Blog Layout
How Do I Study?
Cara M. Sandholdt, PhD • July 19, 2020
How do I study?
Studying for courses in health education is challenging. Here we discuss a simple approach, some do's and don'ts and point you to some learning theory resources.
1. Prepare, Preview & Prime Your Mind
Before you go to class, make sure you get into a habit of preparing for the day ahead. Take about 30 minutes to an hour to preview by looking over the textbook, resources and learning objectives provided by your instructors. Likely this will already be at the end of a long day... So this should not be exhaustive! Rather, it should serve to prime your mind for the day ahead. In other words, don't try to memorize everything yet, skim the materials provided by your instructors to get a general, simple outline of topics. As you do this, write down the main topics for the module and make sure to take notice of how familiar each topic is and any questions you anticipate.
2. Read the Textbook (yes, you do need to!)
Read the topics from your assigned texbook, do your best to filter your reading to the topics that are most important. You'll need to prioritize here. It's not efficient or necessary to read to the textbook cover to cover. Have your learning objectives and powerpoints open next to your textbook. Read the sections that are mentioned in the learning objectives. If you find that you know a subject really well, skim it quickly, you don't need to read every word. If you find that it is very challenging or unfamiliar, take a little more time to write it down. Take easy notes while you do this, meaning, it doesn't need to look perfectly organized, just keep it flowing and keep engaged.
See how well you know the basic information from your reading and resources by taking a few practice test. If your instructor provides practice tests - wonderful! (and thank them for this extra effort). If not, seek out textbook practice questions or online resources that link to your program needs.. If none of this is readily available, simply close your textbook and ask you study group to quiz you from your notes. As you go through a few practice questions, take note of areas you need to spend more review time on - focus your time on these "sticking points"
4. Watch or Attend the Lectures
You can see that we are now at step 4. This is not an accident! Most of your learning should take place as you engage with your resources and test your knowledge. Watching the lectures should be only a small part of your learning. It is best to think of lectures as the time you take after you have previewed and reviewed on your own to bring in the expert point of view and begin to apply your knowledge..
There are two main approaches to this:
- OPTION 1: Watch and take simple, easy flowing notes to stay awake, but not yet organized. Note topics you need to review with text and in later organization by starring your notes or the powerpoints. AFTER the in-class discussion, or a day or two of rest, organize your notes and re-read, re-watch portions you need to better memorize or study. This seems to work within busy health education program as you can do this a day or two later (ex: evenings, Fridays)
- OPTION 2: Watch slowly, organizing your notes at the same time, pause when you don't understand something, stop and look it up. This is SLOWER, but you learn as you go and you will have organized notes at the end. This works well for students who like to see the full picture before moving on, just keep an eye on your time.
3. Get Organized!
Whichever approach you pick for #4, make sure at the end that you have a condensed set of notes that is organized at the end. Share notes with your study groups, and keep them organized to study from as the exam/quiz approaches. For example, make sure you can get 1 module down to 1-2 pages of notes/diagrams and ask your study group to discuss key concepts together.
Other efficiency tips:
DO NOT
copy the notes on the powerpoint or the writing in the book word for word. This is a waste of time and can take you to "Zombie" land. Instead, DO
write the concepts in your own words or diagrams, make sure you can simplify them to a few short words or a picture- this is how you know you understand it.
DO NOT
watch or read the lectures over and over. Once all the way through is enough. Then you refer back to them if you need to look up a piece. Instead DO
work on USING the information through study group discussions, quizzes, activities, practice questions. 1 hour of practice questions or group discussion is much much
better than 1 hour of reading/watching because it is more active.
Would you like further reading on the science of learning methods? Here are some recommended resources:
1. Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning, Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III & Mark A. McDaniel
2. A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra), Barbara Oakley PhD
Dr. S recommends textbooks for anatomy and physiology education.
P4Seducation@gmail.com