9 Study techniques for a college Student

Welcome to the world of higher education, where learning new things is really important. If you’re in college, you’re starting a journey that’s all about learning, getting better, and discovering who you are. There are going to be many school challenges, but if you can figure out good ways to study, you’ll do really well.

In this article, written by Lofty Scholars we will talk about “9 Study Techniques for a College Students.” These are helpful ideas to help you do great in your classes and feel sure of yourself while you learn.

Overview of 9 Study techniques for a college Student

1. Distributed practice

Spreading out your studying over a few short sessions is called distributed practice. This is different from cramming, which is studying for a long time all at once. Research has shown that distributed practice helps you understand things better, while cramming just makes you remember things without really understanding them.

To do well in the long run, it’s better to use distributed practice. If you do this for your entire 4-5 years in college, you’ll be much better at your subjects compared to someone who crams. But sometimes, colleges make cramming easier by giving only a few big tests during the semester, which makes students just memorize stuff.

To use distributed practice, you need to be motivated and determined. A good way to start is by making a schedule for each week at the beginning of the semester. Plan to study for 50 minutes every day from Monday to Saturday, and keep Sunday free for resting, catching up, or doing other things you enjoy.

2. Flashcard

A flashcard, also called an index card, is a small card with information on both sides. People use it to help them remember things. One side of the card has a question, and the other side has the answer.

People often use flashcards to remember vocabulary words, dates from history, formulas, or anything else that can be learned by asking a question and knowing the answer. Flashcards can be digital (in a flashcard app) or physical, like real cards you hold.

Using flashcards is a way to remember things better, and it’s based on the idea that testing yourself on the information helps you remember it for a long time. How you study with flashcards affects how quickly you learn, and arranging when you see the flashcards again also helps you learn faster. Some computer programs use this idea and remind you to review flashcards at the right times to help you learn better.

3. Information retrieval

Retrieval practice means remembering things you learned before by thinking about them now. Imagine you read a book or heard something in class a while ago, and now you try to bring that information back to your mind. This works better if you let yourself forget a little first. You can’t just say what you learned; you have to actually think hard and remember it on your own, especially when it gets tougher to recall.

By doing this, you make it easier to remember that information later on. Compared to just reading your notes again, retrieving stuff helps you remember and use it in different situations. But how can you practice retrieval? There are different ways to do it.

If your teacher gives you practice tests or your textbook has questions, try answering them without looking at your book or notes. If there aren’t any practice questions, make your own. You can do this alone or with friends who are also studying. Another idea is to make flashcards, but don’t just use them to peek at the answers. You can also write down everything you know about a topic or draw what you remember.

Lastly, you can make a map of your ideas. After retrieval practice, check your book or notes to make sure you got the information right. This helps fix any misunderstandings and shows you what you know and what you don’t. Later on, try recalling the same info again to see how much easier it gets with practice.

4. Recitation

Recitation is when you say something you’ve memorized, often in a formal way. In school, students might recite things in front of the whole class to show what they know about a subject. There are different ways to do this. For example, a teacher might ask a student to talk about a topic and correct any mistakes they make.

The point of recitation is to help students use what they learned in class. When students talk about what they understand or know about a certain topic, it helps them remember it better and get better at explaining it to others. Recitation is good for all students because it improves how well they understand and remember information.

5. Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique, made by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, is a way to manage your time better. It breaks your work into chunks, with each chunk being about 25 minutes long and followed by a short break. These chunks are called “pomodoros,” which means “tomatoes” in Italian. The name comes from a timer that Cirillo used that looked like a tomato.

This method has become popular thanks to apps and websites that provide timers and instructions. It’s similar to other ideas used in making software, like setting specific time limits, working step by step, and making improvements as you go. It’s often used when two people work on the same thing together.

The person who came up with this technique and those who support it suggest doing it in a simple way. You use a regular timer, paper, and a pencil. Turning the timer’s knob shows you’re ready to start working, and the ticking sound reminds you to finish your task. When the timer goes off, it tells you to take a break. This helps you stay focused and keep going.

This technique has inspired many computer programs for different devices.

6. Map

A mind map is like a picture of thoughts and ideas. It’s a tool that helps you organize information visually. Instead of using straight lines, it uses shapes and lines in different ways. This helps you see connections between ideas and come up with new ones. Making a mind map can help you understand things, remember them, and think of new stuff.

Unlike regular notes or lists, a mind map is more like how your brain works. It’s not just about writing words; it’s like drawing a picture of your thoughts. Making a mind map uses both your logical thinking and your creative side. This helps your brain work better, and it supports all the things your brain does. Plus, it’s fun to do!

7. Feynman Technique

The Feynman Technique is a way to learn and understand things deeply. It’s named after Richard Feynman, who was really good at explaining hard ideas in easy words. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Pick something you want to learn about.

Think about a topic you like and write down what you already know about it on a blank paper. Add new stuff you learn in a different color.

Step 2: Explain it to a 12-year-old.

Imagine talking to a 12-year-old and tell them about the topic. Use simple words and don’t use hard words. This helps you see what you don’t get yet.

Step 3: Make it simpler and better.

Look at your notes and make your explanation even clearer. Do this over and over until you really get it.

Step 4: Show others and remember.

Share your explanation with someone else to check if you understand well. Keep your notes in a place where you can look at them again later.

Being able to explain hard stuff simply is an important skill. The Feynman Technique helps you get good at this and not get fooled by people using big words.

8. Interleaving Practice

Interleaving is a smart way to learn things better. Instead of focusing only on one thing, you mix up different topics or ways of practicing. For example, when studying for a test, you can use interleaving by practicing different types of questions together, instead of doing the same kind of question over and over.

Interleaving is also called mixed practice or varied practice. It’s different from blocked practice, where you focus on just one thing at a time.

People have found that interleaving works really well for learning. It helps in different subjects like history, math, music, and even sports. The “interleaving effect” is what we call it when people learn better with interleaving compared to sticking to one thing.

Using interleaving can be a great idea. It’s good to know how to use it to help yourself learn better or when you’re teaching others.

9. Paraphrasing And Reflecting

Paraphrasing means restating someone else’s idea or your own previous idea using your own words. The goal of paraphrasing is to give a summary that brings together information from different sources, focuses on important points, and shows the similarities and differences in relevant information.

Reflecting feelings is a method that therapists or counselors use to highlight and clarify the emotions and attitudes that a client is sharing. It involves making a statement that mirrors the client’s feelings and encourages them to talk more. Reflecting is similar to using a mirror to show that you get what the client is saying. This technique can help the client feel listened to and understood, and it can also help them become more aware of their own emotions and feelings.