Study Skills
Tips
Learning Long Term
Using deep processing and active strategies while studying has been found to increase retention and recall.
When learning new material, use these strategies/questions to process the information more deeply:
- Elaboration: How do concepts relate to each other? Make meaningful connections between concepts and other information you know.
- Distinctiveness: How are the concepts different? How are they similar?
- Personal Connection: How can I relate this concept to my own experiences? What personal examples illustrate this concept?
- Appropriate Application of material: What do I have to be able to do with the material I am learning? Do I need to apply it? Memorize it? Compare it? Create my own?
Memory & Concentration
1. Know yourself & your energy cycle
- Know your attention span and work within it, increase it over time.
- Think about when you feel your most energized and focused, and use this to your advantage! Utilize your peak energy times for concentrated study.
2. Plan to Concentrate
- Schedule study time. Set study goals. Find internal motivation. Vary activities. Take breaks.
- Designate a study place. Think about exploring a study location outside of your personal space - living center lobby, library, coffee shop etc.
3. Deal with Distractions
- Internal- hunger, thirst, boredom, comfort, anxiety
- External- phone, roommates, TV, computer, noise
- Deal with recurrent thought distractions. Try "Thinking Time" - Jot down worries, distracting thoughts etc. and deal with them at a scheduled time.
4. Use Rewards
- Identify incentives for progress toward your goals, and give yourself a “treat” after you have completed a study goal.
- Examples: Watching an episode of your favorite show after completing a study goal. Stopping at Starbucks as an incentive to spend some time at the library studying. Having a full Saturday free from academics because you got your work done during the week.
Tools
Helpful Worksheets
Technology
Deep Processing
Video from Samford University
Active Learning
Video from NIWA Community College
Power Study Hour
Page last modified July 17, 2026