For many students, finding tools that help them study effectively is a huge challenge. Today, there is no shortage of distractions that students face when attempting to study for an upcoming test or final exam. From the constantly buzzing cell phones to the ever-present call of on-line distractions such as Youtube and Facebook, our students are literally inundated with distractions to studying from morning until night. In this fast-paced, high tech atmosphere, what are the best tools students can use for studying, short of locking themselves in a closet, in order to increase their test scores and, ultimately, their grades?
The Ability to Recall Facts and Figures
A majority of classes in a contemporary high school or college setting, especially for entry level courses, require students to quickly be able to recall information. The ability to recall information accurately and rapidly can mean all of the difference in the world in term of the grades you receive for the class. If you think back to nearly every test you have ever taken from elementary school through college, most of the questions are asking you to recall facts and figures.
The Use of Flashcards
Based on a body of recent studies, the most effective way to study for tests that require you to remember facts is to use flashcards. Flashcards can easily be created from 3×5 inch index cards or even other size small pieces of paper, and are a fantastic way to conduct self-study and self-assessments. Flashcards are used most effectively when the student places a question on one side such as ‘What is the capital of France?’ and then places the answer, ‘Paris’ in this case, on the other side. This allows the student to rapidly conduct practice testing and quizzing by themselves or with the help or a parent, friend, or classmate. Additionally, flashcards are the preferred method that many successful foreign language students use to study vocabulary. Personally, there is no way I would have passed my college Mandarin Chinese class without the use of flashcards. Memorizing two thousand Chinese characters would have been much more difficult if I didn’t have them conveniently laid out for me on flashcards. Whenever I was sitting around not doing anything such as when I was riding the bus to school or sitting around watching television, I would whip out my flashcards and spend a few minutes quizzing myself.
In addition to using flashcards, another effective tool for studying large amounts of information, is to record your notes, study guides, and classroom lectures and then play them back during your study time. This method is particularly effective for auditory learners or those who have difficulty processing information that they are only able to read. Another huge benefit of using this method is that lectures and notes can easily be recorded on nearly any mp3 device such as an iPod and can, therefore, easily be played back while in the car or at the gym as a way to study on the go.
George Kagan is a lead copywriter for Allied Schools and has extensive experiense in the education industry. One of Allied’s flagship site is www.medicalbillingcourses.com . Please visit the site for any additional information.
Best Tools Students Can Use For Studying – Boost Your Grades Now
