My “overly complicated” study system and how it works for me
I personly don't think my system is complicated but I have been told by many of my friends that I make school way harder than it should be by using this system. This system is the reason I call myself a “paperless student” in quotes cause I do kill a few trees (sorry trees). Anyway let’s get right into it.
Step one- LECTURE TIME- This is the step we all do. I take very messy notes in class while the teacher lectures. They normally look like a horrible, unorganized mess. (These notes are written on my Ipad in good notes). We’ll use an example from my religion 103 class.
Step two- LEGIBLE STUDY TIME- After class at home I decipher the mess that is my lecture notes and expand on them by typing up my notes on to a word document. (what I mean by the world expand is simply that I turn my bullet-pointed notes into full sentences.) These typed notes get printed out and placed into report covers I keep by my desk that I like to call my “class reports”. (sorry I don't have a printed version as I have already given the majority of my notes to other people to help them study for the final exam)
Step 3- CONDENCEMENT- I take my typed notes and I conscience them into a few written pages. I try to get all of the information that I think maybe or know is important into 3 to 5 pages. (I normally do this closer to the day of the test so that this information can stay fresh in my mind.) (These notes are also not written on physical paper). We will use an example from my religion class again.
Step 4- THE HOME STRETCH- Just before a test (i use this as a study technique) I take my condensed notes and I condense them even further...and further....and further until I am left with only one page. (again no paper was harmed in this process....well not yet) I make my handwriting neat as can be and I print this one page out and add it to my “class reports”. I don't have an example from my religion class because our professor allows us a one page note sheet on our exam (and takes them up at the end of the exam) so the one page condensed notes that I have are from an old physics class.
I would not expect this system to work for anyone else but I would suggest everyone try and condense your notes into one page as I feel its the best way to study for me. hope this helps someone! 🙂
