Cambridge Open College Study Tips by Darren Corlett

Study Tips A guide to helping you learn

www.cambridgeopencollege.co.uk

Contents Welcome as a Student of Cambridge Open College

Key sections Study tips overview

Page 02

Hello and welcome!

Making a schedule

Page 03

You have enrolled on a home study course with

Managing your time

Page 04

full support. We wish you every success and

Your study environment

Page 05

thank you for becoming a Student. We have found many of our Students are undertaking distance learning for the first time so we have compiled this short guide in the hope it may be helpful. These study tips will greatly improve your success in home study!

ÂŠ 2011 Copyright Cambridge Open College

How to study & concentrate Page 07 Useful study places

Page 08

From procrastinator to producer

Page 10

Memory palace

Page 15

Conclusions

Page 19

Page 1

Welcome Cambridge Open College Study Tips

Students will have a much greater chance of successfully completing their course and getting good grades if they know how to prepare for their studies and how to manage their study time effectively. Please remember that because we are all unique, what works best for one person may not be the best for another. These suggestions are based on what seems to work the best for most Students, but feel free to adapt any suggestion to what works best for you!

Key Points • Select and create your study place. Have a physical place

• Gather everything you’ll need to study like textbooks,

where you train yourself to study. Over time you’ll find

notebooks, paper, pens, water and snacks before you

that the moment you enter this place your mind will

start so you won’t have to get up repeatedly.

already be actively prepared to study. • Eliminate time wasters that will split your focus. Turn

• Tell other family members that you’re hoping to get a lot of studying done. Ask them to keep the volume down on

off your phones, computer, radio and television. Put off

the television, take phone messages for you and keep

checking email until after you’ve studied in case you read

younger kids out of your room.

something that will worry you throughout the study session. • Sit at your desk rather than reclining on your bed. If you’re lounging and reading, you may start daydreaming or inadvertently doze off. Research has shown that sitting up straight really does aid concentration! Schedule set amounts of time to force yourself to remain at your

• Complete other tasks that may preoccupy you. If you know your spouse will remind you in a few minutes to take out the rubbish bins, for example, do it before you begin your study session. • Study at the library if your home environment prevents you from concentrating.

desk and take frequent breaks in between.

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Maintain a regular daily schedule

Use your study materials as a work book

Habit creates momentum. Try to create a routine and stick

All the study materials we send you are yours to keep.

to it. If possible, designate a regular time and place to study

We suggest you anecdote the pages, mark and underline

so you can be ready to pick up as soon as it’s time to start.

important points, highlight areas of most importance.

It is important to have an achievable routine, for example,

Research has shown that actively making notes and

there is little chance you’d be able to study 6 hours a day if

underlining pertinent points will help your concentration

your day-job and commuting takes you 12 hours a day.

and retention of information.

Completing manageable amounts at regular intervals is the most effective way to learn. We suggest that to start with a minimal amount of time you know you can achieve, i.e. 50

When to Study

minutes of productive study a day is far better than a few

Best during the day and early evening; you’ll

hours of half-hearted study.

remember better.

Take regular study breaks

Best when there are the fewest competing activities

Many students find that working for 50 minutes and then taking a 10-minute break is ideal, although this varies, depending on the student and subject matter. Are you a night owl or an early bird? Do you prefer discussion groups,

in progress. Best when adequate rest periods are provided. Stop studying when fatigue or lack of attention occurs.

reading alone or writing a report? Distance learning should be adaptable to your learning style. The more aware you are of your strengths, the easier you can adapt and maximise the course to your needs. Find your “prime time”. For many students, one hour of daytime study is equivalent to one and a half hours at night because their concentration level during the day is much greater. Get your sleep at night, and avoid daytime naps lasting more than ten minutes. Concentration dips both before and after a nap.

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Manage your time Time is a scarce resource. There are a fixed number of hours in a week and you have to learn to make the most of them for your studies. The hours you waste idling around doing unproductive work cannot be brought back. Time management is a crucial skill that students have to

You should keep a detailed log of your activities for a week

learn if they wish to succeed in their studies. For managing

to get a good idea of how much time you spend on which

your time effectively, you should be very clear about what

activities.

you are trying to achieve. Once you have decided your goals and priorities, you should divide your time between studies and leisure accordingly.

The next step is to review and evaluate your time expenditure and compare it with the goals and priorities that you have set for yourself. You have to find the best fit

Doing just 20 minutes of study during your work

that gives most of your time to preparing for what you are

lunch break each working day adds up to nearly

trying to achieve and drastically cut down on every activity

two extra hours a week.

that is irrelevant to your goals.

An effective way to take control of your time is For this, you should first conduct a time audit of your

to create a fresh but realistic weekly schedule

day-to-day activities.

that focuses most of your energy and number of

• When do you wake up?

hours on your studies but also has some flexibility built in for unexpected tasks that may crop up.

• When do you sleep? • How many hours do you devote to your studies? • Are you spending some time in unproductive work?

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Creating a Study Environment Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse ultrices mattis turpis quis rutrum. Morbi sollicitudin lacinia ornare. Nulla facilisi. Nullam sed ipsum eu purus porta viverra a vitae ante. Duis ut

Our top tips • Find a place to study and keep it for study only.

• Is the chair or sofa comfortable enough for you to sit on it for hours at a stretch? This is to ensure that you do not

• Control noise level and the visual environment to

end up with a backache after a few days.

acceptable levels. • Tool-up the environment with all study needs. • Are there any distractions at the place, such as phone, TV, radio, pets, music, children, and people talking and outside noise that will make it difficult for you to study?

• How is the place in terms of amenities? Is there a bathroom nearby for you to take a break? Can you get a coffee if you feel like having one?

• Will you be safe from interruptions at the location, such as people barging in all the time to pick up things or trying to talk to you?

• If you are not studying at home, then how far is the place from it? Will you be able to walk or travel comfortably every day to it?

• Is the place physically comfortable for you in terms of temperature and lighting?

• Avoid relaxing while working; create a work atmosphere.

• Is there enough furniture, such as a table and chair for you to use?

Studying is an activity which is best approached with

You should have immediate access to your place of study

adequate preparations. One of the most important things

whenever you need it. It makes little sense to have a

you have to consider is the place of study. It is essential for

particular area for your studies if it is in frequent use by

you to designate a particular area where you will conduct

other members of the family and is not available to you

all your studies. This area can be anywhere; from a room

whenever you need it. If necessary, you should designate a

or attic in your house to your local library or even a bench

few hours each day in which your study place would become

in the garden, but it has to be chosen carefully keeping the

a restricted-access area for everyone else except you.

following factors in mind:

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According to research, studying is best done in isolation

Some people prefer sitting in a chair

so that your attention is not diverted and you remain

while reading or using a computer,

undisturbed. The study place should offer you uninterrupted

others study lying in bed. Whatever

peace and quite so that you can pursue your studies single-

your preference, you should ensure

mindedly. The conveniences of home study can quickly

that whatever you sit or lie on is

become the greatest distraction. Find a quiet place to work

comfortable. If your body posture is

and set rules for the family. No interruptions must mean that.

not correct, you may develop a back

Some of our Students have found that encouraging their children to join in, and spend

ache and your studies will suffer. You should choose something which is pleasant to sit on and

time doing homework, while you study, can be

allows you to pursue your studies

very rewarding for both parties.

for hours at a stretch.

You should make it a point to close the door and turn off all

The study room should have

phones. Make sure that other people do not keep barging

adequate lighting which is neither

into your study room to have a chat. If required, hang a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do

too soft, nor too bright. If the

Not Disturbâ&#x20AC;? sign outside. However, some people find that

room is not well illuminated, you will be forced to strain

soothing music calms them down and helps them focus on

your eyes. The temperature inside the study room should

their studies. In this case, you should keep the volume to the

be comfortable; you will not be able to concentrate on our

bare minimum.

studies if you are sweating or shivering.

Your study room should be self-sufficient, as far as possible.

Whichever place you chose to study, you

It should have all books, reading material and references

have to ensure that you are fully comfortable

that you need to pursue your studies. If you have to use a computer or laptop for conducting research, make sure that it is located in your study room. The room should also have

there. You will get to know within a week if a particular study place is working for you.

a large table or desk to comfortably hold all your books,

All said and done, any place can be a good place for studying

computers, pens, notepads and a table lamp. It should

if it offers few distractions and maintains an appropriate

afford you enough elbow room to write comfortably. The

temperature and lighting. It should also have a comfortable

desk should also have a number of drawers and cabinets for

desk and chair, be near to your house and, most of all make

storage.

you feel comfortable.

ÂŠ 2011 Copyright Cambridge Open College

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How to Study & Concentrate When distracters are present, become intensely involved in your sole focus: learning!

Our top tips • Keep a pad of paper handy to jot down extraneous thoughts that cross your mind while studying, get them out of your mind and on to paper. • Set study goals before you begin each period of study i.e.: number of pages, number of problems, etc. • Design adequate rewards after specified goals are attained.

• Don’t try to mix work and play. • Start with short study periods and build to longer periods only as fast as you maintain concentration. • If necessary, make a calendar of events to clear your mind of distractions. • Realize that you won’t lose friends, respect, or a “good time” just because you’re studying... these will keep.

• Break-up the content of study by mixing up subjects and building in variety and interest and removing boredom. • Make the most of rest periods-do something quite

• Plan the length of your study period by the amount of material you have decided to cover, not by the clock. (Often the clock is one of the most serious distracters.)

different.

riends, f e s lo ’t n o w u o y Realize that because t s ju ’ e im t d o o ‘g respect, or a ill keep. w e s e h t . .. g in y d u t you’re s

down t jo o t y d n a h r ape Keep a pad of p ross your c t a h t s t h g u o extraneous th out of m e h t t e g , g in dy mind while stu aper. p o t n o d n a d your min

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Studying places that our Students have found useful: Public Library You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get a cup of coffee in most public libraries, but that is more than compensated by the pin-drop silence and an academic atmosphere that will do wonders for your attention span. Libraries are usually spread out all over the city and it is likely that one exists within a short driving distance of your

Public Library

home. Unlike coffee shops, in a library nobody would mind if you occupy a chair from morning to evening.

Gardens and Parks Do you want absolute peace & quiet while studying but still want to breathe fresh air? Try gardens and parks in your neighbourhood. The greenery will have a soothing effect on your mind and you will not feel claustrophobic, even after studying for hours. The ambience in a park can be very

Gardens & parks

calming and conducive for studies, and you can take a stroll whenever you feel like stretching your legs.

Coffee Shops These are great places to study and have become quite popular with students who need to study for a couple of hours or so each day. The seating arrangement at coffee shops is perfect; with leather sofas where you can sprawl comfortably for as long as you want. There are few distractions. There may be people furiously working on their laptops or reading a newspaper, but generally everybody is minding their own business. Coffee shops are ideal for study groups of three to four people who may want to help each other with study material. They are also very popular with busy executives who would like to study for a couple of hours over a cup of coffee before heading home, or for

Coffee Shops

housewives who would like to escape the distraction of their homes.

ÂŠ 2011 Copyright Cambridge Open College

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Your Home All said and done, there is no place like home! This is your cosy nest where you can be yourself at all times. This may

Your Home!

be a boon or bane, depending on how much self-discipline you have. Many people tend to avoid studying at home because of all the distractions – family members talking and laughing loudly, TV noise, guests and neighbours dropping in, the phone ringing off the hook every half an hour. However, the trick is to find a private corner of your own where nobody is allowed to disturb you for as long as you want to study. This place can be anywhere – closet, attic, terrace, roof, stairwell, store or room. By instinct and experience, you will know which area works for you. The benefit of studying at home is that you are in familiar and comfortable territory and do not have to worry about opening hours, such as in the case of a library or coffee shop.

Remember, where you choose to study is not as important as ensuring you are learning!

Thank you, we hope you may have found some of these tips helpful. Please remember that these few tips have proven to work for most Students but nothing is set in concrete. You must work out what works best for you! By focusing all your efforts on your course, you will be able to excel in your studies. However, be aware of the biggest threat to home study, and that is procrastination…

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From procrastinator to producer A Step-by-Step Self Talk Guide Procrastination is the main enemy of study: “I’ll do some studying later, after I’ve had a cup of tea, after I’ve walked the dog, after I’ve cleaned the house, done the dishes…” Procrastination is the art of always finding an excuse to not do what needs to be done.

...after I walk the dog...

Here is a brief guide to stopping procrastination

Now let’s consider each of these six parts

so you will be able to apply your time to your

in turn, replacing each of them with an

studies, and to understand what’s wrong with

empowering alternative.

the Procrastinator’s motto, let’s break it down:

In doing that, we’ll turn the original motto on

“(1) I have to (2) finish this (3) long, (4) important

its head and create a productive call to action:

project. (5) It should already be done by now and

a “Producer’s Motto”, if you like.

(6) I need to plough through it.”

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Part 1

Part 2

I Have To > I Choose To

Finish > Start

‘I have to’ is every procrastinator’s favourite

When you focus on finishing something,

expression. It’s also the most disempowering.

you direct your attention to a vague, highly

Every time you say to yourself that you have to do

idealised future. Visualising a finished project is

something, you imply that you don’t have any choice. This

motivating for many people, but from the point

choice of words implies that you feel forced or coerced

of view of who’s having a hard time starting a

to do the task — that you don’t really want to do it. That

task, visualising a hard-to-grasp future can be

perception, of course, elicits a strong feeling of victim hood and resistance towards doing the task. The solution to this problem is to replace ‘I have to’ with the immensely more empowering alternative ‘I choose to’. Everything you do is ultimately a choice (yes, even completing tax forms). Using language that expresses choice reminds you of that and brings the feeling of power back.

overwhelming — even depressing at times. The solution in this case, then, is not to focus on finishing, but on starting. Forget for a minute about the finish line; just concentrate on taking the first step. Bring your focus from the future to what can be done right now. We all know that if you start something a large enough number of times, you’ll eventually finish any task. Starting — all by itself — is usually sufficient to build enough momentum to keep the ball rolling from then on. This is what Mark Forster calls the “I’ll just get the file out” technique, and it definitely works.

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Part 3

Part 4

Constantly reminding yourself how long and

Important Project > Imperfect Step

challenging the upcoming undertaking is only

“This project has to impress everyone; I really

adds to the feeling of being overwhelmed, and

can’t blow this opportunity.”

Long Project > Short Task

thus of procrastination.

Placing such high hopes on a project only adds to anxiety

Any undertaking, no matter how daunting, can be broken

and fear of failure. Perfectionism arises and only fuels

down into small steps. The trick is to, on each step along

procrastination even more.

the way; focus solely on the very next smallest, doable chunk of work. Ignore the big picture for a while and just tackle that next short task. Make it in a way you can easily visualise the outcome coming about very soon. Don’t write a book; write a page. If it still looks intimidating, you may try committing to a time box instead. Of course, keep the big picture in mind, but use it for motivation and direction as needed, and not to frighten you before action.

The way to overcome this mental block is to simply give you permission to be human. Allow yourself to be imperfect just in this next small task. Focus on giving an imperfect step; remember that you can always refine your work later. Better yet, make it in a way that you can’t possibly fail. If you’re a serial perfectionist, go one step further and commit yourself to make a sloppy job on purpose, at least at first.

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Part 5

Part 6

It Should Already Be Done by Now > I’ll Feel Terrific The expression ‘should‘is usually associated

Need to Plough Through > Have Plenty of Time for Play

with blame and guilt. When you say you should

“I’ve got to work all weekend”. “I am trapped in

be doing something (instead of what you’re

this laborious project”.

actually doing), you focus on comparing an ideal reality with your current, “bad” reality. You focus not on what is, but on what could have been. Misused ‘shoulds‘ can elicit a strong message of failure, depression and regret.

Long periods of isolation can bring an enormous feeling of resentment. This feeling generates a strong sense of deprivation and resistance towards the task. The way to overcome this mental block is to not allow long stretches of work to creep in your activities. Schedule

The solution is to focus not on how bad you feel now, but

frequent breaks! Plan small rewards along the way. Have

on how good you’ll feel after you take action. Yes, directed

something to look forward to — not far away at the end of

action — even the tiniest of it — towards a goal is the

a long stretch — but in the very near feature. When rewards

best motivator I know of. The trick is to bring that expected

are small, frequent — and deserved — they work wonders.

feeling of accomplishment into the present — and know that the real joy of it is only a small task away.

Truly commit to leisure time. In fact, go ahead and make it mandatory. This “reverse-psychology” can by itself bring you to a whole different mindset, both more productive and enjoyable.

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How Far Have We Come? Time to check what we’ve accomplished with all the word substitutions. We

started with: “I have to finish this

long, important project. It should already be done by now and I need to plough through it.”

While it may seem just a matter of word choices at first, when you try this simple way to reframe your thoughts, you’ll see how instantly it changes your attitude towards working on your tasks. Moreover, if you turn it into a habit, you’ll be slowly reprogramming your thoughts, leading to a

And ended up with: “I choose to start this task

positive, permanent change in your mindset.

with a small, imperfect step. I’ll feel terrific and

We hope that together with the excellent Motivation Team at

have plenty of time for play!”

the College the above guide will help you keep your number one enemy, procrastination, at bay. If at any time you need a

Quite a change, eh? Every time you catch yourself repeating the Procrastinator’s Motto or any of its parts to you, stop and

little boost of moral just give us a call and we’ll get you back in focus!

rephrase it. Then check how you feel.

“I choose to start this task with a small, imperfect step. I’ll feel terrific and have plenty of time for play!” become a producer!

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Memory Palace

The Memory Palace is one of the most powerful memory techniques known. It’s not only effective, but also fun to use — and not hard to learn at all. It can really help you retain your study materials firmly in your mind.

Learn to remember with the memory palace!

The Memory Palace has been used since ancient Rome,

attributed to people using the Memory Palace technique or

and is responsible for some quite incredible memory feats.

variations of it. Even in fiction, there are several references

Eight-time world memory champion Dominic O’Brien,

to the technique. In Thomas Harris’ novel Hannibal, for

for instance, was able to memorise 54 decks of cards

example, serial killer Hannibal Lecter uses Memory Palaces

in sequence (that’s 2808 cards), viewing each card only

to store amazingly vivid memories of years of intricate

once. And there are countless other similar achievements

patient records (sadly, it was left off the movie).

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5 Steps to use the Memory Palace 1 Choose Your Palace First and foremost, you’ll need to pick a place that you’re very familiar with. The effectiveness of the technique relies on your ability to mentally see and walk around in that place with ease. You should be able to ‘be there’ at will using your mind’s eye only.

2 List Distinctive Features Now you need to pay attention to specific features in the place you chose. If you picked a walkthrough in your home, for example, the first noticeable feature would probably be the front door. Now go on and mentally walk around your Memory Palace.

A good first choice could be your own home. Remember

After you go through the door, what’s in the first room?

that the more vividly you can visualise that place’s details, the more effective your memorization will be.

Analyze the room methodically (you may define a standard procedure, such as always looking from left to right, for

Also, try to define a specific route in your palace instead of just visualise a static scene. So, instead of simply picturing your home, imagine a specific walkthrough in your home.

example). What is the next feature that catches your attention? It may be the central table in the dining room, or a picture on the wall.

This makes the technique much more powerful, as you’ll be able to recall items in a specific order, as we’ll see in the

Continue making mental notes of those features as you go.

next step.

Each one of them will be a “memory slot” that you’ll later use to store a single piece of information.

Here are some additional suggestions that work well as Memory Palaces, along with possible routes: Familiar streets in your city Possible routes could be your drive to work, or any other sequence of streets you’re familiar with. A current or former school You can imagine the pathway from the classroom to the library (or to the bar on the other side of the street, if that’s the route imprinted on your mind). Place of work Imagine the path from your cubicle to the coffee machine or to your boss’s office (it shouldn’t be hard to choose). Scenery Imagine walking on your neighbourhood or the track you use when jogging in a local park.

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3 Imprint the Palace on Your Mind

4 Associate!

For the technique to work, the most important thing is

Now that you’re the master of your palace, it’s time to put it

to have the place or route 100% imprinted on your mind.

to good use.

Do whatever is necessary to really commit it to memory. If you’re a visual kind of person, you probably won’t have trouble with this. Otherwise, here are some tips that help: • Physically walk through the route repeating out loud the distinctive features as you see them. • Write down the selected features on a piece of paper and mentally walk through them, saying them out loud. • Always look at the features from the same point of view. • Be aware that visualisation is a just a skill. If you’re still having trouble doing this, you may want to develop your visualisation skills first. • When you believe you’re done, go over it one more time. It’s really important to “over learn” your way in your Memory Palace.

Like most memory enhancement systems, the Memory Palace technique works with the use of visual associations. The process is simple: you take a known image — called the memory peg — and combine with the element you want to memorise. For us, each memory peg is a distinctive feature of our Memory Palace. The memory pegging technique is the same one described in the article ‘Improve Your Memory by Speaking Your Mind’s Language‘, so if you haven’t read it yet, I highly advise you to do so. As described in that article, there’s a ‘right way’ of doing visual associations: Make it crazy, ridiculous, offensive, unusual, extraordinary, animated, nonsensical — after all, these are the things that get remembered, aren’t they? Make the scene so unique

Once you’re confident that the route is stamped on your

that it could never happen in real life. The only rule is: if it’s

mind, you’re set. Now you have your Palace, which can be

boring, it’s wrong.

used over and over again to memorise just about anything you want.

Although we can use the technique to memorise tons of information, let’s start with something very simple: using our ‘Home’ Memory Palace to memorise a groceries list. Let’s suppose the first item in that list is ‘bacon’:

• Front door • Sideboard • Mirror • Stair case • Treasure chest • Window sill • Bedroom door

Mentally transport yourself to your Memory Palace. The first feature you see in your mind is your home’s front door. Now, in a ludicrous way, visually combine ‘bacon’ with the sight of your front door. How about giant fried bacon strips flowing out from underneath the door reaching for your...

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4 Associate! Continued...

5 Visit Your Palace

legs, just like zombies in those B-movies? Feel the touch of

At this point, you are done memorising the items. If you’re

the “bacon hands” on your legs. Feel the smell of darn evil

new to the technique, though, you’ll probably need to do a

bacon. Is that remarkable enough?

little rehearsal, repeating the journey at least once in your

Now open the door and keep walking, following the

mind.

exact same route you defined before. Look at the next

If you start from the same point and follow the same route,

distinctive feature, and associate it with the second item

the memorised items will come to your mind instantly as

to be memorised. Suppose the next item is ‘eggs’ and the

you look at the journey’s selected features. Go from the

second feature is ‘picture of mother-in-law’. Well, at this

beginning to the end of your route, paying attention to

point you already know what to do… The process is always

those features and replaying the scenes in your mind. When

the same, so just keep mentally associating images until

you get to the end of your route, turn around and walk in

there are no items left to memorise.

the opposite direction until you get to the starting point.

In the end, it’s all a matter of developing your visualisation skills. The more relaxed you are, the easier it will be and the more effective your memorization will be.

Final Thoughts What we like about the Memory Palace (and other pegging methods) is that it’s not only extremely effective, but also quite fun to learn and use. With just a little bit of experience, the lists you memorise using the Memory Palace will stay fresh in your mind for many days, weeks, years, or even more. Also have in mind that you can create as many palaces as you want, and that they can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish to make them. Each of them is a “memory bank”, ready to be used to help you memorise anything, anytime. Associating physical locations with mental concepts is the one of the most powerful memory techniques known.

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Conclusions Everyone is different. Find the approach that works best for you.

Study in small focussed sessions.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow procrastina t to get the ion better of yo u.

Keep your focus on the end result; if you spend the time studying you will get the important qualification you are after.

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