Outside of classroom and tuition hours there are many techniques that may be used to improve the effectiveness of your study. One special study technique which students can employ when developing a study timetable is the half-hour pass strategy. This is a tried and proven way to help you remain in control of your study and stress level.
It has four main steps: plan for two minutes, act for 25 minutes, survey for three minutes, stop for a short break, plan for two minutes.
The first two minutes of your half-hour you spend noting what you are going to do or learn in the remainder of the half-hour.
Do it! You now carry out your planned actions on the specific sections of your study material for the next 25 minutes.
Remember to be actively engaged by doing activities, highlighting, underlining, making notes, tables, or diagrams, seeing how these ideas fit with the module objectives and other ideas in the subject.
Spend the final three minutes surveying or reviewing what you have just done, making some record of what you have learned. This step is a crucial one in reinforcing what you have just covered and making it easier to remember.
Take a two-minute break. Relax, stretch, get a drink, give yourself a small reward. Then begin another effective and efficient half-hour.
Tutor Doctor provides a personalised one-to-one, in-home tutoring service. For more information about the Tutor Doctor log on to www.tutordoctor.ie, or contact Carmel O’ Brien on 087 967 9596 or by email: [email protected]
