Study Assistance
Improve your study skills with our assistance. We provide many forms of academic help, but studying begins with you. Check out some of these resources about self-management and learning, two areas essential to your academic success.
Management
Motivation
- Motivation is the force behind all learning. Without motivation, you may dread going to class, procrastinate, or your mind may wander during homework. Try setting goals or learning more about your mindset in order to boost your motivation.
- SMART goals - resource
- Motivation and drive - TED talk
- Growth Mindset - article
Time
- Learning takes time, but you have to make time by blocking out your weekly schedule and finding the best times to study. Use a planner to keep track of daily tasks and activities. Write detailed to-do lists to keep yourself on track in accomplishing your goals.
- Weekly Schedule
- Office 365 Calendar - video tutorials
- Office 365 Tasks - video tutorials
Productivity
- Focus is imperative for learning, and phones and computers are both a gift and a curse. Use your time wisely by taking frequent brief breaks and avoid multi-tasking.
- Media-multitasking while learning - article
- Anti-distraction Selfcontrol - app
- Pomodoro technique timer - website
- Writing productivity - website or app
- 7-day procrastination plan - resource
- Emotions and procrastination - article
Self-care
- Sleep aids learning. Shoot for 8 hours, although some people need a bit more or less. When you exercise, proteins and hormones are created and released which boost learning power and memory. Eating well is important for learning, and affects sleeping and exercise habits too.
- Exercise and your brain - article
- Tips to improve sleep habits - resource
- Link between GPA and sleep habits - article
- Sleep apps to help you understand your habits and make falling asleep easier:
- Flux, alters the color of your screen to avoid the melatonin-altering blue light
- Sleep cycle
Learning
Learning skills
- Learning takes time and effort; there are no short cuts. Here are tools and techniques to help you apply that time and effort well.
- Psychologist Stephen Chew - six videos
- Barbara Oakley on learning to learn - TED talk
- Todd Zakrajsek explains how learning works - TED talk
- How to study and learn - article
- White noise to increase focus - website
Note-taking
- Remember, you should MAKE notes, not take notes. notes are most helpful when they involve active listening, and you return to them on a regular basis. Make sure to engage with your notes when reviewing by asking questions, speaking aloud, reorganizing, and discussing with classmates.
- The Cornell note-taking system - resource
- Harvard's take on notes - resource
- Stephen Chew on note-taking - video
Reading
- Professors assign textbooks for a reason. Reading can take time, but ti is worth it to prime your brain to the topics you will discuss during class, and textbooks are an invaluable resource when reviewing for tests.
- Cornell's resource on reading strategies - resource
- Stephen Chew on reading textbooks - video
Test taking
- Tests are one of the most intimidating aspects of college, but with good preparation and understanding of how testing works, you can come out ahead. Remember to communicate with your professor to know what to expect, and always start studying at least 5 days ahead of the test date.
- Don't cram! - article
- Test Prep Tips for Cal Poly
- Objective tests
- Flashcards on Quizlet - website and app
- Essay tests
- Basic tips for approaching an exam essay - resource
- Term papers
- Works cited help - website
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