How to Study?

markuskristian · Sep 16, 2009

Draw out concept maps showing the relationship between a number of those terms. Conceptualizing things makes it a lot easier for myself.

I'm sure others have their ways too.

mommync3 · Sep 16, 2009

I try to make my flashcards as soon as possible after class. I then put my all my flashcards in a coupon organizer. I carry this organizer with me everywhere. I study my cards every chance I get (while waiting in line to pick my kids up from school, waiting at the doctor's office, etc.) I also read through my chapters and highlight the important stuff. My professor gives us study guides. I try to do those from memorization and then go back and check my answers. I think it is a lot easier to memorize things if you do understand the concepts of what you are learning.

Also, you may want to take a online quiz and find out what type of learner you are. I am a read/write learner so I've organized my study habits around this. Once you find out what type of learner you are, you can google search study habits for your type of learning style.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

ar23 · Sep 16, 2009

I am a visual learner so I actually need to see stuff to retain it in my head. What I do is I read the whole chapter and i try to understand what is about, in my head I always try to find a connection or to make sense what I am reading, then i go online must of the books have websites, those websites have games and flashcards where, thats my best tool. Taking notes is good as well, just with your own words, study in a confi place and very important try to see how you learn best studying during the day or night, with bright light or not stuff like that.

good luck

brillohead, ADN, RN · Sep 16, 2009

If you want to speed up the process, you can make your flashcards on the computer and print them out on paper. (put terms on left side of page and definitions on right side, print it out, fold lengthwise down the center, then cut in between each term -- you end up with a "front and back" when the paper is folded) There are also programs to create your own flashcards on the computer and have them on your smartphone to "flip" through. But not everyone is a "flashcard" kind of person.

I had a class that gave us vocabulary words for each chapter. Before reading each chapter, I printed out the list of vocab words with lots of space (rows) between each word. Then, as I was reading, I would handwrite in the definition when I came across that item in the chapter. Later on, I would type up my handwritten notes and add in other things that I gleaned from my reading (more handwritten notes that I squeezed in between the vocab word definitions to help me remember concepts, processes, etc). After lecture, it was easy to open up the document I had created and add in anything that the instructor had lectured about, transcribing my handwritten notes from class into the corresponding section of my chapter notes.

This gave me one, complete, cohesive set of notes to study from -- my vocab words, my chapter notes, and my lecture notes were all together in one spot. Also, the act of writing things down by hand and then retyping them on the computer helped to plant things in my brain -- the more repetition, the better the "breadcrumb trails" are in your brain to help you remember where you filed the information. First I would see the item as I read about it, then I would see it again as I wrote it by hand, then I would see it again as I added my personal reading notes, then I would see it twice again as I typed up my vocab and reading notes, then I would see/hear it again during lecture, and then I would see it again as I wrote it in my lecture notes, then I would see it again later when I added my lecture notes in with my vocab/reading notes. That's a LOT of repetition... by the time you've written and typed something that many times, plus having read it and heard about it in lecture, it's pretty firmly imbedded in your brain!

I also study to classical music to reduce distractions. I find a regular radio or tv too distracting -- the talking or lyrics will pull my attention away from what I'm reading. But classical music seems to take the edge off for me -- it kind of fades into the background so I don't even notice it. I have a 9yo son, and I got some noise-cancelling headphones and put classical music on my MP3 player, and I can study on the couch while he's watching SpongeBob on television in the same room. (He also knows that when I've got my earphones on, he can only disturb me for one of the Big Three Events: Blood, Vomit, or Fire!)

Hope this helps!

RoxyRN2B · Sep 16, 2009

hi mark! i know exactly what you mean. i am taking an intensive microbiology class in one month. we do 5 hours a day of microbiology and the first week we had a 6 chapter test. we just had our second test on monday and it was on 5 chapters. i realized quickly that i had to ditch the index cards because it was taking to much of my time. i just make sure i memorize all the main concepts and definitions that i can. if there is anything that i am having trouble memorizing, i go to the textbook and read as much as i can on it. if the book references other pages, read that too. it will help you understand and remember the concept. concept maps really work, too. luckily for me and my fellow classmates, our professor hands out a packet on each chapter we're going over and they include many concept maps, terms and critical thinking questions. best of luck to you!

greyhoundmamma · Sep 17, 2009

I agree with all of what everyone else has said. For me I have to write out my note cards. I make mine with different color pens -which helps in seperating and retaining the information. My fellow class mates love my notecards and ask to review with them. I also have to "build a story" of the subject/ topic I am trying to learn. Most of the time it's a small hand motion, or silly phrases that help me retain the information. If I can relate it to some other information I already have it is easier to remember.

I also listen to classical music while studing. It's great background music for learning.

good luck - I think you have to find your own grove... which will be different from everyone else. Do what works best for YOU!

TiffanyS23 · Sep 19, 2009

have you ever used the site quizlet? you can make and print flashcards, they also have some activities to use with the vocab...helps me a TON!!!

SummerMeadow · Sep 20, 2009

i've just recently learned that if you know what kind of learner you are, that you'll do much better with your studying, and use your time right when it comes to studying. if the teacher doesn't teacher the way you learn then you find a way to learn it your way. that's what i have to do. i'm a visual/writer learner, i have to read, write it and it make things up to learn it my way. try to make those study cards as quickly after class as possible, than your not wasting time, when you can be studying. sorry this might not help, just it does me, when it come to studying and taking care of kids.

Rags2Riches RN · Sep 21, 2009

Well I take notes in class. Then I go home and type my notes and put them in my binder and review them. I also make up my own little questions (complete with answers) for each topic that we cover.

SummerMeadow · Sep 21, 2009

That's sounds great. Since I'm a visual learner, I can do this myself and learn better. Because everything detracts me from studying or even homework.lol

Sw88t Pea · Sep 21, 2009

We stole butcher paper from the school and used it to lay stuff out. Draw connections. Find that, for example, the symptoms for disease A are the same as symptoms for disease B. Also, working with others is HUGE. Splitting up chapters-figuring out how to count on each other and work with each other is so helpful. You need good study buddies for nursing school and everyone's in the same boat.