Photo: Benjamin A. Ward/OsloMet
Tips for good study technique
In order to achieve the goals and career path you envision, it is important to have good study habits. Here are some tips.
Get an overview
Get an overview of what you are going to learn. Break it up into smaller pieces. Think about: What should I learn in this subject, what should I be able to do during this month and week, and how should I learn it?
Pay particular attention to the learning outcomes in the syllabus and use these as targets for the reading. Many lecturers also publish a plan for teaching in Canvas.
Another tip is to have a calendar where you note when you have lectures, study work and other things you have to attend.
Focus and take breaks
Avoid distractions when you work. Put your mobile away when you are studying, set it to silent and turn off notifications.
If you want to work efficiently, it is also important to take breaks along the way. When the brain receives too much information in a short time, it cannot take it all in. That's why it's a good idea to ventilate your brain (and body) regularly. One way is the Pomodoro technique where you put on a watch and work, e.g. 25 minutes and breaks for 5.
Find your way of learning
There are different ways to learn. Some students are mostly visual and learn from what they see, some are auditory and learn a lot from what they hear, while others learn through what they do. We all have a little bit of everything. Test out what works best for you.
The most important thing is to use the learning material actively:
- Create a mind map
- Do tasks
- Ask questions, how does this relate to what you have read before?
- Connect the material to examples you know
- Talk about what you read, for example in a study group: present, discuss, have a quiz
- Work steadily
An athlete does not sit and wait to train until a few days before a championship. The athlete trains daily to be in top form when it really matters, even if the desire is not always there. The same applies to students.
Tips for you who are going to write a bachelor's or master's thesis.
Reward yourself
When you have reached your intermediate goal, e.g. done what you planned that week, then give yourself a reward. Do something fun or treat yourself to a small prize.
