LEARNING and TESTING for Success * SFSU TESTING CENTER
Why am I studying? to reach my goals
MOTIVATION: Write and Post your goals at your study place.
Create your time schedule for the semester to post and to carry.
For every hour in class you are expected to study or do course work that week for 3 hours out of class. (ex. 3 hours in class = 9 hours per week studying)
Sit near the front of the classroom to ask and answer questions, hear, concentrate and see the board better.
Review prior to participatory/seminar class and after lecture/notetaking class.
ASAP after each class review, edit, add to your notes and write any questions you have about the notes.
Do the assigned reading prior to every class and outline/write notes on the material, write potential test questions in the margins and write questions about anything in the reading that you don't understand.
When you are in class, ask your questions about your notes for the previous class and your questions from the reading.
Keep up or stay ahead with reading and reviewing.
Tell classmates (or anyone who will listen) what you understood about the class and readings. Form a study group to discuss and review course information each week.
When in need of assistance make an appointment to see the instructor or assistant. Write your questions prior to the appointment to reduce anxiety, remember all of your questions and save time.
Find out about campus tutoring services and make use of them. See the Learning Assistance Center on campus for information about these services. The LAC website is on www.sfsu.edu/~lac.
Don't cram for exam, just review!
Review exams to see what you need to do to improve your studying and preparing for the next exam and learn the correct information for any of your exam errors.
See other "study skills" internet links on this web site
TIME AND STUDY TIPS
WHEN YOU GET AN ASSIGNMENT, MAKE A LIST OF ALL YOU NEED TO DO TO EARN A GOOD GRADE. Start breaking down the list into small doable parts and scheduling assignment parts as soon as you get them (even from the class syllabus on the first day). Put the parts on your time schedule each week. DON'T PROCRASTINATE! STAY AHEAD.
Carry portable study work at all times and USE IT. Have study notes available when you have to wait for anything. Be prepared to use time wisely.
Make an audio tape of what you are studying to use during commute, walking etc.
Mentally review your studies while doing things you don't have to think about. Post notes on bathroom mirror, over kitchen sink etc.
Use your subconscious thoughts and write notes of ideas that come to you while in bed, driving, walking etc.
Take regular study breaks. (10 minutes per hour or 5 per half hour)
Study the most difficult things during the day because studies have proven that we take longer to learn the same amount at night. Stop studying by 10 p.m.
Don't permit interruptions while you study. Don't let friends know where you study. Don't answer the phone or beeper while studying. In fact, fix these devices to keep from hearing them when you study.
Make study groups valuable study time. If you aren't learning, LEAVE!
Jot down distracting thoughts while you are studying so that you can refer to the notes later and stop worrying about the thoughts while you study. This technique helps you concentrate and learn more faster.
Make tally marks when you realize that you ARE NOT CONCENTRATING while you study and read for courses. Re-focus your concentration after each tally mark. Compete with yourself to reduce the tally marks each time you study and read to improve your concentration skills and to get more read and learned in less time than you currently take.
Read: "The Danger in Delay" on http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/1674.51082
and
"So Many Excuses, So Little Time," Chapter 6, in Taking the Anxiety Out of Taking Test by Susan Johnson on reserve in campus Library, ask for call number TESCE b 11.