By Xiadani Terrazas and
Phoebe Terry
Student Reporter and Co-Editor
Students like to study in a variety of ways. Some styles of studying naturally fit better than others.
The amount of noise in a study environment can affect students in different ways. Some students need something in the background to focus while it can be incredibly distracting for others.
“I can not function with unnecessary noise,” Montoya said. “I like to study in the library or any quiet place. I get distracted and irritated easily if I hear noise while studying.”
“I have a lot of members in my family, so I am used to loud noises,” Maria Gonzales, a business management major said. “I like to study anywhere I can in my free time. My best study method is using Quizlet and making flashcards. I like to handwrite my notes and color code each term.”
According to an article published by the University of Michigan, flashcards support active recall, or actively stimulating memory in order to produce a piece of information. Which makes information easier to produce at a later date. The article also advises that flashcards aren’t just for memorization, but they can be used for more complex tasks or series of information if designed correctly.
“I also use flashcards to study,” Aileen Chacon, a business administration major, said. “This method of studying is the best way I retain information. I learn best when I quiz myself on the terms I am studying. Writing out the terms and reading them out loud also helps the learning process.”
However, studying alone is not the only option for students. Getting a group together to study can provide benefits that studying alone cannot. According to an article published by Rutgers, Study groups provide a greater variety of resources, strength and information to take advantage of. Students also retain information better from talking in groups according to a study by Alison Burke, published in The Journal of Effective Teaching.
“I like to study in groups because I can share ideas, ask questions, and learn from my classmates,” Ali Alvarado, a health science major said. “I also like study groups because I can interact with classmates outside of class. Study groups are also a good way for me to make friends.”
Studying in groups certainly isn’t for everyone either, some students learn best by thoroughly examining their notes and books.
“I like to read my textbook and summarize what I learned in note-taking,” Alesi Tremillo, a general studies major, said. “I like to summarize the main points in each chapter I am reviewing. This study method helps me break down important concepts I know will be asked on exams and quizzes. It also helps me save time when taking notes.”
Cede Ramirez, an education major, studies by brain dump everything she learns from lectures. She said, “ I like to write down everything I remember from each lecture. Then, I go back and write down everything I missed. Therefore, I can see what areas need to work on for my understanding.”
“I like to act as if I am teaching someone what I am learning,” Irazema Diaz, a general studies major, said. This style of studying is called the protégé effect method of studying according to Psychology Today. It can help students to retain information by teaching or explaining the context to other students. Using this method allows students to better understand the context and see what areas need improvement by forcing them to confront the gaps in their information.
Leave a Reply