This is a cheat sheet of the study tips which have worked for me, which I have collected throughout my studies.
|
Beginning of semester
|
|
|
~
|
List and map assessments, chapters, topics, tasks
|
|
~
|
Make a place to record every single assessment / exam tip
|
|
~
|
Make a place to record questions for revision
|
|
Help future me
|
|
|
~
|
Note down what worked, what didn’t on post its and in note book
|
|
~
|
Put any summarised notes / cheatsheets into PDF docs, they are useful at work
|
|
DO THE CHAPTER EXERCISES
|
|
Be deliberate
|
|
Youtube
|
|
Online resources
|
|
Online walkthroughs
|
|
Old test questions
|
|
Think: why is this relevant? And answer.
|
|
Meet weekly learning objectives
|
|
Read slides/summary prior to lecture
|
|
Read theory guide, establish main points, learn on net - take notes, browse chapter and add notes if anything missed
|
|
Turn up to every class, lowers workload significantly
|
|
Studying is not a spectator sport, do stuff, don't just read.
|
|
Context map
|
|
|
Plan semester with MS Project
|
|
|
Libra Draw is really handy at drawing graphs
|
|
Start as early as possible
|
|
Review textbook index and unit guide for things to discuss
|
|
Use journals
|
|
Use google books
|
|
Think about and cater to audience
|
|
Be crystal clear about objective
|
|
Read other essays on the topic
|
|
What, where, how, why, when
|
|
Why, why, why
|
|
Review previous exams for ideas and a refresher
|
|
If low word count use pictures and graphs to convey message
|
|
Eat that frog
|
|
Pick the vital 20%
|
|
WWSMAND?
|
|
Breaking a job down makes it more achievable
|
|
Associate good feelings with the task
|
|
It is NEVER too late to commit
|
|
Re-read responses on T/F because I often accidently circle the wrong letter
|
|
In IS you are expected to work it out for yourself, so google is your friend
|
|
Get after it!
|
|
Use previous plans and preps as templates (exams, assignments)
|
|
It always seems like you will never get it but then you do and it feels great!
|
|
Resist the temptation to do small things first (they become habit)
|
|
Add to this as you find more
|
|
|
Every minute spent planning saves about ten in execution. Plan everything.
|
|
|
Plan: Objective, Outputs, Tasks, Timeline
|
|
|
Study in the evening, works better for me
|
|
|
Remember Parkinson's Law
|
|
|
Disconnect the internet if find self procrastinating
|
|
|
Establish the vital 20%
|
|
|
The 80/20 rule = work on the vital few tasks not the trivial many. Most busy people are working on tasks of low value
|
|
|
Never allow self to start after a brief surf, it turns into more.
|
|
Bananas reduce anxiety (potassium)
|
|
Chamomile Tea = calm and sleepy
|
|
Be own best friend, do things at beginning to make life easier in the middle of semester, because it gets bad
|
|
Look out for self
|
|
Say no
|
|
Exercise
|
|
Turn up to every class
|
|
Don't rush things
|
|
Stay in the moment, try not to multitask
|
|
Deliberately go slow
|
|
Ask yourself 'Whats wrong with this moment exactly as it it? What am I doing?'
|
|
Focus on common sounds, repetitive actions, close your eyes, listen to music, keep looking.
|
|
Set self up to succeed, plan.
|
|
|
Use colour when bored to add some creativity and recapture focus
|
|
|
The pomodoro technique works well (25 / 5 minute thing)
|
|
|
Turn internet off if you need to
|
|
|
Use the Force
|
|
|
Get visual
|
|
|
If you don't start somewhere, you won't get anywhere
|
|
|
Break it down
|
|
|
Do the hard stuff first
|
|
|
SWIM just keep your head above
|
|
Study block – Time Management
|
|
|
1
|
Say no to social stuff completely
|
|
2
|
Divide study block by exams evenly
|
|
Put together any notes the lecturer has shared
|
|
|
Practice drawing anything you might need to draw in the exam (eg graphs)
|
|
|
Form an opinion
|
|
|
Make a learning plan
|
|
|
1
|
Review previous study plans and reuse what worked / is relevant
|
|
2
|
Review previous exams for main topics
|
|
3
|
Keep a list of exam tips
|
|
4
|
Grab your question list
|
|
Practice questions
|
|
|
Typing is faster than handwriting
|
|
|
Keep a list of questions
|
|
|
Why is this relevant? Why, Why, Why?
|
|
|
Description, explanation, example
|
|
|
Explain like reader is 5
|
|
|
Online quizzes
|
|
|
Case study
|
|
|
List the key points
|
|
|
List potential relevant topics to learn
|
|
|
Make 'Cheat Sheets' on these topics
|
|
|
Short Response
|
|
|
List the key topics from past exam questions
|
|
|
List any other potential areas to learn which could be relevant
|
|
|
Cheatsheet
|
|
|
Short paragraphs
|
|
|
Practice writing sound arguments
|
|
|
Revision questions
|
|
|
How do topics interelate - this often comes up
|
|
This is great and I totally agree with you that 'trying to be slightly more awesome'.
Who are you?? (Rhetorical question.) This is incredible. I am really curious about how many years/mistakes went into this. I teach high-school math. I'm using this somehow. There are a few acronyms in here that I think you invented. Can you explain them? Thanks!
Well, 2.5 years of uni (so far), mixed with life experience from work, HS and an earlier attempt at a degree. But honestly I have to keep on top of things because I am an adult with a mortgage, so working full time but I also study a full time workload :) WWSMAND? = What Would Slightly More Awesome Natalie Do? This is useful in just about every decision or assignment really. Its a play on those WWJD bands you see people wearing, except I use myself as the benchmark, and I am not trying to be perfect, I am just trying to be 'slightly more awesome' than I am in that moment, which is way less pressure lol SWIM actually just refers to this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA8PaIw5gcE which I listen to sometimes when I'm feeling overwhelmed. Thanks for the kind words, I am glad you are getting some use out of my cheat sheet :)
Could you add this as well? :3 Thanks! http://www.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/136zs4/lpt_another_way_to_write_fast_wellconstructed/
Sure, I have added it. Great info in that thread by the way, so thanks heaps.
Cheatography n. The art of mapping complex subjects into clear, instantly navigable reference guides.
