How to Arrange an Academic Study Plan I

Sometimes after students have asked for research advice, they may say something like:

I have so many term papers and exams to prepare for, I don’t know where to start.

or

I don’t know if there are enough hours in the day to do all the assignments I have to do.

We might suggest:

One way to study a lot effectively in a short time to is find out how you personally study most efficiently.

Each person has different study skills. Some students remember best if they see images. Others retain information if it is spoken aloud to them. These students might prefer to hear an audiobook version of a text if available. If a student finds sounds more memorable than things seen, it may also help to have some kind of noise on an IPod accompanying study, whether sounds of nature, classical music, or other sounds. If the student replies:

I remember classroom subjects best when I read or talk about them.

Our answer would be:

That means you should be most comfortable reading articles to get information.

Some students who are studying at home may read aloud to hear the words as they are reading them, as a way of better remembering them. If the student wants to know:

Are there any other ways of learning and remembering?

We might note:

Some students do not retain what they read online. They find it easier if they print out and hold pages in their hands as they read them.

Those students who appreciate organization may respond best to writing things out on index cards or post-its to keep them in mind. If the student asks:

My friends want to study in a group, but I find that I remember more when I study alone. Is that a problem?

We might suggest:

Some people learn and remember best in the presence of others, while others find it more efficient to study alone. After students decide the way they learn best from their own experience, they can start to set up a pattern for academic success.

Planning ahead is one of the most difficult challenges for any student, particularly when most people prefer to do things at the last minute. One way is to divide larger goals into smaller steps. Instead of being afraid of the task of writing an entire thesis, plan to do one chapter first, or part of one chapter. The student may wonder:

Are there any study apps that can help me to schedule my work?

Our reply might be:

There are a number of apps that cost something. There is also free planner app My Study Plan available on iTunes.

As its website explains:

• SQA’s My Study Plan app will automatically create your own personalised study plan based on your exam times, their importance and when you want to study.
• Once the study plan is generated you can view and edit it to customise it further to meet your needs. You can then share your plan as a printable calendar or list.
• You can track study progress using the study timer and get optional reminders on the days you plan to study.
• The app is ideal for learners of all ages from school pupils and college students to adult learners.
• Key features are:
  • Adding subjects and exams
  • Importing exams from SQA MyExams (you will need v1.4 of the MyExams app)
  • Setting your preferred study period for each subject
  • Prioritisation of subjects
  • Setting the times when you want to study
  • Automatic generation of study plan based on your preferences
  • Editing your plan
  • Share your plan
  • Print your plan as a calendar or list
  • Study reminders

If the student wants to know:

Why do I need a study app?

We can say:

It offers a reminder of how to organize things and what to do next. Exam schedules can be imported and other data such as study plans. Since busy students have limited time, an app can help remind us what we should be doing at any moment.

(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)