Letter of Transmittal
My good friend needs my help. I have known him now for about six months and I see him at least twice per week. He is an international first year student on a scholarship, studying entrepreneurship at KPU. He has a problem that I could not help him with previously, because I did not know how best to assist him. I have now decided to help him with his problem by making it my research topic — I will do my very best to ensure that we find appropriate solutions for his problem.
My friend basically doesn’t know how to study! He said that every time he tries to study, there is something that prevents him. I believe a major part of his problem is that he surrounds himself with a lot of distractions that contribute to his procrastination. He informed me that he usually stays home, spending most of his time playing video games, watching movies, TV series, and a lot of animation — he is not a very active person.
I’m going to make a start with my online research to find answers to my friend’s lack of studying ability, and I believe I’m going to find some excellent advice. Than I am going to compile this advice into a simple document so that he can understand and follow it without too much effort.
Study Skills: Report
Executive Summary (one page)
Study skills are a critical part of academic and professional success. Before an individual can learn core concepts of a profession they need to learn how to learn. Key areas of study skills include self-control, focus and retention (Hagler, 2015). However the activities and situations that best teach individual students are not universal. The best way for each student to study is in reflection to their learning style. There are three distinct learning styles that each requires a different approach to studying. The student must first identify weather they are visual, auditory of kinaesthetic learners in order to tailor their study program to match their needs (Guy page 8).
A good book I’ve just read, teaches post-secondary students about the study skills they need to be successful. The book is called Study Skills: A Teaching Programme for Students in Schools and Colleges written by Pat Guy. Though the book was published in 2007 the concepts are applied to the successful development of students in most postsecondary institutions. The book describes the first step towards productive studying is to take responsibility and thrive for success. Effective studying habits can’t be forced on an individual. An individual needs to choose to study (Guy, page 3). Starting on page four of the book is a questionnaire aimed towards identifying the learning style of individual students. Students looking to improve their study skills should begin by using this or a similar questionnaire to identify the way they learn best.
Background (two three paragraphs)
This report I will focus on strategies to improve the learner’s ability to maximize their retention. Implementing a scheduled study program can help a student to excel in a post-secondary entrepreneurship training program. Meanwhile, without strong study habits a post-secondary student is likely to fail in their academic program losing a great deal of tuition money. There are three distinct types of learners with three distinct sets of needs. Students who work hard during their academic years will have a great deal more success in their future careers.
If you are seeking to improve your study skills you need to begin by organizing your calendar and identifying your unique learning style. Most post-secondary students have access to a free calendar either on their phone or in print and can access a learning style assessment questionnaire such as the one provided in the first chapter of the book Study Skills : A Teaching Programme for Students in Schools and Colleges by Pat Guy. The only investment you need to make as a post-secondary student is time, hard work and dedication.
Discussion (1-2 pages)
When it comes to studying each individual is unique in the methods that best suit their individual learning style. I learn best from visual cue’s, in a quiet distraction free atmosphere. Some individuals learn faster than others, while some individuals excel in clutter and noise and other people need a space that is extremely organized and quiet. Some individuals learn best from imagery or auditory lessons while others learn best from reading. The best way to improve an individual’s ability to study is to examine the best approach to reach the individual (Guy page 8). The first step to increasing the efficiency of your study periods is to identify your learning preferences. There are many tests available online that can help you decide if you are a visual learner, auditory learner or a kinaesthetic learner. Most students have traits that will mix into the different categories and can somewhat adapt to their situation. The goal is to identify what techniques will maximize your study time and help you retain the information you are studying.
Once you have identified your learning style you can then begin to create a study program that maximizes your strengths. Visual learners can begin to focus their studying time creating and studying charts and images, while auditory learners can focus more on creating and studying vocal lessons. Kinaesthetic learning can focus their studying on activities that involve activity and experiences (Guy page 10). The goal is to use a range of activities to create memories associated with information. If you only use one study activity you will need to work harder to retain the information, but if you use a variety of activities that cater to your learning style you will have an easier time retaining the knowledge.
Most learners require repetition in order to retain the information they are studying. The best method of preparing for exams requires learners to begin preparing their exam notes as the information is first presented. Then as they flip through their notes, in preparation for the next class they can review the notes. By maximizing their exposure to the information over a period of time students can minimize the amount of time they need to study for tests and can maximize the amount of information they retain. Another note to take from the book Study Skills: A Teaching Programme for Students in Schools and Colleges is to use a variety of learner specific approaches to review for a test of exam. For example, visual learners should review their lessons by creating charts and images, auditory learners should prepare using discussion and reading out loud, and kinaesthetic learners should prepare using activities such as role playing and games.
The most crucial study skill is self-control. Organization and scheduling are the tools that give students an opportunity to practice self-control. By using a calendar to schedule study time, projects and classes a student can then adhere to a regiment of self-control that will allow them to excel in their studies (Hagler page 1). Once you’ve taken the first step of organizing your calendar and you’ve identified your learning style, the only thing standing between you and your goals is completing the tasks you scheduled on your calendar.
A student looking to optimize their time and retention of knowledge needs to start by creating their own individualized study program from the start of the semester and maintain a high level of dedication throughout their study period in order to reach their highest potential. The best way to retain knowledge is through repetition which is why last minute study session often results in failure. The most effective way to study is in small increments that are repeated consecutively. By starting immediately after a teacher explains an assignment a student can maximize their time. The best way to improve your study skills is to start early, organize your time and remain dedicated to your schedule.
Recommendations
I recommend that all students practise a dedicated study regime. To improve your study habits you need to get organized, schedule study time, start your homework early, use a variety of activities and be accountable for meeting your own goals and objectives. It is recommended that post-secondary students use a calendar to schedule their classes, due dates, test dates and studying requirements in order to be successful at school. An individualized study program begins by marking important dates on to the calendar and then assigning study time to ensure enough time is allotted to complete each requirement. The most effective time to begin organizing a study calendar is at the beginning of a semester when teachers are explaining the syllabus. A student can then use the syllabus to plan for major assignments and required readings. A good guideline to follow is for every hour of class time a post-secondary student will require at least one hour of outside study time, but don’t schedule large chunks of study time consecutively. In order to maximize the amount of information you retain it is best to schedule study time into smaller one hour bursts. You need to take the initiative and assess your own learning style and working speed in order to allot the right amount of time to complete your projects and study. Without knowing your style of learning you may not be effectively managing your studying time. Once a student has created their calendar they need to take responsibility for their learning and adhere to their studying sessions.
Costs and Timeline
There is little cost associated with implementing a study program; most often a student can find a calendar for free. Before an effective study program can be implemented the learner must identify their learning style. While some individuals learn best from reading others learn from imagery and vocal studying methods. Using the right studying style can maximize the results achieved in the learner’s time contribution.
The best way to schedule studying time is weekly. Each week as school work is assigned schedule the time needed to complete assignments as they are assigned. After each class skim the next assigned reading. Reread the readings the night before the class it is assigned for. Never wait until the night before an assignment is due to begin a project, even when procrastinating start working at least two days before the assignment is due. To implement a study program begin by assigning one hour of time following each class scheduled for that week and one hour of study preparation the evening before each class.
Conclusion
Studying while attending post-secondary greatly improves your chances for success not only as a student but also in your future career. While each individual will need to examine their learning style all students need to be dedicated to their individualized study program in order to excel in their academic and professional career. The two tools required for an effective study program are often available for free but can be used by a dedicated student to shine in their chosen profession. A calendar, either on a mobile device or printed, and a learning style quiz can help learners maximize their post-secondary experience. Students who learn to organize themselves early are better equipped to handle the future requirements of their career.
References
Guy, Pat. Study Skills. [Electronic Resource]: A Teaching Programme For Students In Schools And Colleges. n.p.: London : SAGE Publications, Limited Sept. 2007 Thousand Oaks : SAGE Publications, Incorporated [Distributor], 2007. 9 Apr. 2016.
Hagler, Gina, MBA. "Study Skills." Salem Press Encyclopedia (2015): Research Starters. Web. 9 Apr. 2016.
