The Importance of Review

The importance of review for retaining and understanding information cannot be stressed enough. Daily review improves test performance, reduces stress, enhances memory, and allows more opportunities for really learning course material. The following suggestions can help you get the most out of your review, so you can get the most out of your classes.

Review your class notes within 24 hours. Many students take notes and then do not look at them again until a day or two before the test on that material. Review within 24 hours has many benefits:

• Information moves from short-term storage in your brain to long-term storage. When it comes time to study for a test, you will refresh information that is already reliably stored as opposed to relearning the material. This cuts back on the stress of trying to cram a whole lot of learning into a short amount of time - that frantic feeling that prevents sleep and can harm your test performance.
• You may still recall information from class that you did not write down in your notes. You will be able to add it. Often, that information is lost when notes are not reviewed until a few days before the test.
• You can identify material you do not understand fully and ask for assistance during the next class session.

Review class material at the end of the week. Take about 30 minutes for each class and look over your notes, textbook chapters, and other class materials. Try to identify the key points. What topic comes up most often? What did the instructor emphasize? What idea holds all of the information together? Write down key formulas, theories, or definitions. Talk with a friend or to yourself and try to explain the material. Note any topics you are still struggling with and ask the instructor about them the next time your class meets or during their office hours.

http://thesuccesschaser.com/developing-good-study-habits/

One way to think of cramming versus daily and weekly review for tests is to compare it to cleaning your home before guests come over. If you put off cleaning and realize you only have a few minutes before they walk through your front door, you may just throw everything in a closet. It's all there; it's just not organized. When your friend asks for the DVD you borrowed, even though you remember having it in your hand and putting it in your closet, you can't find it. It's there, but everything else is on top of it or in front of it or mashed all around it. If instead you took a little time everyday before they came over and put everything away - DVDs with DVDs, clothes hung up, books on the shelf, etc. - you could walk over to the DVDs, more easily find the one you borrowed, and return it.

Start now and begin reviewing material within 24 hours of learning it in class. Make time at the end of the week to spend more time reviewing. How you review is up to you: read the notes, make note cards, rewrite your notes in a way that makes more sense to you, talk with a friend or family member. Review to improve retention and understanding and to reduce stress.

The Start of a New Quarter

A new quarter begins again on Monday! Like a new year, many of us think about all the ways we can make this a great quarter, better than the last. One of my resolutions at the start of each new quarter is to manage my time better, in other words, to avoid procrastination. And, every quarter, I feel like deadlines sneak up on me, or I find a lot of more interesting or "important" things to do instead of working on a paper or project. Unfortunately, I have not found a magic formula or study tip that makes my tendency to put things off until the last minute disappear. However, each quarter I am a little better than the last. Here are a few things that have helped me and other students manage time well.

Use A Planner

Stop by TRiO and pick up a free LWIT student planner. The planner has two sections: monthly calendars and weekly calendars with plenty of space for each day. On the monthly calendars, write in all of the major deadlines you have for class. This can keep assignment due dates from sneaking up on you. The weekly/daily calendars are great for making checklists for each day.

You can also use this handy, one-page quarter calendar to keep track of assignment deadlines. Quarter calendars saved me during school a number of times. When everything is on one page, posted somewhere I see it on a regular basis (like the front of my binder), deadlines do not catch me by surprise. Fill out the quarter calendar as soon as you have you syllabi for each class.

Schedule Time for School and for Fun

On your monthly calendars, include family gatherings, dates, or get-togethers with friends. Scheduled time for fun can help you keep up with school deadlines. One way people plan their homework and fun is to get all of their homework done before Sunday, so Sunday is a free day to do whatever they want. Also, plan times to celebrate when you complete a major assignment or after you take a test. Having something to look forward to can help you stay motivated.

Take breaks. Set a timer for the amount of time you plan to study (usually an hour is a good length) and then take a break. Make sure you come back from your breaks, though. Try setting a break timer as well.

Keep Your Goals in Mind

There often comes a point in the quarter when we just want to be done. When everything is overwhelming. At those points, remember your short term and long term goals. Do you hope to get a certain grade in the class? Do you want to finish every assignment on time? What degree do you want to earn and why? I recently learned the importance of having a team of personal advisers, people who know my goals and dreams, who I can go to when I need support. Seek out the people who support your goals, and go to them when you need encouragement.