Studying for Science Classes

Science courses commonly require a different approach to studying than other courses. In these courses you will be asked to conceptualize things in three dimensions, understand complex concepts, and learn a whole new vocabulary. 

Are you curious about the science of how the brain learns new things?  

Watch the video below, The Student Brain: A Conversation About the Neuroscience Behind Effective Studying with Dr. Michael Mauk, Professor & Chair of the Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJZiWT1WizA 

Key takeaways:

• Begin studying new material as soon as you've covered it in class.  Don't wait two-three weeks until just before the test.

• Space out your studying.  Study a little bit every day, or every other day.  Don't try to cram everything in during one marathon study session.

• Break studying into short, frequent sessions of 30-40 minutes at a time.  Studying for longer periods produces very little additional benefit.

• Practice both storing new knowledge (reviewing your notes, for example), and also retrieving that knowledge.  Practice retrieving knowledge by testing yourself (or having a friend test you) and answering questions out loud or by writing your answer down before checking to see if you are correct.  

• If you're studying for more than one thing at a time, alternate your study sessions.  Study for Class A for 30-40 minutes, take a short break, then study for Class B for 30-40 minutes.  Repeat.  This is called "interleaving" and has been shown to be much more effective than studying in two big separate sessions.

7 Evidence-Based Study Strategies (And How to Use Each)

This information is geared toward students in med school, but they are strategies that take advantage of how the brain works, as discussed in the video above.  There's a video covering all the strategies AND a text discussion of each study strategy.

https://medschoolinsiders.com/study-strategies/7-evidence-based-study-strategies-how-to-use-each/ 

Do you have test anxiety?  

The LSU School of Nursing has some excellent tips for dealing with test anxiety.

https://nursing.lsuhsc.edu/AcademicSuccessProgram/StrategiesTestAnxiety.aspx 

Advice I give my own students:  

You will improve your performance if you:

• take notes from both the textbook and the lecture

• answer the study questions in each chapter

• go over the chapter summary

• revisit fundamental concepts in each chapter

• review key terms at the end of each assigned chapter

If you are struggling to understand how the concepts in the chapter relate to each other, it can be helpful to organize your notes by putting them in the topic order shown in the detailed Table of Contents in your textbook.  Many students also find it useful to make flash cards for terms and their definitions. 

How to Get an A in this Class (or any Other)

An A is supposed to indicate “outstanding scholarship.”  Something is “outstanding” because it is significantly better than what most people normally produce.  This write-up is provided as a guide. Each person is different and has different ways of learning; this is what works for me.  Also, take into account time available and need.  For example, if you are doing well, don't bother recopying notes.

Good Habits (Be active, not passive!)

• Attend class.

• Read the material before class. 

• Stick to business in the classroom. Socialize outside.

• Take notes so you have a record of what was discussed. Make a note of what slides were shown.

• Fill in the "holes" in your notes while the lecture is still fresh in your mind.

• Look up what you don't understand (see textbook glossary and/or index, or online resources).

• Write out definitions in notes so that they are handy when you are studying.

• Recopy notes (time-consuming but helpful), or type them into your computer.

• Expect to put in time. Good grades require at least 3 hours of "homework" per hour of class.

• Review what you learned in class within 24 hours of learning the information.  Don’t wait until the day before the test.  Cramming doesn’t lead to understanding.

Studying for Tests

• Stay current with class material.

• Have a comprehensive set of class notes.

• Look up what you don't understand, or ask your professor.

• Turn off your cell phone, television, and internet access (especially instant messaging).

• Don’t study where you sleep.  Do as much of your studying in the daytime as possible.

• Do ACTIVE, not passive studying.

• Study with a group of your classmates – as long as you’re studying, not socializing.

• CONCENTRATE while studying. Staring at words isn't enough. Just reading isn't enough.

• THINK. QUESTION. MEMORIZE. WRITE. VERBALIZE.

• Make sure you can give definitions from memory for key vocabulary terms.

• Compile important factual information on "summary sheets".

• Use summary sheets to test yourself on definitions, formulas, numbers, etc.

• Redraw key diagrams. Try to do it from memory.

• Make use of the online supplemental information for your textbook.