Beyond Access Learning Strategies: Manual Study Methods

This strategy can be provided to Beyond Access students prior to taking an exam or final. The strategy is designed to be introduced within the first few weeks of the semester. The strategy details the importance of creating a study plan as well as six effective strategies for developing a study plan. Repetitive practice of the study strategies can help students succeed in any/all academic classes regardless of major.

What is the importance of creating a study plan?

A study plan is an effective way to help you navigate through your college education, and hold you accountable for your own learning outcomes. Creating a study plan (and sticking to it!) allows you to see how you spend your time, and ensures that you are setting aside enough time outside of class to complete homework assignments, study for tests, and review and retain the information you are learning.

Six Effective Tips for Creating a Study Plan

1. Analyze your current study habits and learning style: Have your student think about what works and what doesn’t work for them in terms of studying. You can generate ideas together with your student following some of the prompts below:
   1. Are they able to study for long blocks of time once or twice a week, or is it more effective for them to study nightly for thirty minutes?
   2. Are they more productive at a certain time of day?
   3. Do they retain material better if you study a subject immediately after class, or do they need a break first?
2. Evaluate your current schedule and time management: Have your student create a digital calendar, paper calendar, white board, or some form of agenda to block out all their standing commitments, including classes, work, and extracurricular activities. This will allow them to see how much of their time is already taken, and what time they have available for studying. *If their schedule leaves little room for studying, you can work together to evaluate what they can cut back on, or how they can rearrange their schedule to have more open time for studying.
3. Plan how much time you need to study for each class: At the beginning of each term, instructors will give out a syllabus for their class. The syllabus will usually include the dates of any major exams or projects. Working together with your student, you can use the syllabi as a guide for calculating how much time needs to be set aside for each class weekly, as some courses might be more intensive than others. It will also help them schedule their independent study sessions to make sure they have enough time to complete all your assignments and prepare for exams.
4. Develop a schedule: After completing steps 1-3, students should now have a better understanding of how much time they need for studying, and how much time they have available in their week. With this information, work together to schedule their study sessions. Have them add their study sessions to their calendar/agenda like any other commitment. This ensures that they’ll remember this is time set aside specifically for studying. Plan out which subject they will study on which day, to ensure that they are devoting enough time to each subject
   1. For example, Mondays and Thursdays can be set aside for math, while Tuesdays and Fridays can be devoted to English
   2. If their schedule is busy, they may have to be somewhat flexible and creative in finding time to study. For example, if they commute to school via public transportation, that time could potentially be used for reading.
5. Assess your weekly calendar: At the beginning of each week, have your student determine why need to study and what they plan to accomplish in each study session. Are they preparing for a big exam? Is there a paper due? Have they struggled a bit more with recently taught material than in previous weeks? Have them adjust their study plan as necessary to meet their weekly goals, and get the most out of each study session. *While it is tempting to skip a study session when there isn’t a test looming, studying early will reduce their future test preparation time by reading ahead and preparing for lectures.
6. Stick to your schedule: A study plan works best when it is followed consistently. Study plans should be realistic based on the student’s availability, learning style, and course rigor/expectations. Remind students they will have to adjust their plan as needed when they switch classes each semester.

4 strategies for sticking to your study plan

1. Remember to take breaks: If the student’s schedule includes long, multi-hour study sessions, remind them to take brief breaks every so often to stretch, hydrate and rest their mind. This will keep your brain fresh and help prevent them from feeling overwhelmed.
2. Schedule time for other activities: Remind your student that by achieving a balanced schedule, their mind will be more receptive during time devoted to studying. If you schedule several long days in a row of studying, you will get discouraged and be tempted to give up. It’s recommended that you schedule time for nonacademic activities, such as exercise, hobbies, and socializing with other students, as long as the number of hours of nonacademic activities do not supersede the number of hours dedicated to academics.
3. Maintain accountability: Some students find it helpful to study with a partner, as it provides accountability, as well as opportunities for discussion and collaboration. When creating a study plan, have your student check with other classmates to determine if they can coordinate study sessions. However, if your student tends to socialize more than study when around others, stick to an independent study plan. If they do have a study partner, make sure it’s someone with whom they are likely to stay on task.
4. Evaluate study plan and adjust as needed: Study plans are all about helping students be more efficient and productive. If they find that it’s not working, remain positive. It’s okay to make changes as you work together to figure out what works best for your student.