TIPS ON HOW TO STUDY WELL

It is unfortunate that we are producing learners who are too dependent on their teachers. They are being instructed on what to do in almost every learning activity leaving little room for making their independent decisions on learning. [..]

Some of the these learners are with their teachers almost every minute they are in school so much that when left on their own, they are lost. It is for this reason that learners should be encouraged to study on their own starting at an early age. They should be encouraged to take charge of their independent study and here we give suggestion on how to get started.

It is important for learners to understand that effective study does not merely involve the action of just grabbing a book and sitting down to read. If individual study is to bear fruits, one must plan meticulously. What I have outlined below are suggestions that have been proved to work for many learners and are therefore worth trying for learners who are having difficulties in individual study.

1. Study in a quiet room

It is the responsibility of the parent to provide a private environment for learning to their children at home that should include adequate time to study independently. A leaner should be helped to select a private room for study even if it is his/her bedroom so long as the basic facilities are provided. These should include a table and a comfortable chair in a well light area free of interruptions. A sitting room is unlikely to offer a private environment that is conducive to learning unless the learner is the only one in the house. Not with the other members of the family moving up and down, the television and radio likely to be on and thus unintentionally interrupt the learner.

2. Get all that you will need

Before the start to study, it is important for one to get all that he or she will need. This may include class notes, text books, mathematical set, pen, pencil, a ruler and so on. One should avoid having anything that may distract him or her near nearby. A mobile phone should not be near unless it is switched off. One should not study in the sitting room with the television set or radio switched on. A leaner should sit on a comfortable chair in a room with adequate light and then open the book at the planned area. One is then set to begin studying.

3. Read silently

One is advised to begin reading quietly and avoid pointing words with the finger or pronouncing the words as one reads along. Avoiding this would make one able to read faster. When reading, one should not simply memorize what is in the books. Those who set KCPE examinations are experts and will rephrase what is in the books in their own words as they prepare the examination questions. Other questions require one to apply what has been learnt in new situations.  As such memorization alone would not help. One must really understands what is being are read.

Create memory devices

What is read is more likely to be remembered if it is associated with something that is well known. Use of rhymes or memory tricks to organize been read can be very useful. This will enable one to remember it later. An example of such rhymes is “Richard Of York Gained Battle In Vain.” that reminds of the colours of the rainbow and the order in which they occur. There are many others a leaner can come up with. When choosing such rhymes, one should go for what is familiar as it is less likely to be forgotten. There could be as many different rhymes and tricks of helping one recall what has been read as there are learners.  One should therefore attempt to find a way that best suit him or her.

Underline key words

It is necessary to underline key words such as terms, definitions (meanings) formulae and also connecting words that you may find critical to understanding the context of the key words. Examples of such connecting words may include -such as, not greater than, main among others.

Underlining key words enables one to review the work faster later because all the words would have been divided into three categories. These are key, connecting and filler words. Filler words and sentences, which are the majority, are only used to support the other two.

Take keen interest in diagrams

One ought to take special interest in diagrams, photographs, graphs and tables as they convey valuable information. Such illustrations are also frequently presented in examinations and are often done poorly.  As such diagrams and maps  given as part of the not the notes by the teacher  should be drawn very carefully and accurately with the  labeling done clearly. Most important is that what is represented should be understood. If in doubt ask your teacher for clarification.

Check the meaning of new words

As one reads, the aim should not only be to understand what is being read but also increasing the word power. This is achieved by checking for meaning of new word in the dictionary as well as attempting to get their meaning from the context in which they are used and then confirm their meaning from the dictionary.

Make short summary notes

It is also important for one to learn the art of making short notes that can be perused within a very short time. The aim of these short notes should be to refresh one on what has been learnt. These should be very brief notes, at times in short hand in a small note book that would easily fit the pocket. Under no circumstances, however, should one go to the examination room with such a notebook. Examination cheating is a wicked thing that one should not even think about.

Practice makes perfect

The parting short is that practice make perfect. As a learner, one should therefore make reading of notes and other relevant information given by a teacher a habit and not something to be done only when expecting an examination. This is the only sure way of reaping benefit from the exercise. However, one should bear in mind that we are all different. There are some of us who do very little reading yet they score very highly in examinations. Others need to read something just once and it sticks n their mind. However an average person will require reading materials again and again for it to be fully understood. So one should find the method and the frequency of reading that is most comfortable and that yields desirable results other than simply following the crowd by doing what everybody else is doing.