Approaches to studying

[orion1978]

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I used to try to read the books...now I've given up on that 🙂 I do try to condense my powerpoints and lecture notes into microsoft word detailed outlines so it helps me review and also gives me all the info I need for test studying.

Does anyone else do this? I did this in undergrad, and don't know what else to do to save time. I cannot just stare at powerpoints all afternoon (we have PBL/afternoons free usually). I'd like to try something else to save time while actively studying...any suggestions? An idea I've heard is writing it out on dry erase...I'm open to suggestions. I'm trying to study more efficiently.

Thanks in advance

 

[dknykid1980]

something that really helped me out this year and i should have done it last year was making flash cards. yes they are a pain to do initially, however, when you are reviewing (close to exam time) since you've written everything out, everything just clicks. Also note, when making these flash cards, dont just copy straight from the ppt or notes, paraphrase them or make them interesting, so when you go back and use them everything just clicks.

helped me, hopefully it can help anyone else too.

later

 

[bgibney]

Although what works for one person may not work for another...here is the way that I study, that seems to be working pretty well:

Board Review Books and First Aid - I have found that by focusing my studies for high yield topics I will save lots of work later. Also, all the review books I use are already in outline format. So, I read the pertinant section before class, then actively pay attention and annotate in the review book, then go home at night and review. When I review, I start with First Aid, and annotate anything from the review book and lecture into the pertinant sections in First Aid.

Second thing I do is use flash cards of sorts. While studying I have a big stack of note cards in front of me. When I am reviewing a topic that I don't immediately remember, I write down the topic, then the information to make my own version of the material.

Last, try to keep up! Be glad that you have most afternoons off - I sit in class from 8-4 almost everyday.

 

[OB1🤙]

Apparently my approach, with tests all next week, is to drink beer and watch football *damn UNLV beating Hawaii*. Hmmm. I guess we'll see about the efficacy of that strategy on Monday.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by orion1978
I used to try to read the books...now I've given up on that 🙂 I do try to condense my powerpoints and lecture notes into microsoft word detailed outlines so it helps me review and also gives me all the info I need for test studying.

I do the EXACT same thing! I carry that document around with me everywhere. It helps me mentally to know that all I need to know to do well on the exam is being held in my hand (typically 8-9 single-spaced pages).

 

[Blade28]

Originally posted by Hawaiian Bruin
Apparently my approach, with tests all next week, is to drink beer and watch football *damn UNLV beating Hawaii*. Hmmm. I guess we'll see about the efficacy of that strategy on Monday.

I saw the same game. Very sad. 🙁

 

[phllystyl]

I think one of the most important things is to really figure out what kind of learning modality works best for you, be it kinetic, auditory, or visual.

Ive always been a kinetic learner (best remembering stuff when I write it out, usually in the form of index cards), first semester of first year I tried to break that habit, thinking it would be too time consuming.

Second semester I went back to it and my test scores went up a bit again. Needless to say, Im typing all of this in the midst of taking a break from writing out autonomic pharm cards 😉

 

[dknykid1980]

hey everyone-

it seems to be a consensus of sorts. it seems that most of us have reverted to flashcards/note cards and they've helped. I wonder why that is? At times I feel like i'm in oh i dont know 5th or 6th grade (lol whenever we used flash cards), but the reality of the matter is that they work? i wonder what it is, possibly the sheer fact of just writing them, recall ??????????

oh well...whatever, just curious. and i do understand that flash cards isnt for everyone. I know there are kids in my class due the dry erase method.

alrighty peace

 

[XxRocKxX]

i make flowcharts and then try to copy them down a couple of times...usually you can visualize the flowcharts after awhile...especially helpful when you want to figure out the pathway of blood or something...

besides that, i just think that writing things down a couple times cements it in your head...if you write down things every night it becomes second nature eventually...or so i hope 🙂

 

[phllystyl]

Originally posted by dknykid1980
hey everyone-

it seems to be a consensus of sorts. it seems that most of us have reverted to flashcards/note cards and they've helped. I wonder why that is? At times I feel like i'm in oh i dont know 5th or 6th grade (lol whenever we used flash cards), but the reality of the matter is that they work? i wonder what it is, possibly the sheer fact of just writing them, recall ??????????

Im willing to bet that for a large percentage of people it is just that. Recall is based on making the cards, not on actually reviewing them. Kinetic learners!

Making cards for every drug definitly sucks though, so far. The one thing i hate about flashcards is the sheer amount of time it consumes making them.