How to Learn in a College Classroom

College students everywhere are faced with the dilemma about what the most effective way to learn really is. Some students seem to have a 4.0 GPA with no effort, although there are others who work their fever to the bone and end up receiving mostly B's, maybe some C's, and a few A's. All of this has to do with study techniques. If college students want to be successful, there are some essential study habits that they must learn and pick up quickly. Senior year in college is way too late if you want to get started on a competitive GPA because you'll have a very hard time impacting your GPA at that point. However, if you start early and keep your nose to the grindstone, studying for college classes and actually learning the material can become a habitual routine that you'll use everyday in those college classes.

Tape Recorders

If you've ever been to a college class that is mainly lecture then you know how much of a drag it sometimes can be. Professors don't mean to sound disinteresting, but sometimes that's the way that college classes come across. Tape recorders are a very handy tool in the college classroom setting. If you tape record the whole lecture then you'll be able to listen to it to revise your notes or catch something that you missed. I can actually attest to the use of a tape recorder because I frequently use it in my Geology lecture that is a required general education college course.

Take 10

So-called experts that educate college students on how much study time is needed per class usually recommends hours upon hours of study time each and every week. However, I have found a different approach to my study habits. Taking 10 minutes twice-a-day to review my notes for each class not only refreshes my memory about what went on in class that day or that week, but also improves my memory and engrains the information that I learned so that I'll actually remember it for the test and hopefully for a lot longer than that.

Pneumonic Devices

This technique is frequently called upon so that you'll be able to memorize a phrase or a certain set of items without having to remember them individually. Pneumonic devices are excellent if you are cramming for a test; they will help you to remember the course material in the short term, but very little in the long term, especially if your cramming for an exam. But pneumonic phrases and words, such as RICE for rest, ice, compression, and elevation (to treat a sprained ankle), are a good way for students to begin practicing their study techniques and gets them into the mindset of studying.

Altogether, all 3 of these study habits are excellent for learning course material in college courses. With 4 or 5 college courses in one term, a lot of material can come at you all at once. However, slowing down to realize that you only need to study a little bit each day to review the material and order your notes will help you in the long run in your college career!