Study Skills for Adults
If it’s been a while since you were in school, a return to the academic life can be a big adjustment. College classes cram a great deal of information into a semester. When was the last time you had to remember so many details? Understanding some basic tenets of adult learning theory can help you develop the study habits you need to be successful:
Adult learners need motivation to learn. As children, we are naturally curious little sponges absorbing everything we can from our environment – unless someone comes along and kills our enthusiasm for learning. By the time we reach adulthood, we’re caught up in a world of work and responsibility that leaves little energy for learning. The first thing you need to do, then, is clarify for yourself your motives for going back to school. What short- and long-term goals do you hope to achieve as a result of going to school? How will you feel when you earn that degree or certificate? How can you benefit from what you learn in a particular course? Reminding yourself of your most driving motivation is critical when you need to pull yourself out of a slump.
Adult learners need the right study environment. This is Study Skills 101. Like children, we need a regular place and time to establish the habit. The space should be well-lit and organized. Whether you prefer quiet or listening to music, do what feels best for you. Television and talk radio are not recommended because conversation pulls too much of your focus away from the material.
Adult learners need to interact with the material. Listening to lectures and reading alone are too passive. You need to involve as many senses as possible, and take a more active role. Try developing a set of questions, or reading the ones at the end of the chapter, before you start to read. As you read, stop and reflect each time you find material that may answer one of your questions. You’ll get even more out of the study session if you actually write out the questions and answers. This brings a tactile element to your learning experience. Are you studying a complex theory or required to retain a great deal of facts and data? Try organizing the information visually; that is, draw a model, illustrate the idea with pictures, or create charts and graphs to show the relationships between the details. By thinking about your material in a structured way, you reinforce higher order thinking and create a visual aid in the process.
Adult learners need practice. In order to do anything well, we need practice. You should quiz yourself regularly, or enlist the support of a study buddy to quiz you. No cheating! If you do that you won’t discover the weak areas where you need to focus more. Keep track of your performance on each “quiz”. If you are truly applying the techniques described in this article, you’ll find your performance improves significantly with repetition. This will help build your confidence for testing day.
If you need any help building skills before you return to school or even GED prep, give A Quantum Leap a call! 1-877-295-5327
