HOW TO BE A STUDENT

Imagine for a moment that you were dedicated to teaching people how to climb mountains. You would probably be filled to the brim with different descriptions of the best mountain climbing paths and what to expect in different seasons and conditions.

If you were all about cooking, you'd expect it your classes to be full of recipes and techniques for how best to simmer and sauté and sous-vide and everything else, and probably a lot of discussions about the keys to different types of cuisine from Szechuan to French provincial to Cuban.

If you were all about music, you might write a book filled with analysis of the great operas and sheet music and ways to tune your instrument.

But this unit isn't any of those things. You won't find mountain descriptions, or recipes, or musical analysis here.

Instead, this unit is about how to train your body to be ready for mountain climbing before you even start. It's about how you can tell when the ingredients you buy at the grocery are the freshest available. It's about what all those symbols on the sheet music even mean in the first place.

Yes, this unit is a little different, and not even because of all these metaphors, spectacular though they are. I'm not talking about English or Science or History or Math here. Instead, we'll be learning about how to learn those things better, more easily, and more quickly. This is Study Hacking 101.

After this unit, you'll study harder, better, faster, stronger than anyone. Except maybe the guys from Daft Punk. Then you'll have plenty of time for all that mountain climbing. 

One last metaphor for you: It's time to go to school like it's your job. In fact, it kind of is your job, for the next few years at least.

That means you'll need a few tips and strategies for how to succeed at that job. Think of this unit as your employee handbook for job success (i.e., doing well in school).

More specifically, this unit covers some tried and true test-taking strategies and trustworthy memory tricks so you can dominate every course, every time. We'll cover how to translate those readings and lectures into useful memories, how to take tests, and even how to master the dreaded in-class essay. I also included a special bonus section on how to not be the only one in the "group project" doing the work. You can thank me later.

Because that's just not enough for me, I'm also going to fill you in on ways to wow with slideshows instead of using presentations to lull viewers to sleep like a sweet lullaby.

By the end of this unit, you'll be the school master, armed to the teeth with studying strategies that you can whip out at a moment's notice. It's kind of like being a ninja, except a lot more nerdy. Did we say nerdy? We meant extremely competent and ready to take over the world, now, in college, and in your career.

Happy learning, young travelers.

Summary

• You need to be in the right environment when studying. A successful student wants his/her desk at the right height, the right lighting, the noise level at that perfect volume, and to set things up so that distractions aren't popping up everywhere (whether siblings or literal pop-up ads).

• Scheduling is super-important for three reasons. One, it makes sure you have time to get everything done. Two, it breaks things down into manageable chunks, so you can fight procrastination. Third, it lowers stress and anxiety by making everything feel do-able.

• Research tools like Google have a lot of cool bells and whistles. You can get more done if you learn a few new tricks.

• Goals are the fuel that runs the engine of accomplishment, and SMART goals are the high-octane Formula 1 version of that fuel. Combine SMART goals with good To-Do lists for increased success.

• A lot of students feel like if they're not cramming right before a test or burning the candle at both ends, they're not studying hard enough. This is completely wrong. Knowing when to quit and getting enough sleep—combined with good daily study habits—is much more effective, healthy, and rewarding. Become a superfan of sleep.

• Yoga (and other relaxation exercises) can do a lot more than change a person's posture. It can change your focus, alertness, and mental well-being, all things which help you study effectively. Also, it helps you touch your toes.

• The average student needs more food than a Twix bar and more exercise than the walks between classes. Shocking! The right diet and exercise routine can mean the difference between learning something and, well, not. Real talk: sometimes what a brain wants most is a big salad and a few push-ups.

• If I've got anything to say about studying, it's these two things: correct old assignments and think like the teacher to predict test questions.

• There are three parts to the memory-making process: encoding, storage, and retrieval. All three steps are necessary to make those memories stick.

• Different memory encoding strategies work for different types of learners. Try 'em all out.

• Flashcards are your friends.

• There is no possible way to succeed in math (or science or anything else, really) without trying.

• Teamwork is a four-step process before any actual work is done. Groups form, storm, norm, then perform.

• Making noise is not the same as making a point, and when it comes to discussion grades, you need to make points to gain points.

• Public speaking is one form of writing that allows you to write like you talk, so you can stop being scared of it now.

• Less is more when it comes to slideshow presentations.

Objectives

By the end of this unit, you should be able to...

• build a better workstation.

• identify and set SMART goals.

• learn to use and rely upon a good, working calendar and to-do lists.

• Google stuff effectively.

• use Google apps to be organized and productive.

• develop a healthy and productive routine for sleep, diet, and exercise.

• manage your time well.

• defeat distractions and procrastination.

• use the memory techniques and styles that are right for you.

• design and employ visual, semantic and auditory memory devices.

• identify and describe unique study strategies in core content areas.

• speak publicly and give presentations in an engaging way.

• interact constructively in a group setting.

• know how to tackle in-class essay and multiple-choice exams.

Study Questions

1. How can ergonomics help your productivity improve?

2. How much sleep do you get on an average night? Is it enough? Too much?

3. How does diet and exercise affect your brain biologically? What kind of exercise could you easily fit into your morning routine? What is an average breakfast for you? Does it get you going or drag you down?

4. What distractions are near your workstation that might tempt you away from studying?

5. What kind of light helps you focus best? Natural light? Focused light? A bright room?

6. How does Google Drive protect you from losing an essay in a computer crash?

7. Explain each method of note taking. Which type of note-taking method works best for you? Cornell Method? Outlining? Mindmaps?

8. What are the basic problem-solving steps?

9. What kind of To-Do list works best for you? Maybe an app, or a calendar, or even a simple notepad.

10. How much time do you spend studying on an average school night? Can you reduce that time while improving how much you retain?

11. How do you best encode memories?

12. What are the types of infographics commonly used?

13. What are the seven ways to make test cause less stress?

14. What are five ways to dominate multiple choice questions?

15. Why is correcting old assignments so effective?

16. Why is Latin not actually dead, and where can it be found in school?

17. What are the four stages of group formation?

18. What are some keys to successful public speaking?

19. What are four different examples of memory encoding devices?