Teach Yourself How to Learn

 "Teach Yourself How to Learn" Lessons from VSU Students

These strategies were taken from the book Teach Yourself How to Learn by Sandra McGuire, Ph.D.   The book was the focus of an undergraduate research course in which students were assigned the book. The goal was to identify the obstacles preventing students from implementing the new strategies. The final conclusion is listed below.

Students were hesitant to adopt new study strategies because of:

1. the presence of competing priorities and over commitment (ie job and other responsibilities)

2. the lack of consistently practicing time management (ie lack of time)

3. the inflexibility of habitual (and ineffective) study habits and strategies

4. unwillingness (or lack of experience) for using a meta-cognitive approach to examining what was not working in order to make adjustments

Recommendations:

The adoption of new study skills should be viewed for what it is, a type of personal development that draws on a characteristics such as determination, commitment, goal-setting, discipline and consistency. There are also characteristics necessary for any worthwhile pursuit,  including a spiritual practice.

Ten Strategies to Optimize Your Academic Performance

1. Previewing the lecture material or textbook before class
2. Preparing for active-reading (Writing based  or Memory courses). 
1. Read over (skim) the material to get a general feel for what is being presented
2. Have a pencil and notebook ready to assist in the reading
3. Paraphrasing (Writing or Memory based courses)
1. Review the material by writing it out from memory in your own words
2. Create lists that are organized in a way that you understand
4. Reading Actively (Writing or Memory based courses)
1. Highlighting text is the least effective way to commit it to memory
2. Cornell method or summary statements are more helpful
5. Using the textbook even if it is not required
6. Going to class and taking notes by hand, then re-organizing them
7. Doing homework without using solved examples as a guide- (Math based courses)
8. Teaching material to real or imagined audience
9. Working in pairs or groups
10. Creating your own practice exams