Note-taking, time management useful
The beginning of a new school year means many things: seeing your friends and meeting new ones, contemplating the very real possibility of melting on your way to class and looking forward to a fresh start.
It also means it’s time to hit the books, which is easier said than done sometimes.
Whether it’s a lack of motivation, or you’re unsure how to process so much information effectively, it can seem simpler just to assure yourself you’ll remember everything from lecture and not bothering studying at all.
Studying is a skill, and like any other skill, you need tips to get started.
Good notes are the strongest foundation for a productive studying session. We’re all prone to daydreams and short attention spans, especially in classes that we don’t find particularly exciting.
But notes are an important tool you can use to refresh your memory and recall what the professor taught you in lecture. There are things in notes that may have slipped your mind when you think back, and it can be useful to go over all of it again.
It helps to stay organized and keep all your notes for one class in the same notebook or binder.
If your professor writes something on the board, it needs to be in your notes. Go back and highlight these terms and other vocabulary words so you can focus on them when you’re studying later.
When you get home after classes, just take some time to review your notes from lecture that day. It stays fresher in your mind that way, and repetition is a good tool for memorization. It’s especially important to look over new vocabulary words.
Make use of your textbooks. The money we spend on them could probably finance a small, very efficient army, so we might as well take advantage of them.
Even if your professor doesn’t give out quizzes about the readings, it’s a good idea to keep up with them anyway. Take notes on the section you have to read for the next class, so you’re prepared and understand the material better.
If you start to feel like your brain is being overloaded with information, take a break. Get up and take a walk, go get a snack, or take a nap. In fact, taking a nap after you study is the best way to remember information, since your brain forms memories easier during sleep.
A new school year offers a wealth of opportunities, including the opportunity to improve. Whether it’s your first year, your last, or somewhere in the middle, know that as a Gamecock, you’re only a step away from excellence.