2.3: Knowing and Adjusting to Your Learning Needs

To succeed in college—or any situation where you must master new concepts and skills—it helps to know what makes you tick. For decades, educational researchers and organizational psychologists have examined how people take in and assimilate new information, how some people learn differently than others, and what conditions make students and workers most productive. Here are just a few questions to think about:   

• What times of day are you most productive? If your energy peaks early, you might benefit from blocking out early morning time for studying or writing. If you are a night owl, set aside a few evenings a week for schoolwork.   

• How much clutter can you handle in your workspace? Some people work fine at a messy desk and know exactly where to find what they need in their stack of papers; however, most people benefit from maintaining a neat, organized space.   

• How well do you juggle potential distractions in your environment? If you can study at home without being tempted to turn on the television, check your e-mail, fix yourself a snack, and so on, you may make home your workspace. However, if you need a less distracting environment to stay focused, make it a point to find one, whether it is on campus, at a different spot at home, or in the community, such as at a coffee shop or the public library.   Ask other students and even your professor about good places to study on campus or in your area.  

• Does background noise help or hinder your productivity? Some people work better when listening to music or the low hum of conversation in a coffee shop. Others need total silence.   

• How well does your current organization system work to keep track of class materials, handouts, and assignments? A minute of organization can save you an hour of frustration later when it comes to being organized.   For physical materials, consider using a folder or 3-ring binder for each class, or combining your class materials into a 3-ring binder with different dividers that separate them.  Getting these ready the night before you go to the next class will help you get out of the door more easily in the morning.   

• For online materials, develop a plan for how you are going to remember what you need to do and have already done. For example, are you checking the Canvas To-Do list each day?  Are you checking through each weekly module as it opens, for required readings, assignments, and due dates?   

• When you work with a partner or group, do you stay on task? A study partner or group can sometimes be invaluable. However, working this way takes extra planning and effort, so be sure to use the time productively. If you find that group study sessions turn into social occasions, you may study better on your own.   

• How do you manage stress? Accept that at certain points in the semester, you will feel stressed out. In your day-to-day routine, make time for activities that help you reduce stress, such as exercising, spending time with friends, or just scheduling downtime to relax. Learning how to use in-the-moment stress relieving techniques such as breathing and mindfulness exercises is a good idea.