Any studying tips?? How do you study??

[Shante1985]

Hey guys! I've just started my phlebotomy class on Monday and we were given homework. We have to read chapter 1, do the worksheet (although we don't have to turn it in, our instructor gave us the answers at the end of the course) and study. I haven't been in school in 4 years, since February of 2005. I've been reading the material at a slow pace, I'm interested in it but my attention span is very short. I think it maybe because I don't really remember how to study. I took a non-credit course when I was in college that taught you how to study but I don't remember anything and I'm wondering if I'm absorbing the info by just reading the text.

So, I'm asking you all for help. When you were in your course how did you study?? What are your study habits? How do you retain the information? TIA for any help it's greatly appreciated. :heartbeat

[Carrie_MTC]

I focus mainly on the notes. I usually get into a small group of 2 to 3 people and we will work through the notes together discussing things we don't understand. I do questions out of the book. Study Guides. I hardly ever read though. If I read any more than a couple pages I lose focus and don't retain the information.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

You should be able to tell if you're absorbing the info when it comes time to answer the questions at the end.

If you're spacing out a lot while you read, then stopping to write down the important things in each section should force you to focus. Then try to do the workbook without looking at the text. The next time you have to read, skim your notes and exercises from the previous chapters before you start. Even if you think you know them, keep reviewing and overlearn them.

"Cramming" is a bad idea if you want to retain information long term, as I'm sure you probably learned in that how-to-study class! Repetition is effective.

[NM nurse to be]

flashcards!!! I'm a huge fan of flashcards. They're great for terminology especially. I used them for processes too, gave each step a word, then made a sentence from words starting with that letter. That made it much easier to remember lenghty concepts.

For me, study groups don't work so well. For assigned reading, I go through the text once for the major concepts and make notes of those. Then go back and read ones that the class notes don't cover or I don't understand. Sitting down and reading straight through is guaranteed to put me right to sleep. It needs to be a more interactive process to get my brain in gear and remember things.

[Misslady113]

Well, since I love to study, what I would do is read as many chapters as I could in advance. I would read the book like a hobby, and when the time came for us to discuss that chapter, I already knew what was being discussed. Read your book during any down time you have. Just read ahead of time and you wont really have to worry about studying. Take the important parts and jot them down in your notebook so you can brush up on it without having to read the whole book again. Good luck.

[Shante1985]

Thanks for all of the tips! So far I'm doing pretty good, we've had two quizzes and I've gotten a 100 and 105 respectively. I will definitely use the flashcards, reading the chapter and jotting down my own notes, and reading the chapter before the class. I really appreciate the suggestions. I was worried about it because I hadn't been in school for so long but I think I'm adjusting pretty well. Thanks again.