Studying Alone
If studying alone sounds boring, difficult or lonely, think again. The advantage of studying on your own is that you can do it on your own time without having to plan around the schedules of others.
These are some tips for studying alone:
1. Decide what to study. This means figuring out what you'll study, for how long and how many chapters, pages, problems or case studies you want to complete. Once you've set your "schedule," stick to it.
2. Complete difficult tasks first. If you're a procrastinator, start with something simple and/or interesting to get you motivated and on task.
3. Give yourself a break. Study for 50 minutes and then give yourself a 10 minute break. The break is a good time to stretch, relax or have a snack.
4. Change scenery. Often, locking yourself up in your dorm or apartment makes it more difficult to study, especially if you're studying in a room that's less than neat. Get out and study at a coffee shop, the library or the park. You're likely to concentrate better and get more done.
5. Getting tired or bored? Put down what you're doing and start on a different task or subject.
6. Stop studying when you're no longer being productive.
7. Keep your schedule practical, flexible and realistic. Make time for socializing, studying and sleeping. If you're someone with lots of time, develop good organizational skills. For those with an already busy schedule, re-establish your priorities so that you aren't trying to do too much in too little time.
8. Repetition, repetition, repetition. It's true that practice makes perfect-read your notes several times over until you remember the important points.
9. Get plenty of sleep. Pulling an all-nighter won't help you if you're mind turns to gelatin by the time you arrive for the exam. Instead, study until your usual bedtime, then plan to rise earlier than usual the next morning for last minute reviewing. You'll find that your mind will be fresher and ready for testing. And don't overcaffeinenate!
Studying in Groups
Don't forget, two heads are better than one. If you're not feeling too confident about a class or find it easier to learn by discussing study material, you may want join a study group. It's a great way to share ideas and teach each other, but it can also be unproductive if discussion departs from organic chemistry to who's dating whom. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your study group sessions:
1. Three's Company. The ideal size of a study group is three. The smaller your study group, the more it will help you and members be more efficient, thorough and productive. This also places each member in the leader position.
2. Set goals. Each person should walk into a study session with a list of questions or goals to accomplish for that session. This will help keep the group on target and from wavering off the subject.
3. Group effort. Assign a portion of each chapter or assignment to a member of your group. From there, make up study questions for your portion and distribute copies to the others. And voila, you have your own practice exam.
4. No substitutions. Group study is not a substitute for individual learning and understanding. The key to learning is not the actual answer but the process of critical thinking.
Source: www.nursezone.com
