Students yearn for good grades; they spend hours perusing websites, filling out study guides, and reading books all to score high on important tests and exams. I often do this myself because I want to do my best in school. There are many ways to learn school content effectively, but it is important to study efficiently so you can work smarter and not harder.
Getting Focused
Motivating yourself to study can be very difficult for students, but it is very important that they stay on-task and absorb as much information as possible on the subject they are studying. Students use different strategies and techniques to stay focused and motivated while beginning the studying process.
Youth Music reports that “around 60% of students tend to listen to music while they study.”
This can be a viable option for students to focus because it allows them to do something they enjoy while ridding themselves of any potential distractions that would take them out of their studying rhythm. When I am listening to some of my favorite songs while working, it often lightens my mood and allows me to get into a working rhythm.
The option of listening to music has become limited in school because of the new cell phone policies that have been put in place across America. It is important to get into a good rhythm while studying because you will gain some momentum while working and be able to complete tasks and learn more information effectively.
Finding A Place To Study
Another step in the learning and working process is finding a quiet space to work. One again, ridding yourself of distractions is a big part of studying and completing schoolwork. Try to find a certain area that you are comfortable working in for an extended period of time. Also make sure to have food and water nearby if you are going to be there for a while; you don’t want to get up and get them because this will disrupt your rhythm.
Outside thoughts can disrupt students ability to focus, but a quiet environment allows students to learn and process information quickly. Less distractions mean more work can get done.
According to research by Hawker Brownlow Digital, “Quiet environments can minimize distractions and help improve focus, especially for tasks that require deep concentration, such as reading, writing or complex problem-solving.”
Personally I work better in a quiet environment where I can process my thoughts, talk myself through challenging tasks and assignments. Finding a place to study can be the key to success for students.
Using Tools
Finding studying tools can help students work smarter and not harder. The key to finding a studying tool is finding a tool that helps you understand course material well and keeps you engaged enough to keep studying.
Some of the more popular online study tools are Quizlet and Khan Academy. Many use other methods such as paper flashcards with important vocabulary terms and course concepts. I tend to use AI tools such as ChatGPT that will generate study guides for certain units of a class and better explain concepts that I struggle to remember. AI is very useful because it gives you specific, personalized, answers that are exactly what you need to know in order to do well on a test or complete an assignment.
Laneah Ravn expressed, “AI is a tool, and it’s not going away. Tools such as ChatGPT can help us become clearer and more focused in our writing. However, these tools are not a substitute for original ideas or unique student voices. I like to think of ChatGPT as a calculator: garbage in, garbage out.
When completing assignments you can always lean on certain tools to help you, but it is imperative that you use tools such as google search and artificial intelligence responsibly. You don’t want to risk getting a zero or getting into trouble for plagiarism.
Ravn further states, “AI will write garbage essays, reports, or narratives if we use them as a replacement for the brain just like a calculator will spit out nonsense results if we don’t understand what we’re doing.. But when we leverage these tools in formulaic and assistive ways, they’ll advance our writing into polished products. But we have to have the idea first, just like we have to know what the calculator is doing when we enter the numbers. Otherwise, it’s all meaningless.”
My advice for being successful in school is very simple: stay motivated! By using simple but powerful study habits, students can take control of their learning and set themselves up for long term success.
