Super Studying
It's that time of year again! In the US: finals, International Baccalaureate, and Advanced Placement tests. On the other side of the pond in the UK it's time for GCSEs, Advanced Levels, and Advanced Subsidiary (AS) or A2-levels.
Most students I talk to have no idea how to study effectively. They almost always study by reading their notes, but for most people this will not help knowledge recall under testing conditions (or any conditions for that matter).
1. Determine your style of learning
2. Check the characteristics to make sure it's correct (not all quizzes are 100% accurate)
3. Check out the study tips and personalize them (ex. if you are equally visual and kinesthetic, combine one from each column)
Click one of the buttons below to jump directly to that section.
Most students I talk to have no idea how to study effectively. They almost always study by reading their notes, but for most people this will not help knowledge recall under testing conditions (or any conditions for that matter).
1. Determine your style of learning
2. Check the characteristics to make sure it's correct (not all quizzes are 100% accurate)
3. Check out the study tips and personalize them (ex. if you are equally visual and kinesthetic, combine one from each column)
Click one of the buttons below to jump directly to that section.
1. Style of Learning
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There are several tests you can take to determine what kind of learner you are and how you can study best. Very few people are only one type of learner, so if you score higher in more than one area you should keep that in mind for creating study techniques.
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Determine Your Learning Style » Quiz School |
2. Characteristics
Take a look at the characteristics of the different types of learners and count how many apply to you in each column. If you've already taken a quiz, look at the characteristics in the category it said you were in and double check.
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Visual:
- Mind sometimes strays during verbal activities (Edutopia) - Observes rather than talks or acts (Edutopia) - Organized in approach to tasks (Edutopia) - Likes to read (Edutopia) - Usually a good speller (Edutopia) - Memorizes by seeing graphics and pictures (Edutopia) - Not too distractible (Edutopia) - Finds verbal instructions difficult (Edutopia) - Has good handwriting (Edutopia) - Remembers faces (Edutopia) - Uses advanced planning (Edutopia) - Doodles (Edutopia) - Quiet by nature (Edutopia) - Meticulous, neat in appearance (Edutopia) - Notices details (Edutopia) - Can read body language well and has a good perception of aesthetics (Bepko) - Able to memorize and recall various information (Bepko) - Tends to remember things that are written down (Bepko) - Good at reading maps and charts (The Study Gurus) - Likes bright colors (and fashions) (The Study Gurus) The Study Gurus - Visual Colorado State University - Visual RMIT |
Auditory:
- Talks to self aloud (Edutopia) - Enjoys talking (Edutopia) - Not afraid to speak in class - Has more difficulty with written directions (Edutopia) - Likes to be read to (Edutopia) - Memorizes by steps in a sequence (Edutopia) - Enjoys music (Edutopia) - Whispers to self while reading (Edutopia) - Remembers names (Colorado State University) - Easily distracted by noises (Edutopia) - Hums or sings (Edutopia) - Outgoing by nature (Edutopia) - Enjoys listening activities (Edutopia) - Often prefers to be told how to do things and then summarizes the main points out loud to help with memorization (Bepko) - Often has talents in music and may concentrate better with soft music playing in the background (Bepko) - Incredible memory for past conversations (The Study Gurus) - Great memory for music and lyrics (The Study Gurus) - May read slowly (Colorado State University) The Study Gurus - Auditory Colorado State University - Auditory |
Kinesthetic:
- Likes physical rewards (Edutopia) - In motion most of the time (Edutopia) - Likes to touch people when talking to them (Edutopia) - Taps pencil or foot while studying (Edutopia) - Enjoys doing activities (Edutopia) - Reading is not a priority (Edutopia) - Poor speller (Edutopia) - Likes to solve problems by physically working through them (Edutopia) - Will try new things (Edutopia) - Outgoing by nature (Edutopia) - Expresses emotions through physical means (Edutopia) - Uses hands while talking (Edutopia) - Dresses for comfort (Edutopia) - Enjoys handling objects (Edutopia) - Is generally good in math and science (Bepko) - Would rather demonstrate how to do something rather than verbally explain it (Bepko) - Usually prefers group work more than others (Bepko) - Do better if given actual objects to manipulate in learning to replace pencil and paper (Child 1st) - Generally very coordinated and have an excellent sense of body timing (Child 1st) - Tend to not have good handwriting (The Study Gurus) - Enjoys physical education and science experiments (The Study Gurus) The Study Gurus - Kinesthetic Utah Valley University Child 1st |
3. Study Tips
Many people are not just one type of learner and have characteristics that apply to them in more than one category. Take this into account when studying by mixing and matching study tips to meet your own needs. For example, if you need to be moving around (kinesthetic) but are also good at remembering faces, you could try making (hand-writing) flashcards and reading them while pacing or throwing a ball. For kinesthetic learners, research shows it may also be beneficial to invest in an exercise ball to sit on at home.
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Visual:
- Sit in the front of the class so that you can clearly see the teacher (How-to-Study.com) - Color code parts of new concepts in your notes (Bepko) - Use highlighters (The Study Gurus) - Replace words with symbols or initials in notes (The Study Gurus) - Copy down all the diagrams you can (The Study Gurus) - Get good textbooks with diagrams (The Study Gurus) - Learn the big picture first and then focus on the details (Bepko) - Turn notes into pictures, charts, or maps (Bepko) - Make mind and concept maps instead of outlines (Bepko) - Avoid distractions (windows, doorways, etc.) (Bepko) - Use flash cards when trying to study vocabulary (Bepko) - When using flashcards, limit the amount of information on a card so that you can form a mental picture of the information (How-to-Study.com) - Watch videos (try YouTube, Khan Academy, etc.) (The Study Gurus) - Close your eyes and visualize information you’re trying to remember (How-to-Study.com) - Visualize spelling of new words (How-to-Study.com) - Study in a place that is free from visual distractions (How-to-Study.com) - When reviewing information, rewrite or draw the information from memory (How-to-Study.com) - When solving math problems that involve a sequence of steps, draw a series of boxes, each containing the appropriate piece of information in sequence (How-to-Study.com) The Study Gurus - Visual How-to-Study.com - Visual Colorado State University - Visual Law School Toolbox - Visual |
Auditory:
- Ask questions during class (The Study Gurus) - Record lectures and then listen to them (Bepko) - Repeat material out loud and in your own words (try with eyes closed) (Bepko) - Discuss materials in study groups (Bepko) - Read textbooks aloud (Bepko) - Listen to wordless background music while studying (Bepko) - Beware of auditory distractions (music may not work for you) (The Study Gurus) - Watch videos (try YouTube, Khan Academy, etc.) (The Study Gurus) - Use word association and mnemonic devices (The Study Gurus) - Try to use songs or jingles for specific pieces of information (How-to-Study.com) - Read aloud when proofreading (How-to-Study.com) - Dictate papers and get voice-to-text software, or write them later (How-to-Study.com) - If you encounter words you don’t know, sound them out syllable by syllable (How-to-Study.com) - Work out math problems aloud, explaining to yourself the steps you are doing (How-to-Study.com) The Study Gurus - Auditory How-to-Study.com - Auditory Colorado State University - Auditory Law School Toolbox - Auditory 
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Kinesthetic:
- Try to take classes with instructors who encourage demonstrations and fieldwork (Bepko) - Use examples when writing notes (The Study Gurus) - Make models of concepts when possible (UVU) - Learn new material while doing something active (e.g., read a textbook while on a treadmill) (Bepko) - Take study breaks often (Bepko), but take shorter breaks (The Study Gurus) - Chew gum while studying (Bepko) - Work while standing (Bepko) - Apply information by constructing something or practicing a technique or skill (RMIT) - Move around when studying (UVU) - Work on a chalk or whiteboard if possible (UVU) - Make physical comfort a priority as you study (UVU) - Walk and talk to yourself about material. Each lap you make, try moving at a different speed or style like skipping, sliding sideways, walking backwards, etc.; include different voices, sing, etc. (UVU) - Study with other people, unless distracted (The Study Gurus) - Keep your hands busy while you study (e.g. Tap a pencil, squeeze a stress ball, or do something with your hands without becoming a distraction) (The Study Gurus, Law School Toolbox) - Use handwritten flashcards and mnemonics (Law School Toolbox) The Study Gurus - Kinesthetic How-to-Study.com - Kinesthetic Utah Valley University - Kinesthetic RMIT - Kinesthetic Law School Toolbox - Kinesthetic |
Other Resources:
http://blc.uc.iupui.edu/Academic-Enrichment/Academic-Success-Strategies/Learning-Styles
http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/gw_learning_styles.pdf
http://www.sln.org.uk/geography/Documents/georevision/STUDYTIPSSTYLES.pdf
For Educators
The Citadel's "Academic Success" Presentation
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