Top Tips For Studying.

As we approach the end of the semester, deadlines are approaching and it’s important to study effectively. Whether you’re working in the studios, or on written assignments, being aware of how to manage your workload and avoid poor practice is key.

Our top study tips

Learn the academic requirements of your assignment.

Understand what you need to do to succeed, look through the grading criteria for each module on your course hub and ask your tutors if you are unsure about anything.

Visualise it

In a digital world, making physical notes can help you memorise information. Use post-it notes to learn key words and phrases, try sticking them around your room or workspace and revising the topic when you look at them.

Set goals

Set goals and focus your studies. It can prove to be better to do ‘concentrated study’ on one thing at a time, compared to surface-level study of a multiple areas. ‘SMART goals’ are a good way to do this, these are goals that are:  Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. That way you have something to aim for and keep yourself on track.

Spaced Practice

‘Spaced Practice’ can be useful when it comes to recalling information over a long period of time. Here’s a breakdown of how this works:

Day 1: Learn the material in class.

Day 2: Revisit and review.

Day 3: Revisit and review.

After one week: Revisit and review.

After two weeks: Revisit and review.

Whether you’re learning the specific order to powering up a studio, how to use a piece of outboard, or revisiting notes from a tutorial, this method can come in handy with making the information stick.

The Pomodoro Method

Having regular short breaks is proven to improve your productivity! A method known as the ‘Pomodoro technique’ is where you study for a 25 minute interval, then take a 5 minute break. After repeating this cycle four times in total, you then have a longer 30 minute break. Each work interval is called a pomodoro, the Italian word for tomato.

Get rid of distractions

Our phones are one of the biggest culprits for distracting us, particularly when trying to work or study. Whether its group chats or doom scrolling, its difficult to focus and put your brain to work when it is constantly distracted by so much stimuli.

There are apps that help you manage this by selecting apps that are distracting and locking you out of them for a set period of time. Check out Forest and Opal.