Video How to Study Effectively

Watch more How to Study videos: http://www.howcast.com/videos/316183-How-to-Study-Effectively

Many people find studying to be a real drag, but if you're going to do it, you may as well do it right.

Step 1: Choose the right environment
Choose an environment for studying where you will be free from distractions including phone calls, television, or other interruptions.

Step 2: Prioritize your studies
Prioritize your study materials so that the most important or the hardest is finished first.

Step 3: Read for comprehension
Read your materials over once for basic comprehension. Don't stress about remembering it all on the first read.

Step 4: Read and take notes
Read the material again, taking notes and summarizing the main ideas in your own words.

Tip
Make new material stick by relating it to something you already know or care about. Context and emotion enhance our ability to remember.

Step 5: Use you senses
Use your senses to assist with learning. When possible, don't just read, but listen to lectures or podcasts, and watch instructional videos. Build a rich understanding of the material.

Step 6: Quiz yourself
Quiz yourself without the aid of any notes. Write down your answers or speak them aloud. In other words, rehearse for the test.

Tip
Take a nap after a heavy study session to allow your brain time to rest. Napping after studying can help with recall.

Step 7: Test yourself again
Test yourself again and again, at different times of the day and week. This "self-testing" will reinforce your studies so that when the real test arrives, you'll be ready.

Did You Know?
In ancient Greece and Rome, people used the "loci" memorization method, which involves visualizing placing each thing you need to remember in a familiar room or on a familiar road, and picking it up as you take a mental walk around the room or down the road.