#studying methods

[silenthoughtss]

18/05/2021

Hello 👋

It is currently 6.40 in the morning and I just finished doing my duolingo lessons.(I am learning French and about to complete check point one.If you know any good movies in French do let me know,I'm struggling to find some good stuff lol).

Today I want to complete the following stuff

Revise yesterday's work and do Group Theory(Important actions and applications)

Solve 10 Problems on Group Theory

Complete revising last week's maths and start revising last week's stats.

I wish a very wonderful day to you ❣ Happy, restful and productive! Don't overdo anything, health always comes first!!

Image credits: Pinterest

[languagesandlinguistics]

Question for other language learners!

How do you structure your time when you want to study languages but you’re really busy?

I’m thinking of leaning harder into approaching my language learning as lessons versus homework, because I’m more productive in that structure. I just don’t know how to keep myself motivated. I have lots of work and school commitments so my time is precious. 

I also want to be able to draw and do other more mentally passive hobbies in my free time. Once I get to my free time, I don’t feel like doing something “harder” like language learning, so I’m not sure how to balance things.

How do you do it? Dedicated journals or notebooks? Tracking in a planner? What works for you?

[studyingstudent]

Anki is such a useful study tool! It’s perfect for people learning how to study (i.e. new college students) because it is most effective when used on a daily basis and can help form good studying habits. It’s also very popular among med/vet students because it can help you learn a ton of information in an quick, efficient manner. 

I’m by no means an Anki expert - this program is extremely customizable and can be tailored to fit any purpose. I used it consistently this semester, a little bit each day, and found that I barely had to study for my tests the night before! 

This post will outline my personal favorite Anki uses, add-ons and studying techniques. 

What is Anki?

“Anki is a program which makes remembering things easy. Because it's a lot more efficient than traditional study methods, you can either greatly decrease your time spent studying, or greatly increase the amount you learn.”  (from Anki’s website)

Essentially, it’s a flashcard app. Think Quizlet on steroids. 

Installation

Anki is very simple to install - visit their website and follow the directions. The program is free with Windows, Mac and Android! 

Card Types 

I use three different card types: Basic (used rarely), Cloze, and Image Occlusion. 

Cloze Cards 

These are essentially fill in the blank cards. The program will add brackets around around the word or phrase you are trying to omit. 

Shortcut to create brackets (Mac): Command + Shift + C 

For example:

{{c1:: phrase}} 

If you add multiple brackets, they will appear as {{c2:: }}, {{c3::  }} and so on. This means that three cards will be created when you press “Add.” This is useful if you think that you need three or more cards to memorize the concept - but often it’s too repetitive. To put multiple phrases on one card, you can replace the number each number with {{c1:  }}. See below for an add-on that does this automatically. 

The golden rule of Anki: Less is more. It’s very easy to make a ton of cards, but it makes your studying less efficient. 

See the gif below to watch me create and study a Cloze card. 

Image Occlusion

This card type lets you create cards that hide parts of an image. Super useful for memorizing tables or learning anatomy. 

You can save images to your computer and then upload them OR copy them to your clipboard and it will select them automatically. 

Creating an Image Occlusion card: 

There are several options for adding the card(s). At this point, you have made three fields, so clicking any of the add options at the bottom will generate three separate cards. However, If you use the select tool to select all the cards and press the letter “G” it will group the fields so only one card is created. This is what I usually do - but it definitely depends on what the card is. 

In the gif below you’ll see me group the fields and study the Image Occlusion cards.

Add-Ons 

Anki has a ton of user created add-ons that enhance the program and make it more customizable! You can browse them here. 

How to add them: 

These are just the add-ons I use. I’ll list them below with a description from their download page - you can click the link to view pictures. 

Image Occlusion (Described above) 

CODE: 1111933094

Frozen Fields: Frozen Fields allows you to conveniently sticky and unsticky a field right from the note editor. 

CODE: 516643804

Cloze Deletion Single Card: Whenever you add a cloze deletion in a card, you always will get a tag using "c1" instead of c2, 3, 4, etc. 

CODE: 1392166854

PDF Glossary Exporter: Allows you to download a deck in PDF form

CODE: 1334168683

Review Heatmap: Adds a heatmap graph to Anki's main window which visualizes past and future card review activity. 

CODE: 1771074083

Organization

How you set up your decks is completely up to you! 

I have my classes as major decks, and then separate my chapter flashcards by exam. 

I’ve seen people do this with topics or lectures as sub-decks as well. It all depends on your personal preference, but I would definitely recommend making smaller decks to keep you more organized. 

An alternative to this would be using Anki’s tagging feature. I’m not an expert on this, but I’ll link you to a video that explains it pretty well. Here’s another from a med student! 

Studying Methods/Tips

Directly after a lecture, I take my notes and create cards right away. In the ‘extra’ section or on the back of cards, I add supplemental information or diagrams from the internet or book. I make sure that I completely finish the cards that Anki assigns me every single day. I also bought the app on my iPad, which has a scratch pad feature. It helps me learn faster if I write or draw out the answer to a card as I answer them. (Before I had the app I used a whiteboard or scratch paper to do this!) 

You can go in and change the amount of cards they assign you if you need a lighter/heavier workload. I recommend setting the New and Review card limits very high - you only have a short amount of time to learn the cards between now and your next test.  Anki’s program is set up for learning over a longer period of time. However - this is up to you! 

Here’s how to change the limit: 

General tips: 

Anki is best used on a daily basis. Study a little bit each day!

Make your cards directly after lecture (or reading a chapter). DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! The earlier you make them, the more effective they will be. 

Add pictures to your cards, and lots of information on the back or in the extra sections. You will want to know why you got a card wrong - this is how you learn!

LESS IS MORE. It’s so easy to make a ton of cards - focus on having a small amount of high yield cards. 

Do your research! The more you learn about Anki, the more effective it will be. 

Use this as a supplement to your other studying methods

More Resources

Below are my favorite Anki tutorials! 

How to Add “Type In The Answer” fields to Cloze cards 

How to Use Anki Effectively 

My Memorization Technique in Med School  

Anki for Med School: Using Cloze Deletion Cards 

Image Occlusion and Cram Studying 

How I make my Study Note cards in Medical School 

I hope this gives everyone a pretty good idea of how to use Anki effectively! Let me know if there are any questions - I can always add to this post. 

[chrixa]

Staying Awake (and Alive) When Studying

Studying can take a lot of motivation and concentration. In fact, you need those two to be able to absorb all the information from your countless texts and powerpoints. But more often than not, those two are nowhere to be found when you actually need to cram those pages for that exam that’s worth a gazillion percent of your final grade. So here’s some stuff that might actually help if you’re trynna stay awake and alive to study and review. 

1. Have a desk lamp. I know I mentioned this in my previous post, but seriously. Get the brightest desk lamp you can find and light it up when you’re studying. Some expert sciencey people say that you fall asleep easier when it’s dark, so better make your study space as bright as the sun (but not literally). 

2. Chew a gum. While snacking might not be a good idea, chewing some mint gum however, can help your eyes stay open and read those passages in your book. I used this trick a couple of times and I suggest you get the strongest mint gum you can find, because that thing just wakes up your whole body.

3. Light a scented candle. This might be my favorite one yet. A scented candle can lift your mood and relaxes your brain for a bit. Stress can be dangerous when you’re studying as it can decrease your brain’s capacity to absorb information, so de-stressing your brain with scented candle is always a good idea.

4. Have some background music. For this one, it depends on your preference whether or not you can concentrate better with music or without, so it comes back to you. Personally, I need music literally for everything so I love having some jazz playing in the background while I study. If jazz is not up your alley, you can listen to something with lyrics that you’re familiar with. But if music makes you even sleepier, I don’t think it’s a good idea to have some when you’re trying to stay awake. 

5. Get a change of scenery. Go study in that library you love, or your favorite coffee shop, go downstairs to the living room couches, or study outside in the sun when the weather is nice. Your study space can get stuffy and your brain might associate it with stress, and it’s always the best way to approach learning in a positive way. 

6. Don’t study on your bed. Just don’t. Never the best idea.

7. Take quick breaks/ naps. By quick I mean like 10- to 30-minute breaks/ naps. You have no idea how refreshing a 15-minute nap can be. If you haven’t mastered the art of power napping and afraid you’ll end up full-on sleeping, take a break instead. Wash your face, play that game, go on tumblr, watch some youtube videos. Just don’t go overtime and end up not continuing. 

I know it’s hard when all you want is to go outside and enjoy the sun (since it’s finally summer here in Canada), but your semester’s ending soon enough. Enjoy it as much as you can and don’t complain! It’s important to stay positive and grateful. 

Thanks for reading this post!

cheers. 

[desireeplants]

I NEED YOUR HELP!

Hello everyone, I am currently writing a paper on student’s study habits and techniques right now. For said paper, I have to include information from a survey. I was wondering if y'all could please help me out! No names or personal information will be used and you can simply just shoot me a message with your answers. 

1. What is your favorite/most used study method currently? (Flash cards, study guides, quizzes, etc.) 2. How many days out of the week do you study and for how long? (Ex. Four days, two hours each day) 3. What type of environment do you study in? (Ex. Quiet room, Coffee shop, with friends or alone?) 4. Do you listen to any music or watch any media while studying? 5. What time of the day do you study the most/what time are you most productive? 6. What studying method do you think does not work at all? 7. Has your school/institute given any resources or guidance to help you study better? If so, what have they offered? 8. Do you believe studying and hard work has given beneficial results? 9. Do you find study groups beneficial? 10. What methods do you use for motivation when studying for longer periods?

Again, this would help me out so much, thank you all in advance!

[meilancholic]

Hello wonderful people! I just want to share some of my favorite studying methods and add a personal review about it. Hope you guys like it!

I. Note Taking

a. Flashcards + Doodles I associate things with some doodles that’ll make sense to me personally. Sometimes, I make puns on things I need to remember so that I can recall them easily. This really helps me since I tend to forget things easily.

b. Lecture notes + Drawings  Since I’m a visual learner, I draw things on corner by corner of the paper and write information beside them! I also color-code terms or the topic itself to make myself remember things easily. It became helpful to me on memorizing rules on my Research I subject and as well as some terms on Statistics and Probability!

c. Personalized note taking system  My note taking system is kind of similar to Cornell note taking system. I fold my paper into half, mostly the left side’s wider than the right side (but I also do it on the other way). On the right side, I put graphs, formulas, charts and other important information. Meanwhile, I put the key points and notes on the left side or the explanation of the presented graph/formula/chart. I adapted this method recently and I’m loving it!

II. Recording  I record myself teaching my chosen topic. Mostly, I address it to myself since I like to talk to myself in second person’s point of view. I also like to add puns or personal remarks about a certain thing. The negative thing about this is that it is time-consuming (sometimes a broad topic can last up to 30 minutes) but it helps me to understand things if I really can’t grasp the concept that well. During my free time at school, I listen to my recordings like an audio book or a podcast. It’s quite entertaining to me, I’m not lying, haha. This became helpful to me on my exams and quizzes.

So these are my favorite studying methods! If you want to try them, just go for it! Happy studying! 

[ellebellestudyblr]

When a studyblr stops studying.

TW- Suicide 

I started this blog (originally named Science-Studying) back in March 2015. This was during the worst time of my life. I was so suicidal I wasn’t even allowed into school. I was determined that if I didn’t get the grades I wanted at GCSE, I would kill myself. Simple as that. Though Pinterest, I found the Studyblr community and thought it was really hard, I managed to study. I started my medication 3 days before my first exam. It was awful being spaced out and constantly sick during those hours of exams. I managed to pass everything. I didn’t 100% get the grades I wanted but I was so happy.

College/Sixth Form came around and I honestly thought it was the “getting over” the depression and the new timetable that made me exhausted. I was so ill all the time and would fall asleep on the bus, in the cafeteria and sometimes I even think in classrooms. I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t concentrate on my work. I mean, I had revised even when I had no will to live? 

Results day came round and I opened my computer to find I had failed. 2Es and 2Us. I wasn’t as upset as you’d think I’d be. I’d expected it. When my mum asked me “Did you try your best” I had to reply “No, because I couldn’t”

All was not lost. I started a new BTEC course that was only 3 days a week! I found the work really easy to get through (No offence, BTEC students!) yet, I couldn’t get out of bed. My college was really good though, they let me come in afternoons only but It wasn’t enough. Though in the UK you HAVE to stay in education until you’re 18. I was allowed to drop out for health reasons.

I was diagnosed with CFS/ME in December and if I’m honest I am really struggling, once again. Not mentally, but physically. I will return to college in September to do an access course that will get me (hopefully) into uni. 

I am posting this because A) it’s exam season and B) lots of people are reblogging my old GCSE posts and I can’t help but smile. I am not a studyblr but when I was, I was really happy. Yes, I am really struggling with my heath at the moment but coming on here today made me smile. Yes, I used to hide from tumblr. I even blocked it from my computer because it made me feel so ashamed I wan’t in school anymore. I can’t be in school at this moment in time, my body and mind could not handle it. It is okay to break from education for health reasons whether those reasons be mental or physical.