Study Smarter, Not Harder

Study Smarter, Not Harder

“If I just had more time…I just have to work harder…I’m just lazy…”

Wrong!

Or at least not the whole story. An efficient machine operates with the lowest necessary inputs. Given all the demands on your time and energy, a crucial piece of learning to learn is how to optimize your study time. This involves:

• Where and When You Study
• Adjust to Your Learning Styles
• Reading Effectively
• Listening and Taking Effective Notes

Positive Thinking:

One definition of insanity is to keep doing something that you know doesn’t work. Start making some changes now and increase your sanity!

At least one study gives you a good reason to stop beating yourself up when you procrastinate: students who forgave themselves after putting off study for an exam procrastinated less afterward and got a higher grade on the next exam. Positive thinking works! (See abstract of article in Personality and Individual Differences.)

Resources:

Find much more advice on improving study skills at these external sites:

• Doctor Ah-Clem’s Webpages for Students (lists and reviews other sites offering study skill advice)
• Eastern Michigan University MyFY
• How to Study.com
• Prentice-Hall’s Student Success site
• Study Hacks (blogs written by an MIT postdoc)

Read more @ http://web.mit.edu/uaap/learning/teach/smarter/index.html