The Study Process

How to Study

1. Consider your priorities, time and resources
   
   
2. Don't allow friends and family to decide for you what is important
   
   
3. Don't get distracted from the priorities you set for yourself
   
   
4. Study when and where you normally feel more productive and focussed, morning afternoon, evening. Get a dedicated space.
   
   
5. If you don't understand the course material don't just re-read it. Consult with your Academic Head, a classmate or lecturer.
   
   
6. Practice to concentrate, focus on your studies and eliminate distraction.
   
   
7.  Avoid your cell phone or telephone, play background music if it helps you to concentrate, but don't let it distract you.
   
   
8. Stick to routine, draw up a study schedule.
   
   
9. Focus. Before you begin, take a few minutes to summarise a few objectives
   
   
10. Create incentives for yourself if you complete a study objective, i.e. a food treat, calling a friend, read a book
    
    
11. Change the subject you study every 2 hours
    
    
12. Vary your study activities, i.e. join a group.
    
    
13. Take regular, scheduled breaks to do something different, i.e. walk
    
    
14. If your thoughts wander, say to yourself: Be here now every time you think of food or worry about something.
    
    
15. Study your most difficult subject when your energy level is high.
    
    
16. Use the 'M.U.R.D.E.R' study system
• Mood: set a positive mood to study in, appropriate time, environment, attitude
• Understand: Mark information you don't understand.
• Recall: After studying a unit, stop and put what you have learned into your own words.
• Digest: Go back to what you did not understand and reconsider the information. Contact experts, use other books if you still don't understand
• Expand: Ask three kinds of questions concerning the study material:
• If you Could speak to the author, what questions would you ask or what criticism would you offer?
• How could you apply this material to what you are interested in?
• How could you make this information interesting and understandable to other students?
• Review: Go over the material you covered
  
  
17. Use the Index study system
• Review your notes and readings frequently so the material is fresh.
• Write any terms or questions on the front of an index card, write the answer on the back in your own words.
• Shuffle the cards.
• Look at the card on the top of the deck and try to answer the question of explain the term.
• Proceed through the deck of cards until you know all the answers.
• Carry your cards with you everywhere so you can test yourself and have the answer ready in case you need it.
  
  

Notes:

• 'M.U.R.D.E.R' study system: adapted from Study Guides and Strategies website, adapted from Hayes, John R., The complete Problem Solver, Lawrence Erlbaum Publisher, Hillsdale, NJ: 1989. ISBN 0805803092
• Indexing study system, adapted from Study Guides and Strategies website, who partially adapted it from the audio cassette by Steven Covey, Seven habits of Highly Effective People.