Exam season is here and it feels like there are hundreds of pages worth of content to study and college-level exams are not so easy. A common struggle that most of us experience when we enter college is sorting through our study materials and making the best of what is provided. However, that still does not feel enough. College requires higher levels of thinking, critically processing the information taught and utilising that information to showcase our understanding of it. Now this is far from how school works where we are taught only limited information, restricted to a set syllabus with little freedom for out-of-textbook knowledge with few exceptional teachers who do their best to provide holistic learning.
The education system is known for its diversity, spanning across various boards, languages, and cultures. Such diversity calls for the need to provide support to students as they navigate through the numerous and complex transitions in their academic journey. The transition from high school to college may be easy for some people but many find it challenging. Because everyone has different academic experiences, goals and expectations prior to entering college, there is a need to ensure a smooth process of transition to accommodate such different types of students with such different experiences.
Educators play a pivotal role in making such transitions less intimidating and more inviting. At institutional level this could look like conducting orientation programs where new students are briefed about college expectations, managing them and efficient goal-setting. Teachers can provide guidance on time management, study tips and strategies to help students adapt to the increased workload. They can also offer additional academic resources such as tutoring, study groups, mentorship programs to help students integrate knowledge.
All of these prove beneficial only if students themselves go out of their box and chase learning and knowledge. So, at an individual level this can look like setting realistic goals and expectations and giving yourself time to adjust to those newly formed expectations. Take advantage of digital and free resources, do not hesitate to look for more information. Take advantage of study-skill workshops, doubt solving sessions. It is okay if you do not have any specific doubt or question to ask, clarifying what you have learned and asking for further resources is also helpful. Create study sessions with your friends and make use of various studying strategies. Some of these are:
1) Mapping- map out the content, visualise it, make flowcharts, diagrams or pointers. Have a study plan. This helps clarify what needs to be done before exams approach and helps in integrating knowledge.
2) Spaced repetition- Space out the learning and recalling process over time instead of going through it all in one sitting. For example, rather than spending 3 hours on a single topic in one day, study it for 1 hour on day one, then 30 minutes in the next session, and then 30 in another and then 1 hour in another session. The idea is to create space between learning sessions and still keep the topic fresh in your mind. Studies show that space learning helps in retaining new information and has better recall performance. .
3) Shared Notes- Make a shared google document with your friends and each of you can choose a topic and insert notes in it. This can lessen the workload and can help integrate the various resources and information found.
4) Pomodoro technique- It's the most used and commonly followed technique by students. It’s apt for those who tend to procrastinate. Set a timer for 30-40 mins and focus only on the task. When your session ends, mark off one pomodoro and record what you completed. Take a 10 minute break and restart the timer. After 3-4 such pomodoros enjoy a longer break. This makes it seem like you are only committing to focus for a smaller time period.
5) Feynman technique-It is an efficient method of learning a concept quickly by explaining it in plain and simple terms. You can explain it to your friend and take turns in explaining it or you can explain it to yourself out loud or in front of a mirror, The point is to vocalize what you have gathered. By attempting to explain a concept in our own words, we are likely to understand it a lot faster.
College is meant to prepare us for the real world where we are to apply all the knowledge we have gained through these years in practical settings. Well, that means, cramming one night before the exams will not work for the enhancement of learning. It is time to ditch those old stitches and try different strategies for studying, methods that focus on long term retention of knowledge not just for passing exams.