, but sometimes I slack. Overall, my desk is kept pretty clean, neat and organized.

My clean, for now, desk. 

• I take notes. Again, this is something I highlighted last week. But taking good notes is important. My note-taking method changes depending on the class. In psych, I take notes on my computer. In bio, I print off the power points. In chem, I take a notebook and many colored pens to class. 
• I review my notes. For my bio notes, I review them on tuesday and thursdays (the days I don't have that class). I review my psych notes on the weekends and before quizzes. When I'm studying for my psych exams, I write out my notes and highlight the most important parts. When I'm studying for my bio exams, I turn the power points into written note form. 
• I have found what works best when studying for exams. For each subject, I have a routine when I study for that exam.
• Psych: I write out my typed notes and go over them with a highlighter. I use blue for definitions, green for important ideas and purple for other important ideas that have lists. I also have my book open while I'm doing this just incase there's something that I don't completely understand. Then I type up an outline for each chapter. Then I make notecards for the important definitions. 
• Biology: I write out the power points and go over them with the same high lighter system. I type of the notes. I type up an outline. I make flashcards of the important definitions and ideas. I make sure that I understand and can replicate all of the diagrams and figures. 
• Chem: I re-write my notes into a different notebook. I re-work the example problems the professor did in class. I work the extra example problems he gives us. I work the problems from last year's exam.
• I study in advance. Or rather, I try. Sometimes I get busy and don't start studying for my Wednesday exam until Sunday, but I've only had to pull 1 all-nighter this year, so it seems to be going smoothly. 

So, that's about it. If you have any questions about how I do things, feel free to ask below :) Until next time, my lovelies...