By Amelia smith/reporter
Successful study strategies can help students improve academically, a psychology professor told about 80 SE students Feb. 7.
“Study strategies are an acquired skill that must be learned,” Vince Lembo said.
These strategies can help students improve if they are willing to put in the extra effort to change their ways, Lembo said. Being a full-time student means taking 12 hours, which is a lot of work, he said as he offered advice for being successful in college classes.
“Study two hours for every hour that you are in class,” he said.
Because studying is so time-consuming, the first thing to go is often a student’s sleep, Lembo said. Without sleep, the memory cannot improve. Therefore, students do not perform at their highest potential, he said.
“During sleep, your memories are consolidating,” he said.
This is the body’s way of compiling thoughts, and this won’t happen with a lack of sleep, Lembo said. Reading, like studying, is also an acquired skill, and Lembo provided a strategy that goes along with reading.
Some students allow reading the required chapters the night before an exam to be their method of studying, which is incorrect, Lembo said. By simply reading the material, students are not actually studying it, which does not help them on their exams.
Lembo said memorization is also an incorrect method of studying. The knowledge gained by memorization is not in the mind for a long-term period, Lembo said.
Correct study strategies include acronyms, rhymes and flash cards, Lembo said. Acronyms and rhymes are used to elaborate on the information students receive. This makes the information easier to retrieve when needed, he said.
The most efficient way to study is with flash cards along with a study buddy if needed, Lembo said. The proper way to use flash cards is simple.
“You want to see lots of white on your card,” he said.
The cards should display the least amount of information possible because this helps with the mind’s ability to recall the information, not just recognize it.
SE student Edith Gonzales found the seminar helpful.
“I liked how he explained how to do the flash cards correctly,” she said.
Student Larry Ezekiel shared the most important thing he got out of the speech.
“Memorization and reading before an exam is not good,” he said.
