Study Skills & Tips

Study Tips for Surviving Nursing School

Presented by Meredith Cooper, MSN, RN

Start

Study Skills for Various Learning Styles

Using Your Study Time Well

Learning Styles Intro

index

Learning Difficult Material

Test-Taking Tips

Review Questions

For More Information

Learning Styles Intro

Are you riding the Struggle Bus when it comes to studying?

Study smarter, not harder (and maybe not longer)! Everyone learns differently, and you may not be studying in a way that helps you learn!!!

Click HERE to Answer a Few Questions to Find out what your Learning Style is and to Maximize your Study Time!!!

Learning Styles Intro

Application Question:

After answering the questions (link HERE if you didn't answer them yet), what is YOUR learning style?

Read-Write

Visual

Kinesthetic

Aural

Multi-Modal

Study Skills for Various Learning Styles

Visual

Aural

Read-Write

Kinesthetic

If you are Multi-Modal, be sure to click through ALL the applicable learning styles.

visual

Study Tips for VISUAL Learners

• Use color, symbols ( ), highlighting, bold print, underlining, and/or other fun contrasts

to make your notes VISUALLY APPEALING

• Try outlining key points from your notes, making a concept map, putting the information into a table or graph, and/or using colored note cards.

• IMPORTANT: DO NOT try to write EVERY NOTE down when you are making note cards, outlining, and/or making a concept map. Condense your notes down to KEY POINTS.

• The key for visual learners is to make the information you are studying visually appealing!

Click here to learn how to make a concept map.

Click here for more Visual Strategies from VARK Learning

Back to Learning Styles Selections

Aural

Study Tips for Aural Learners

• This is even more important for auditory learners than for others – Go to class and pay attention in class!!! You learn by hearing, so you need to HEAR the information!

• Read out loud.

• Review your notes out loud. Maybe even record it and listen to yourself.

• Study with other people who you can discuss the information with.

• The key for auditory learners is to HEAR the information!

Click here for more Aural Strategies from VARK Learning

Back to Learning Styles Selections

Read-Write

Study Tips for Read-Write Learners

• Take notes in class.
• Rewrite your notes (and any other study material while also condensing it (include key points and/or information you don’t know) into a study packet!
• Read and rewrite the information you don’t understand or can’t remember multiple times.
• Use bullet points and/or an outline format when rewriting.
• Organize information into clear statements.
• The key for read-write learners is to REREAD and REWRITE information!

Click here for more Read-Write Strategies from VARK Learning

Back to Learning Styles Selections

Kinesthetic

Study Tips for Kinesthetic Learners

• When taking notes, write down examples and/or illustrations. After class, if needed, look for videos and/or pictures that support what you are studying/learning. Try writing key points from your notes on note cards.
• MOVE! You may need to move to learn. Ask if you can stand at a table in the back of the class if needed (where you can move around a bit). When studying, pace instead of sitting down.
• Explain the information to someone else.
• Make up scenarios and/or practice questions.
• Find pre-made practice questions online or in a study guide.
• The key for kinesthetic learners is MAKING IT REAL and/or DOING SOMETHING with the material!

Click here for more Kinesthetic Strategies from VARK Learning

Back to Learning Styles Selections

Making the Most of Your STudy Time

Guess What?? Study Anyway!!! Do you wanna be a nurse or not??

Prioritize Your Study Time

• You will NOT be successful in nursing school if you do not set aside time on a regular basis (i.e. DAILY) to study.
• Answer these questions for yourself?
• When is the best time for me to study?
• What do I need to do to protect my study time?
• How will I build breaks into my study time?
• What are my time wasters, and how can I avoid or minimize those?
• How can I use down time to study?

Use the Available STudy Tools

• Textbook, Lecture, Any Supplemental Material from your Instructor
• Almost all textbooks have online resources available. Check these out. They may have practice questions, auditory files (where you could listen to lung sounds for instance), or other helpful material. LOOK AT WHAT IS AVAILABLE and CHOOSE WHAT IS HELPFUL FOR YOU!
• If there is a Study Guide available for your textbook, USE IT! Even if your instructor does not give you an assignment, you can do the study guide on your own.

Ask questions. It is important to understand the material and not just memorize it!

Use Your Study Time Well

When You Study . . .

Alone or in a group (or both)? Figure out what works best for YOU.

Where to study? Use the same place to study consistently. NOT the same place that you sleep!

Make a plan for your study time (i.e. chapter 1 on Monday, chapter 2 on Tuesday, etc.).

Study difficult or boring subjects FIRST.

Write down and/or study KEY POINTS. Do NOT try to memorize EVERYTHING!

Get enough sleep!

Learning DIfficult Material

Do something to ACTIVELY LEARN the material; don't just read it!!

Use the Feynman Technique: Explain a difficult topic as if you are talking to a child.

Take notes or highlight key concepts.

Reorganize the information into a chart or table.

Outline the material or make a Concept Map.

Click on each of the concepts above for more information!!! Hint: You might want to wait until after the video is finished playing!

+ info

+ info

Sample Concept Map

Go Back

Learning Difficult Material

• Use Mind Tricks to Learn
• Chunking – break the material into “chunks” that are easier to learn. Try different methods of organization. For instance, when learning about different respiratory diseases, it may be easier to make a list showing what several disease processes have in common and add little notes about the differences of each, instead of trying to learn everything individually.
• Mnemonics – Make up (or find on the internet) memory-assisting techniques to remember information. For instance, to learn the 12 cranial nerves, one of the mnemonics says, Occasionally Our Old Trusty Truck Acts Funny – Very Good Vehicle AnyHow. All of the capital letters stand for the cranial nerves in the correct order.
• Make up questions about key information and quiz yourself (using Quizlet and/or flash cards) or get someone else to quiz you.

Test Taking Tips

Two Very Important Test-Taking Tips

DO NOT BEAT YOURSELF UP BECAUSE OF A LOW SCORE!!! Learn from your mistakes and move on!

DO NOT CHANGE YOUR ANSWER UNLESS YOU HAVE A REVELATION! Throw away your eraser!!!

For a Full Interactive Presentation on Test-Taking Tips: https://view.genial.ly/6564e26cad7c11001468a180/presentation-test-taking-tips

Click HERE if you struggle with Test Anxiety!

LasT and Possibly MOST IMPORTANT

Don't Be AfRAID TO ASK FOR HELP!!!

See What You Remember

Review Questions

Start

1/5

Which type of learning style typically benefits the MOST when using a concept map for studying?

Aural Learner

Kinesthetic Learner

Visual Learner

correct answer

Visual learners benefit from study materials that are visually appealing. Concept maps, tables, graphs, highlighting, bold print, etc. are all helpful.

Next Slide

2/5

When planning your study time, which material should you study FIRST?

The First Part that was Covered in Class

The Hardest Material to Understand

The Shortest Chapter

correct answer

It is best to study the most difficult or the most boring material first when you are fresh. If you put it off until you are tired, it will be harder to learn.

Next Slide

3/5

Which tool is most helpful when trying to learn information that has to be MEMORIZED (as opposed to material that you can UNDERSTAND)?

Discuss it with someone else.

Charts/Tables

Mnemonics

correct answer

Mnemonics are super helpful when you need to memorize something. Charts, tables, and discussion are more beneficial when trying to understand the information.

Next Slide

4/5

Which of the following is a valid reason for changing your answer on a test?

You realize the question is looking for incorrect information, and you originally thought it wanted a correct answer.

You are wondering what if . . . .

You think the answer you first picked is probably wrong.

correct answer

You should only change your answer if you have a revelation, such as realizing you misread the question or remembering additional information. DO NOT SECOND GUESS YOURSELF!!!

Next Slide

5/5

Which type of learner would benefit MOST from including examples and/or illustrations in their notes?

Read-Write Learners

Visual Learners

Kinesthetic Learners

correct answer

Kinesthetic learners benefit the most from including illustrations or examples in their notes because they learn best when the material is applicable to a real-life situation.

Next Slide

Congratulations!!!

congratulations

You have answered everything correctly

What knowledgehave you acquired?

Click HERE to Make your own Study Plan NOW!!!

Summary

For more information

Resources

VARK Learning Styles From VeryWellMind

Stages of Studying YouTube from NurseInTheMaking

Kinesthetic Learners: Study Tips that Work YouTube from Sharp Cookie

5 Reasons You Are Doing Active Learning Wrong YouTube from Med School Insiders

Links to resources of interest

• Concept Maps

• More About Concept Maps

• Test-Taking Tips

• Test Anxiety Links

Good job

Learning unit completed

Don't forget to make your own study plan. Click here NOW!!

Home

For more information or if you have further questions, email me at Meredith.Cooper@tcatjackson.edu

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This answer is not correct...

Try again!

Before the Exam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da-9dokrQk8 During the Exam (This one is kind of long, but if your brain falls out during tests, it has lots of helpful info!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIoswK9J86Q General Tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU-kHO7s7Gs Article from Purdue University: https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/student-life/reduce-test-anxiety-college-students/#:~:text=Study%20and%20practice%3A%20Don't,in%20nature%20if%20weather%20permits. Guided Meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HHUl5w5pnE Breathing Technique to Try (try it BEFORE you are in the middle of a test and then use during testing if it is helpful): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoPD0cVquPo Finally - If you have severe anxiety, see a doctor.

Got an idea?

Use this space to add awesome interactivity. Include text, images, videos, tables, PDFs... even interactive questions! Premium tip: Get information on how your audience interacts with your creation:

• Visit the Analytics settings;
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• Let the communication flow!

Before the Exam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da-9dokrQk8 During the Exam (This one is kind of long, but if your brain falls out during tests, it has lots of helpful info!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIoswK9J86Q General Tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU-kHO7s7Gs Article from Purdue University: https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/student-life/reduce-test-anxiety-college-students/#:~:text=Study%20and%20practice%3A%20Don't,in%20nature%20if%20weather%20permits. Guided Meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HHUl5w5pnE Breathing Technique to Try (try it BEFORE you are in the middle of a test and then use during testing if it is helpful): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoPD0cVquPo Finally - If you have severe anxiety, see a doctor.

Got an idea?

Use this space to add awesome interactivity. Include text, images, videos, tables, PDFs... even interactive questions! Premium tip: Get information on how your audience interacts with your creation:

• Visit the Analytics settings;
• Activate user tracking;
• Let the communication flow!