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Cab anybody give me some basic study techniques on how to improve reading and taking notes. And how to review for tests so I can cut down on time spent and improve the material learned.
Study Techniques.
- Thread starter harkkam
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Honestly I am in the same position. I just started my undergrad classes and it can seem overwhelming. I tried flash cards but it doesn't work well for anatomy. I personally go over and over the material covered and regularly speak to myself out loud, which helps alot, but you can't do this at the library though. I am still on the R&D stages so I will get back to you when I know.
-Matthew
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Depends on the subject and how the professor will test you.
If it's a calculus class, for example, and it's meant for science & engineering majors, the professor will most likely present the material in a practical way. Meaning, he/she will go over a lot of examples and the operations will become route and simply mechanistic. Reading dense math textbooks with derivations of equations probably wouldn't be useful for this course. Your best bet is to read the chapter once, and do lots and lots of practice problems.
For chemistry, I just read every chapter we were learning that semester. Read kind of slowly so you don't have to go back and re-read it in the future; try your best to visualize things you are reading, and maybe associating them with other concepts so they will stick in your memory more. For example, when you learn the trends of the periodic tables in chemistry, you learn that as you move down a group and to the left within a period, atomic radius increases. You also learn that for s- and p-block elements, first ionization energy decreases down the group and decreases as you go to the left of a period (opposite of the radii trend). So, you can connect the two concepts by realizing that if the radii of the atoms are increasing, the electron you want to remove (relates to ionization energy) will be easier to take off.
For biology, pretty much just read and re-read until you feel you really have it memorized. Not too many tricks here, except for mnemonics. There was a great list of mnemonic devices for introductory biology material in the MCAT forum, you might want to head over there and check it out.
For history and the like, pretty much just try and get yourself interested in the material. I honestly love history, so reading above and beyond the material never really was a problem for me. Hopefully this helps you out a little. Regardless, you'll find what works for you soon enough.
If it's a calculus class, for example, and it's meant for science & engineering majors, the professor will most likely present the material in a practical way. Meaning, he/she will go over a lot of examples and the operations will become route and simply mechanistic. Reading dense math textbooks with derivations of equations probably wouldn't be useful for this course. Your best bet is to read the chapter once, and do lots and lots of practice problems.
For chemistry, I just read every chapter we were learning that semester. Read kind of slowly so you don't have to go back and re-read it in the future; try your best to visualize things you are reading, and maybe associating them with other concepts so they will stick in your memory more. For example, when you learn the trends of the periodic tables in chemistry, you learn that as you move down a group and to the left within a period, atomic radius increases. You also learn that for s- and p-block elements, first ionization energy decreases down the group and decreases as you go to the left of a period (opposite of the radii trend). So, you can connect the two concepts by realizing that if the radii of the atoms are increasing, the electron you want to remove (relates to ionization energy) will be easier to take off.
For biology, pretty much just read and re-read until you feel you really have it memorized. Not too many tricks here, except for mnemonics. There was a great list of mnemonic devices for introductory biology material in the MCAT forum, you might want to head over there and check it out.
For history and the like, pretty much just try and get yourself interested in the material. I honestly love history, so reading above and beyond the material never really was a problem for me. Hopefully this helps you out a little. Regardless, you'll find what works for you soon enough.
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May sound funny but I used to study as if I was teaching a class. I would look over material, read it again, cover the material, physically stand up, and start speaking aloud as if I had a class infront of me. Let me tell you, the information STILL stays with me to this day. It was Cell Bio, I scored an A, thanks to this method! Also, while you shower, try to link things you learned together and see if you can make it flow. Good luck!
I even do this at the library, in a cubicle that is, but I basically whisper it
I even do this at the library, in a cubicle that is, but I basically whisper it
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Group Study Group Study Group Study
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Why are you taking Anatomy freshman year?
J
jackbauer!
i have found this to be the most effective/efficient method for studying for voluminous courses:
get an electronic note card program... make your notecards during lecture. go through them a couple time immediately after lecture. next, make a 1 page, hand-written, review sheet (front & back) of the concepts/information pertaining to that lecture. if you can't fit it on the piece of paper, then it's probably too much information to know...
anyways- this is how i've been studying in d-school and i've been doing well on exams, so i'm sure it will work for undergrad.
jb!🙂
get an electronic note card program... make your notecards during lecture. go through them a couple time immediately after lecture. next, make a 1 page, hand-written, review sheet (front & back) of the concepts/information pertaining to that lecture. if you can't fit it on the piece of paper, then it's probably too much information to know...
anyways- this is how i've been studying in d-school and i've been doing well on exams, so i'm sure it will work for undergrad.
jb!🙂
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Well, I don't know how it works at other places, but Anatomy is a freshman, 100-level class at my school.
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I had the same problem as you did my freshman year, I didn't know how to study.....and along with flashcards, one thing that really helped me was to go over your notes everyday. It doesn't have to be too long, maybe like half an hour a day. And its not like you have to study it hardcore everyday. But it will really help you because you will memorize/learn it better than trying to cram last minute. I know because I used to do this and I really screwed up in a few of my classes.
hope this helps🙂
hope this helps🙂
