It's not news that being a student is an art in and of itself, and it takes practice to execute this role successfully. Transitioning from high school to college comes easy for some, but not for all because of the various educational backgrounds. It's important that students are provided with a working knowledge of what it takes to achieve excellence in their studies so that they receive a rich education that worthwhile. I've put together a few essentials that will help students at any level whatsoever. So, whether your pursuing a high school diploma/GED, undergraduate, graduate, or doctorate degree these resources will boost your grades and level of understanding if you use them as instructed. All of the documents are PDF files, and the links are posted below.
The first link is a resource on note-taking. I know it may seem unnecessary to advance your note-taking skills, but it will make al the difference in the amount of subject material you understand and retain for exams. In the document, two forms of note-taking are explained, 'Two-Column' and 'Cornell'. Two-column notes work well for science-based courses (Chemistry/Biology/Anatomy/Physiology/etc..) because they allow enough space to interact with your notes, and refer to specific sections easily. Cornell notes are more of an all-purpose style, and are easy to use for any course. Try them out and let me know what you think!
The second link is a resource on how to read a textbook. Now I know that this may sound ridiculous, but how many of you cringe at the thought of reading straight through your textbook? Better yet, how many of you highlight pages while reading just to realize that you've highlighted everything at the end, and then you don't even have the desire to look at your book anymore because it's a big, bright mess? Reading can be time-consuming, and there is a lot of material to cover which often gets forgotten as you near the end of the chapter. No worries, I've got you covered! This document will give you two different methods of approaching the textbook to get more out of your reading, without spending 12 hours with your face buried in a book!
The third link is a resource on memory techniques. It provides a breif explanation of different types of memory, and provides methods to make memorization easier.
Lastly, the fourth is a resource on creating study guides. Most of us use out textbooks and notes to study for exams, but why limit yourself? If you employ these methods for creating study guides, you may discover something new. This guide not only lists study guides, but it explains the pros and cons of each one so that you can determine which is appropriate for you. For example, flashcards are great for memorizing quick facts, but not for conceptual information. So if you're using flashcards for everything, you're going to find that during exams, there are chunks of information missing from your understanding. That's why its important to understand how to use study guides, and which ones to apply for which subjects.
Here are the links:
That's enough information to get you on the Dean's List/Honor Roll from here on out! I began applying these methods two years ago, and saw a total improvement in my grades, and level of knowledge. I find that I get more out of the material, which makes school even more enjoyable. I know that this works if you employ all four tools (proper note-taking, textbook strategies, creating the proper study guides, and memory techniques). My advice is to start with good note-taking, everything else rests solely on that!
The documents are all self-explanatory, but I'm here to help so feel free to email me anytime with questions or concerns at Rainfaerie13@gmail.com.
All The Best,
DC
