Learning Strategies
Good study skills are essential in order to succeed in the college environment. Students can schedule an individual appointment to talk with a counselor about ways to improve their study habits. If you need further assistance, please contact the Academic Resource Center.
10 Tips for Academic Success
- Use some type of schedule to keep track of your assignments and appointments.
- Make a “master schedule” for your week. When are you in class, when will you eat, exercise and sleep? Most importantly, when will you study each day? This will help you develop a routine and help structure your free time. Use a schedule sheet to help you get started.
- Pick a place to work that is free from distractions. For most people this is not their room or apartment.
- Turn off your cell phone and log off your Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter accounts when studying. Research shows that complete concentration enhances information encoding and retrieval.
- Establish small, attainable goals and keep working toward them. What do you want to accomplish this semester, this week, today? When you do a good job and achieve a goal, reward yourself. When you don’t reach your goals, figure out why and work to change something.
- Exercise or get involved in some type of physical activity on a regular basis. Research shows that exercise has wide spread positive effects including better sleep cycle regulation and improved attention/concentration ability.
- Get enough sleep. For most people that is 7-8 hours/night. Sleep enhances cognitive processing and it’s during sleep that memories and knowledge are solidified and organized. That makes sleep an important ingredient to learning.
- Take an active role in your education. Engage in your classes, it makes everything more interesting. If you have trouble with an assignment, talk to your professors – they can help.
- Make responsible choices about your alcohol and other substance use.
- Use the resources available at the College. There are a number of resources listed below that are available to help students with academic assignments and concerns.
- The Writing Center - Trexler Library
- Peer Tutors - Academic Resource Center
- Your Academic Advisor
- Office of Disability Services
Additional Resources
Augsburg College in Minneapolis has compiled a reference list of assistive technology apps for students: Augsburg College Free or Low Cost Assistive Technology for Everyone
Apps and Websites
- Study Stack
- Quizlet
- Study Hive
- Rescue Time
- Remember the Milk
- The Study Cycle—Printable
- The Study Schedule—Printable