LEARNING BETTER THROUGH TEACHING
Almost all of us have stood in front of a chalk board and read aloud to parents, friends or siblings when we were young. Many of us even wanted to be teachers, and the closest we came to that was tutoring a friend a day before the term exams began. Advisors are now saying that we should engage in more behaviour akin to this -- teaching. Simply because teaching is said to be one of the most effective ways of learning. That’s why our mothers would always remember what happened to which king in which chapter of our history books or which author penned what down while in prison.Research suggests that the more you teach somebody else about a certain subject, the better you get at it. This is true firstly because you will repeat yourself several times to explain a new concept to them. Also, a few other things crop up while providing someone else with information. It is believed that when we impart information to somebody other than ourselves, we begin to question all the material that we have and what we may have taken for granted. We need to go through things step by step, thoroughly so as to explain it. This in turn results in us being a lot more thorough with the subject.Teaching also puts us in a position of authority as someone who is more knowledgeable than the recipient. This automatically calls for us to be more informed about the subject, get a holistic view of it and consequently have a little more knowledge about it than what is required.Thus, rather automatically, teaching works wonders especially if you’re trying really hard to learn something. The next time you find yourself bogged down with a paper you find somewhat difficult, teach a friend. The interaction and the exchange of information will definitely help you to learn more and learn better. And if you’re having a problem remembering whatever you’ve taught, just get yourself a few more people and repeat the cycle.
IS HOSTEL LIFE TAKING A TOLL ON YOUR STUDY HABITS!
- Juhi Dua
Students walk into a college hostel with countless dreams in their eyes. They decorate their rooms, make their space cozy and get prepared for rocking the college with good scores and lots of fun. But sometimes the plans go awry and the fun happens but the studies don’t. Peer pressure, sudden found freedom, temptation to chat away all night, no one to remind them to study, no one to mind their conscience are factors that tend to keep students from performing in their studies. The result is a drop in scores.Here is how not to let hostel life take a toll on your study habits1. Chart a strict study regimen for yourselfFor you to not break rules you must make rules first. Prepare a time schedule and list down some rules that will help you keep your studies in focus. For instance, lay down a rule that you will not sleep before you finish revising what is taught in college everyday and make it a point to stick to these rules.2. Do not get crunched by peer pressureIf colleagues, juniors or seniors disturb you while you study then the only way out is to tell them not to disturb you. This may not be as easily said than done. You have to master the art of saying no is such a way that it doesn’t offend anyone. Even if this means that sometimes you have to lie and say you have a headache to stay back, so be it. Lie to them, stay back and study unless it is absolutely difficult to avoid. But there will be colleagues who will deliberately disturb you during your study hours. Such people you must learn to be tough with. If required, do not open the door and do not entertain them. Tell them that you need to study now and you shall spend time with them later. Do take out time to hang out with them on and off but not at the cost of your studies.3. Balance your fun time with study timeOnly work and no play can make anyone dull. The idea is not to crash out your fun time. The idea is to balance it out with study time. We all have 168 hours in a week to use as we wish. The trick is in using these hours to their maximum benefit.4. Multi task to achieve more resultsMulti tasking not only saves your time but also enables you to pack in more in your schedule without eating into your study time. If you spend a lot of time traveling, use this time to read a new chapter so that your basics are ready for more reading up or revise what has just been taught at your college. While you walk towards your hostel, talk on the phone with your friends so that you don’t waste time on the phone after reaching your room. Play your favourite music while you get ready or bathe so that you get your fill of relaxation as well. Spend time with roommates while you eat.5. Prioritize and focus on subjects you are weak inKnow your strong and weak points so that you can priorities and make efficient decisions about how to use your study time. Devote most dedicated time in studying subjects you are weak in. The ones you are good at, can be looked at even in the college with people around you.6. Eat healthy and keep away from addictionsHostel life often takes a toll on your health which in turn adversely affects your scores and performance in studies. So it is very important to take care of your health. Eat healthy and eat from clean, hygienic joints in case you happen to eat out. Avoid road side joints. Instead keep stuff in your room so that you can toss up a simple salad, cut up some fruits, and cook a straight soup or a simple meal like dal chawal or sandwiches.Also, it is important to keep away from addictions. Most people learn to abuse alcohol or get addicted to drugs during their college days. Smoking cigarettes is something almost every 1 out of 2 students take to. Remember that picking up these habits doesn’t make you cool. Stay away from them and you will stay healthy and capable of concentrating on studies.The bottom line is that you are here to make your future so concentrate on that and the rest can just follow. Make the most of your formative future and that stars shining our there in the sky will be yours.
EFFECTIVE LAST MINUTE STUDY TIPS
For those who push studying to the last moment, often lag behind everyone. But none of us can afford to cheat with our academics. For all the lazy ones out there, here’s the good news for you. Observe these three strategies to cope with last moment exam irritability.1) Turn topics into songs or poems: It may sound corny but you have heard it before and it really works. It definitely works better than falling asleep with a partially-read book covering your face. Take some basic concepts from your textbook and transform them into a goofy song, poem, or even a rap. This simple thinking exercise not only familiarizes you with key ideas in an almost fun way, it makes it easy to ‘sing’ the song back to yourself while taking the exam. So next time when you lag behind don’t forget to take this invisible cheat sheet along with you.2) Have someone question you: One of the reasons we all hate studying so much is that it often confines us to either an awful silence or even to an undesirable loneliness. It's definitely much more appealing when there is someone there with us to turn studying into an interactive quiz show. Asking questions and throwing around ideas are friendlier ways to see what we remember. Psychologically, it's less stressful and therefore easier for us to learn. So if it’s the infamous night before an exam call up your classmates and get yourself engaged into this kind of academic activity.3) Stop freezing: If it’s really the night before an exam and you haven’t capitalized anything from anyone, just stop getting nervous. Stop putting off what you have to do, just go ahead and do it. Don't tell yourself, "Ok, I'll really start studying after a snack" or "I'll get into it once XYZ serial is over.” No! Get busy right now. You don’t even want to refresh yourself. But still you'll feel better about studying the whole night, if it is from 8 PM to 4 AM than from 3 AM to 4 AM, as you wasted all that time just getting up to it. So think logically and act now.
Concentration
Perk Up Your Study Skills
- Dr. Subhadra Narasimhan
Get the most out of yourself at School/ College in order to meet the academic challenges. If you feel incompetent/ embarrassed due to poor academic performance, the following reasons might be the major culprits.
Doodling, daydreaming or falling asleep in class
Scribbling class notes making it difficult to understand while preparing for exam
Inability to identify important subject matter and failing to pay extra attention to it
Having trouble identifying the main information conveyed
Spending too much time on one subject
Studying for long periods of time without a break and thereby becoming tired
Trying to study with the radio and TV turned on
Getting distracted by guests/ relatives popping in home
Studying in a haphazard and disorganized way under the threat of the next test
Adhering to a rigid studying pattern irrespective of the nature of the content (easy/ hard)
Poor planning
Unsuccessful in working the plan
Cramming the night before the exam
Inability to organize thoughts on paper that makes sense
Studying adequately but feeling blank after receiving the question paperWork on the causes and try to perk up your study skills.
Set short-term and long-term goals
Manage time effectively
Avoid procrastination
Motivate yourself by having role-models
Identify a distraction free area to study
Ensure that study environment has appropriate furniture, adequate lighting and storage facilities.
Ensure that your study place has all essentials (stationery, textbooks, references etc)
Be sure to have access to important reference sources.
Read critically
Concentrate on the subject both while teaching as well as while studying
Cull out important points from textbook and prepare your own notes
Mark or underline key concepts
Explore your learning style
Create a study routine
Practice effective study habits
Study in short frequent sessions
Map information for learning
Study from multiple sources
Stress on important concepts
Prioritize and schedule your time realistically
Break your workload down into manageable chunks
Study with a friend. Quiz each other, compare notes and predicted test questions
Do rote memory tasks and review, especially details, just before you fall asleep
Adopt good memorizing techniques
Spend more time on subjects that you have difficulty with
While studying, take 10 minutes every 2 hours to refresh
If tired, switch task/activity, subject, or environment
Stop studying when you are no longer being productive
Avoid studying if you are angry, distracted or in hurry
Take guilt free days of rest
Eat well, sleep well and exercise
Avoid exhaustion
Overcome exam anxiety
Respect brain fade as it is normal to forget learnt content over a period of time
Avoid trying to study new topics before the exam
Find out the question paper pattern and prepare accordingly
List probable questions
Anticipate important questions and prepare for it well
Prepare a good outline answer and practice itUnderstanding ways of becoming a more effective learner can really help you do well in your studies. So, try the above mentioned techniques and fare well in your exams. Go ahead and prove yourself an intellect.
Concentration Is The Key
Just hearing your teacher teach is easy. But actually LISTENING to her, and taking in what she says is slightly more difficult. To be able to understand and digest what she is teaching, you have to concentrate. Don't get disturbed by anything else --- by your partner who may be fooling around, or by something happening outside the classroom. If you have any doubts, make a mental note of them and ask the teacher to explain them later. When the class is on, your focus should be only on what the teacher is saying, and nothing else. You can relax and have fun once the class is over.
Focus on the moment
Often we do not start doing something as we anticipate failure. If you dwell too much on the result of your actions you might not be able to do justice to your actions. It is very essential that while performing a task you determine to live fully in the present, in that moment and give it your best shot. When this is done consciously it boosts your level of confidence and ensures that your job gets done in the specified timeframe.
Here’s Help To Improve Your Concentration
'Concentration is the eternal secret of every mortal achievement'--Stefan Zweig
For any learning to take place whether you are studying, reading or carrying out some work; you need to concentrate on the task at hand. However concentration or paying undivided attention is one of the hardest jobs for some of us. As a result you do not grasp the essentials to the fullest and only partial learning takes place. Such people need to develop the art of concentration by putting in extra effort in the task.
• Stop daydreaming, involve fully in what you are doing, reading or listening. It is advisable to ask often oneself “am I daydreaming?” • Avoid distractions by choosing places, positions and company that do not interfere with your listening or studying in the classroom. • Prioritize your study or work over other activities while you are at it. • While doing self-study select an environment that is quiet and free from undue interferences/distractions. • While studying for examinations take a break at regular intervals and use this time to relax your mind and body, may be by taking a walk or having a light snack or some refreshment. • Strive to create self-interest, self-motivation and a desire to learn by thinking of the benefits that will follow. • Prepare a program/time-table for study and stick to it to the best of your ability. (Contributed By A. Diniz, HOD- Dept. Of Science, Indian School, Muscat)
Top 6 Anti-Distraction Tips
Why do we get distracted?
Distractions are often the result of our own wandering minds. To capitalize on study time we need to make our mind strong by consciously making an effort to suppress all room for distraction. Try these tips:
1. Don't try to suppress random thoughts.
2. Instead, quickly jot them down to consider at another time.
3. Check whether you are more relaxed with absolute silence, or with classical music in the background, accordingly prepare your study ambience.
4. Don't strain your eyes. Check whether you have enough light to read.
5. Feel comfortable while studying. Is the temperature or the chair you are using comfortable or not?
6. Keep away from company and crowd while reading.
Making the most of your study time means having more time for your many other activities.
Good luck!
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