Getting started - Study Skills

Getting StartedStudy Skills for Adults

Many students fail to do as well as they could because of a lack of STUDY SKILLS

STUDY SKILLS can be learned.They include:

Note taking

Reading Skills

Writing essays

Planning

Revising for exams

Sitting exams

Study smarter not harder or longer.

Confidence is also very important.Can you visualise your success…….

Write some positive statements about yourself and keep them where you can see them while you are studying.

I will be successful

Learn to assess your own work.

Passing or failing is not down to luck.

Meet up with positive People.

Use positive words.Think positive thoughts.

= subtle change in how You feel and choices youmake

Getting Organized

Essential for successful study…….

Managing your time

Setting up your space

Setting goals

Understanding what motivates you and managing your stress levels are also important.

Making a space for studying

Minimum requirements:

• A writing surface with space for books and pens.• At least one bookshelf.• Room for a computer (if you have one).• A reading light in the correct place.• A comfortable chair that supports your back.

Activity 1

Once you have got the essentials, what else do you think is important?

In pairs, make a list of items that would help to make your studying more effective.

Answers – score 2 points for each of the following:

File all the time to save time looking for things.

Back up your files regularly. Make it part of your routine.

Review your progress regularly. Don’t put your studying off.Do the things that relax you and keep fit.

Managing time for studyingSome people find time to do far more than others – good time management.

Activity 2Carry out a test to see if you are good at managing your time.

Ways to improve how you manage your time:

- Do not procrastinate.- Set achievable goals.- Keep track of your time.- Stay focused.- Get organized.- Plan to succeed.

Homework taskTime Audit

• Write down everything you do for a week. Add up all the time you spend on regular tasks such as sleeping, travelling, working, eating, etc.

• Subtract these chunks of time from the 168 hours per week.

• How much time do you spend on non essential things?

• Get a large day-to-a-page diary or make yourself a 24 hour planner on the PC.

• Put in all commitments on it – include work, exercise, sleep, family duties and a little ‘slack’.

• Look at the times you have left. Can you create more time. (in the morning or evening).

• Now write in all your assignment deadlines and exam dates and plan in all the extra time you will need to spend on your studying.

• Write in all your studying appointments!

Long and short term planning

1. Take an academic year planner to create an overview of what’s required in the year.

2. Then, plan for the term to come.

3. Now work on a monthly plan.

4. Now put in the real detail in a weekly study planner.

Use your diary to record each time you succeed in following your ‘new habit’. After 3 to 4 weeks

of consecutively completing your diary, it will become a HABIT.

The 80 : 20 Rule

20 % = Productive work80 % = unnecessary, unproductive and lower priority work

Find your ‘80 %’ and cut out as much of this work as you can.

Introduce changes gradually

Make good use of lists – help you not to forget things and can be motivating

when you cross things off your list.

Tips• Never rewrite your notes.

• Focus. Don’t spend too much time on relatively simple or short assignments.

• Be brief – Your notes should not be a word-for-word repetition of your lecturer or a book.

• Use key words and phrases – not full sentences.

• Be tidy – file away notes as soon as you have written them.

• Make filing easier. Use a separate piece of paper for every topic so you can file them in a logical order.

Activity 3

What’s your learning Style?Carry out the test.