#StudyWell
09 April 2018
- Study tips
We’ve reached week two of our Wellbeing Month. Hopefully you’ll have taken a look at last week’s article about how the library can help you. If you haven’t, why not take a look now: https://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/blog/view.html?id=26
We asked the staff in our libraries to share their study tips.
Writing assignments:
- Use the Harvard guide on the library website and follow the examples to have make sure your references are accurate.
- Attend a Study Skills Plus session or work through the online resources if you can't make itto campus: https://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/studyskillsplus/index.phtml.
- Writing things down helps you remember more information (rather than just copy and paste).
- Be in the right frame of mind to study by getting rid of distractions like social media, eat lunch/dinner first, take regular breaks.
- Ask a friend or family member to read through your work to check that it is readable and that the grammar works.
- Read ‘The Study Skills Handbook’ by Stella Cottrell whether you know how to study or not.
- Always note anything down what you read so that you have a record of where ideas and information have come from.
- Set yourself a goal before each study session exactly what you want to achieve.
- Take some time to look through the Academic Skills guide on the Study Skills Plus webpage.
- Back up everything! - Keep a copy of you assignment on your university account and one on your home PC – don’t have your only a copy on a memory stick.
Handing in assignments:
- Use a wall planner to plan a revision/study timetable to remind you when your deadlines are.
- Organise yourself around deadlines and make sure you leave enough time for formatting, proofreading, binding, etc.
- Ensure you can log into Turnitin and are clear about what to do several weeks before handing in.
- Avoid submitting your assignment in the hour before it’s due in case of problems.
- Give yourself time to go away and come back to your work a few days after you have finished it. This will help you to spot any problems or poor grammar.
- Make sure you know what you need to include when you submit your work. Don’t leave doing this until the last moment!
Revising for exams:
- Get a good set of headphones and go to the following site: www.simplynoise.com - it blocks out external distractions and makes it easier to concentrate.
- If you know you have a particularly tough revision session ahead of you, plan a treat for when you finish.
- Use different coloured pens, pencils and stationery while studying. It could make things look more interesting and might help you to remember things more easily.
- Take a look at past exam papers - you can access some of them online through the library website.
- Maximise your study by making the most of your commute – train and bus journeys can provide you with precious time to read through notes and textbooks.
- Double check where and when your exams are being held – make sure you know where you need to go, what time you need to be there and what you need to bring with you.
Taking a break:
- Have some time away from the computer and take at least an evening off from studying each week to do something enjoyable.
- Take time to eat meals away from the computers.
- Make sure you take regular breaks away from your screen. It’s a good opportunity to take a walk outside and get something to eat.
- Do something completely non-studying related and away from a screen. For example, run up and down the stairs a few times, go for a walk, make a cup of tea, make a phone call, read a magazine.
- Try and do some kind of exercise, even if it’s for 15 minutes, before or after you study.
- Don’t sleep in the library – go home to bed to get proper rest!
Now it’s over to you – share your study tips on the displays in your library or tweet them to us at @arulibrary using #ARUStudyTips
Topics: Study tips Wellbeing