Many college students struggle in academics only because they do
not know their learning style. If a student’s knew their learning style, then
they could develop a routine in each class for taking notes and reviewing the
material that same day. This way college students would feel more confident in
class, while studying, and when it is time to take the test. In order to be
more successful, college students need to find out how they learn, develop
better note taking skills, and spend more time preparing for tests.
Learning skills are very important to a student’s success. If
students would figure out how they learn best in their early years of schooling
they would be more successful in college. This would also help in their career
after college. The way a student learns can vary in many ways including
hands-on learning, auditory learning, reading and writing the information, and
visual learning. Teachers may not meet all of these learning styles in a
classroom, so in order to do well in their classes; students need to implement
their specific learning style into their study habits. For example, if a
student is a hands-on learner, he or she may need to find a way to experience
the subject matter in order to retain it best. On the other hand, if the
student is an auditory learner, he or she will have an easier time retaining
information during lectures. Once a student understands how he or she learns
best, and begins implementing these skills into their study habits they will
find that they better understand the material and experience more success in
their education. The earlier students understand their learning styles, the
better it is for them when they get to college. The students that are prepared
will know how to learn effectively and their grades will reflect that. These
students will not be among the struggling freshmen, but will quickly adapt to
the college academic lifestyle.
A key thing to better note taking skills is to learn just how your
professor teaches. Once understanding his or her ways of teachings you can find
out what is the most important information. Then know to take notes on certain
information instead of the unnecessary stuff that will not be on the test. It
is best you learn how you take notes. Taking notes helps to be able to study
the key ideas from the material and to always be studying the right
information. Better note taking skills is just another way to get your GPA and
grades where they need to be. From self-experience taking notes can be a very
good learning style. Notes always seem to be a hassle to most students but many
realize how much information is retained from taking notes and rewriting them.
Another beneficial way to retain information when taking notes is to sum up the
main idea of each note on flash cards. This way the student is taking the
notes, rewriting them, and then writing them again in a different way on a
flash card. Each student should not only know their learning style but also
make a routine for themselves to create superb study habits.
It is a proven fact that students create this constant anxiety
from struggling with learning related issues. This anxiety in students was
found to be “an important negative predictor of performance” (Crede and Kuncel) that affected grades on
schoolwork. If a student knew his or her learning strategy, it not only shows a
rise in grades but also takes away all their school related stress. Certain
students might find that they need to practice more than one learning style to
succeed with their studies. A student could use multiple learning styles at one
time for studying certain subjects or even “use different styles in different
circumstances” (learning-styles-online). Through self-experience in school, I
could be categorized as a student who uses multiple learning styles. Usually
when I study, I look at my written notes that I took from lecture, rewrite
them, draw pictures, and read aloud notes to myself to engrave the information
into my head. This routine made my success in school so much easier and less
stressful. A student needs to not only know which learning style(s) works best
for them, but also a routine that could be setup to benefit their schoolwork
the most. “Overall, study habits and skill measures improve
prediction of academic performance” (Crede and Kuncel) helping students know
how their brain retains information best.
If you want to be successful this is
what you need to do. You future is in your hands what you do with it is up to
you. In order to
be more successful as a college student you need to find out how you learn, develop
better note taking skills, and last but not least spend more time preparing for
tests.
"Learning-styles-online.comDiscover
Your Learning Styles - Graphically!" Overview of
Learning Styles. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2013.
Crede,
Marcus, and Nathan R. Kuncel. "Study Habits, Skills, and Attitudes: The
Third Pillar
Supporting
Collegiate Academic Performance." Study Habits, Skills, and Attitudes:
The Third Pillar Supporting Collegiate Academic Performance. Association
for Psychological Science, n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2013.
