Required Study techniques to become an effective Engineering student.
Required Study techniques to become an effective Engineering student and achieve success in Career - Part1
Following are the skills that you must develop to succeed in your studies and career
1) Be motivated
Focus on your personal goals and rewards
See things in perspective
Acknowledge your successes
Learn from setbacks
Recognise challenges and seek strategies and support to deal with them
2) Manage time & self efficiently
Work with a year-planner & diary
Timetable all routine & study tasks
Prioritise tasks & don’t over-commit
Expect crises…leave time to deal with them
Estimate time on task realistically
Break up large tasks
Learn to delegate some tasks & ask for help when you feel yourself lagging behind
Reward yourself - schedule time off!
3) Organise a study system
Know what is expected & required (when?)
Do various learning activities
Develop a filing system (& use it !!)
Consolidate materials weekly / fortnightly
Use different techniques to organise info
Join a study group but also study independently
Identify your strengths & areas you need to work on
Revise regularly
4) Make notes effectively
Listen for ideas & key words at lectures
Put things in your own words
Use notes as a framework & fill in the details – examples, explanation,Qs, etc.
Make things stand out
Write down your reactions & Qs
Use short-hand (symbols and abbrev)
Write down where the info comes from
Write down what to follow up on
5) Interact with others & communicate clearly
Talk with classmates & lecturers to clarify requirements & get support
Ask questions and exchange ideas to understand ‘process’ & ‘content’
Listen & reflect on what others say
Express your ideas verbally
Learn co-operatively & collaboratively to ease the transition
Develop alternate ways of ‘knowing’ & ‘doing’
6) Think, read & write critically
Critical thinking means – analysing, problem-solving, reasoning, & evaluating
Test for ‘reasonableness’, not fault finding
Be logical, systematic, intellectually rigorous, and reflective
Be sceptical – ask questions
Be able to identify arguments & evidence
Focus on structure & language usage
Focus on processes / methods & results
7) Do assignments that meet requirements
Understand the type & requirements
Start early!
Plan & follow the assignment writing process
Read widely & integrate relevant material
Answer the question! (content)
Provide analysis, not simply description
Organise your writing systematically
Improve written expression
Follow referencing conventions & avoid plagiarism
8 ) Learn from feedback
Lecturers differ in how & what feedback they give
Read written feedback to understand your mark & how to improve
Differentiate feedback on content & process (read assessment criteria)
Review your work by talking with classmates
Ask if you don’t understand the comments
Get advice on how to improve your skills
Consider the general comments when writing the next assignment
9) Develop revision & exam techniques
Learn how to consolidate & organise info using different techniques
Vary your learning activities
Develop effective memory techniques to suit learning styles
Plan ahead - Make your revision ongoing
Know what type of exam by using Previous Solved papers – practice builds confidence!
Develop techniques to manage stress before & during exams
10) Improve IT skills
Learn to use: search engines, databases, email, bulletin boards, do word processing
Develop basic skills – saving , printing & downloading documents
Attend short courses & use ‘help’ menus
Back-up your work so you don’t lose files
Beware of viruses & copyright laws
Very Important Notes:
- Know what is expected & required
- Get to know your classmates
- Work at improving your learning & academic skills
- Attend your classes
- Don’t fall behind
- Learn the subject & how to communicate your knowledge
- Practice through old solved question papers to know the pattern of exams
- Know what help is available and use it
- Work hard but have fun too!
