Study breaks

For many freshman students, the step-up to third-level study can be an intimidating task. Not only is the course content broader and more detailed than ever before, the responsibility for keeping up with the rest of the class lies squarely with the student. However, application of a new range of skills – from effective management of study time to note-taking during lectures – should see you safely through your first year.

Professor Aidan Moran is a member of the faculty at the Dept of Psychology in UCD, and is the author of the best-selling book, Managing Your Own Learning At University: A Practical Guide, a work which has been acknowledged as an indispensable guide to study for tertiary students. Prof. Moran has contributed articles on the subject of college-learning to a number of publications, and first-year students in particular may benefit from the following tips:

LECTURES
From the very start, efficient note-taking is an essential component to studying in college. Research shows that the best method is to familiarise yourself with the subject beforehand, and listen out for the main ideas, as opposed to hanging on the lecturer’s every word. Also, be sure to make a note of any books mentioned in class. One other thing: getting there in time helps!

STUDY
Routine is key. Students are advised to maintain their study at a regular time and a regular place. This disciplined approach will mean that you naturally come to associate learning with a specific environment, rather than waiting for the “right mood” in which to work. Also, study should be confined to periods of around 2-3 hours, sub-divided into blocks of around 50 minutes. At the end of the entire session, you should attempt to summarise what you have learned in 4-5 lines.

PREPARE QUESTIONS BEFORE READING
It’s always preferable to have a specific goal before opening the books. Drawing up a list of two to three questions before commencing study will help you in a number of ways; it forces you to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information, it improves your memory, and finally, it increases concentration.

SUMMARISE
As you read, make brief summaries of any information which seems relevant to your two to three study questions. Avoid photocopying/underlining as they do not condense the material. Remember that sorting out the relevant information from the irrelevant will help you think more deeply about the subject at hand.

REWARD YOURSELF!
If motivation is a problem, give yourself a reward (eg. listening to a favourite record) as recognition of your exertion. Eventually, you will come to enjoy study for its own sake as a result of the rewards you have given yourself. Or so the theory goes!