Studying
 A key ingredient of successful studying concerns how you approach it and how you feel about it. I particularly like to use juggling as a metaphor for academic learning because of the primary emphasis it places on the fun element and on enjoying yourself. And if you can inject this fun feeling into your studying, rather than treating it as something which is serious and boring, then you are much more likely to stay alive to it and achieve success. For further information concerning your feelings about studying and about yourself see motivation and self-esteem.
Some other key factors to consider in your overall approach to studying are as follows:
- You should make yourself aware of the current thinking about how your brain works and how you can use this knowledge to make your studying much more enjoyable and effective. See, for example, left brain-right brain.
- In a similar vein, it will be worthwhile to make yourself aware of relevant current theories, such as Holistic Learning and Inner Game. And the importance of using all the senses when you study is central to Accelerated Learning and Suggestopedia.
- Attempt to maintain 'the big picture' in your studying, rather than getting lost in the detail. The use of mind-mapping can help you with this.
- Making effective use of your time is vital, and so you should become conversant with time management thinking.
- Since you will spend many hours studying, try to make your working environment as congenial and organised as possible. I have found it very useful to file papers in contract folders to avoid getting swamped, and I have also used colour-coding to great advantage to delineate different areas of work.
Recommendations
It is vital that learning is seen to be an active, rather than a passive, activity. This involves students taking responsibility for their own learning, rather than becoming passive recipients within some centralised teaching system. Taking a vital interest in how your brain works and how you learn is not only a fascinating thing to do in itself, but it can help you to become a much more effective learner and also derive greater enjoyment from it.
Further Information
For further information on studying see:
- Planning Study Time (University of Victoria)
Study - Control of the Environment (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University)
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