March 15, 2013 | Quebec

Developing Study Methods That Support Learning

Studying effectively is not simply about spending more time on your courses. How you use that time also plays an important role in learning.

Reviewing notes, preparing for an assessment, understanding a new concept, or learning how to perform a task may require different approaches. The goal is therefore to develop effective study methods that help you understand the material, test your knowledge, and become a more independent learner.

A good study strategy involves planning, active learning, and adapting your methods to the skills you are trying to develop. McGill University's learning resources also recommend choosing study strategies based on learning objectives and the type of assessment involved.

Creating the Right Conditions for Studying

Before you even start studying, a few minutes of preparation can make a study session more productive.

It can help to:

• decide what you want to accomplish;
• gather the notes, documents, and tools you need;
• choose an environment that helps you concentrate;
• reduce distractions;
• review course deadlines and objectives.

Setting a specific goal can also help you structure your work more effectively. "Understand the chapter" is fairly vague. Being able to explain a concept, solve a problem, or perform a procedure gives you a much more concrete objective.

Planning Your Study Sessions

Waiting until an assessment or deadline is approaching before reviewing a large amount of material can make it more difficult to organize your work.

Another approach is to spread your studying over time and regularly revisit the material you have covered. This can also help you identify earlier which areas require more attention. Distributed practice, which involves spacing study activities over time, is one of the strategies recommended to support learning.

A calendar or planner can help you schedule assignments, assessments, and study sessions. Larger tasks can then be broken down into more manageable steps.

Studying Actively Instead of Simply Rereading

Rereading your notes can be useful, but studying can go much further.

Active learning means engaging with the material rather than simply reviewing it. For example, you can:

• try to answer a question without looking at your notes;
• explain a concept in your own words;
• solve a problem or complete an exercise;
• make connections between different concepts;
• summarize the main ideas;
• explain a procedure to someone else.

Testing yourself, teaching a concept to someone else, and creating a concept map are among the active learning strategies recommended in McGill's learning resources.

The goal is simple: move from recognizing information to using it.

Reviewing What You Learn Regularly

Material covered in class often needs to be revisited.

Regular review helps you determine what you already understand and identify concepts that are still unclear. You can then spend more time on areas that need work instead of repeatedly reviewing material you already know.

Testing yourself with questions, exercises, or practice problems can also give you a more concrete way to assess your understanding.

This turns review into a tool for making progress rather than simply rereading material.

Taking Notes That Support Understanding

Good note-taking does not necessarily mean writing down every word you hear in class.

Notes are primarily a way to capture important concepts, organize information, and make reviewing easier.

Going back over your notes after class can help you identify the main ideas, clarify certain points, and make connections between concepts.

Your notes then become a study tool you can use to quiz yourself, write a summary, or prepare for an assessment.

Adapting Your Study Methods to the Skills You Need to Develop

Not every subject needs to be studied in the same way.

Memorizing certain information may require regular self-testing. Understanding a concept may involve explaining it in your own words or connecting it to knowledge you already have. Developing a technical skill, on the other hand, may involve repeatedly practising a procedure or solving a range of problems.

In hands-on training, this distinction is particularly important. Understanding how a task should be performed is a first step. Being able to perform it progressively with less assistance demonstrates a deeper level of mastery.

An effective study method is therefore one that aligns with what you need to understand, explain, or do.

Evaluating and Adjusting Your Study Methods

There is no single study method that works for every situation.

After an assessment, a project, or an important period of studying, it can be useful to reflect on how you worked:

• What worked well?
• Which concepts required more effort?
• Could certain distractions have been avoided?
• Did the method you used actually match the task?
• What could you change next time?

This reflection allows you to gradually refine your approach. Evaluating and adjusting your strategies are also among the steps recommended in McGill's resources on effective studying.

At CDI College, hands-on training allows students to progressively develop the skills associated with their field of study. Learning to organize your work, check your understanding, and adapt your study methods can help you develop greater independence throughout your training.

FAQ

1. How can you study more effectively?
It can help to set a specific goal, plan your study sessions, and use active methods such as testing yourself, explaining the material in your own words, or completing exercises.

2. Is rereading your notes enough to study effectively?
Rereading can be useful, but it can be combined with strategies that actively test your understanding and your ability to apply what you have learned.

3. How can you better remember what you learn?
Regularly revisiting the material, testing yourself, and making connections between new concepts and what you already know can support learning.

4. What is the best study method?
There is no single method that works for every situation. Your strategy should reflect the type of material, the learning objective, and what you will ultimately need to do.

5. How can you tell whether your study method is working?
A good way to check is to see whether you can explain, recall, or apply the material without constantly relying on your notes.

Explore Further

👉 A Guide to Succeeding in Your Training in Quebec

👉 How to Succeed in Assessments and Projects in Hands-On Training

👉 Maintaining Steady Progress Throughout Your Training

👉 How Can You Manage Fatigue While Studying and Stay on Track?