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Studying is an essential element of education. Without an effective method, though, studying won’t be useful.
Location is an important factor to consider. Studying in a bedroom can be distracting, because of all the other things you could be doing (i.e. playing video games, cleaning, scrolling on social media, etc.)
Instead, students might be better off studying in Axe Library. Within the library, there are several spaces that students can utilize. The Grind Coffee Shop is on the first floor, which is a plus.
The Overman Student Center is another on-campus option. On the first floor, many students choose to study or hangout in the main hallway. If you’re looking for a quieter area, the second floor has chairs all over the place and is usually less busy.
Einstein Bros. Bagels is housed in the basement of the student center. Typically, music is played over the speakers and there’s often a lot of traffic in that area. If you don’t mind the noise, that’s a good place to study.
Pittsburg State has a beautiful campus, so what better place to study than outside around the Oval? If you’re okay with background noise, studying outside can be a good environment.
Around town, students could have a study session at Starbucks, Root Coffeehouse, or any number of parks in the area.
When picking a location, students should consider their personal preferences. For those that enjoy backnoise, libraries, coffee shops, and the oval are better suited for study sessions. For those that prefer quieter environments, the Overman Student Center (away from the high traffic areas), parks, and secluded corners of buildings is the better option.
Location is important when studying. Just as important as that is your study methods. Again, this is something that should be based on your personal preferences, though some are more effective than others.
Highlighting sections of textbooks isn’t going to prove effective while studying. Instead, rewrite it in your notes with focus on key points, definitions, and ideas.
Using two notebooks when taking notes is one way to cement ideas in your mind. Use one for taking notes in class and one for copying the notes after class. This repetition will make you more likely to remember the ideas. It will also make your notes cleaner and easier to read.
On the topic of note taking, students don’t need to write down everything a professor says verbatim. Take notes in your own words. They need to make sense to you.
Mnemonic devices are also useful when studying. Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS) is an acronym for parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction.
Quizlet is a good resource, not only for finding answers to questions, but for creating your own guides and reviews.
These are only a couple of strategies. Do some research and find one that works best for you. Each student is different. Build a routine and stick to it but make sure to try everything so you know what conditions you thrive in.