Learn to Study: For Success at College and University

Going to College or University is an exciting yet daunting experience for many students. It's exciting because you can study interesting subjects, make new friends and pursue new hobbies in College. But it's also daunting because in order to get a successful academic education, you will have to accept personal responsibility for a task for which you have received little or no special training in school. This task requires you to manage your own learning or to become an active, independent and self-motivated student when it comes to planning, conducting and evaluating your academic work. For example, it's up to you whether you go to lectures in the first place. And it's up to you whether you spend your time studying in the library or going to the shops. And it's your business, not that of your lecturers, to make sure that you don't fall behind in your studies. Put simply, if you don't want your free time in College to become wasted time, you will have to master a number of study skills that were not taught in school. For example, you will have to learn to listen and write at the same time while taking lecture notes in class. And you'll have to learn to study effectively - or read with a question in mind. Of course, you'll also have to master the art of getting downA" to study regardless of the mood you're in. But most of all, you'll have to learn to think for yourself - the true hallmark of an educated mind. Put simply, as you can see, your biggest challenge in the years ahead is to manage your own learning effectively. The good news is that by listening to this audio presentation, you've already taken a step in the right direction. You've realized that you will have to become a driver rather than a passenger in your educational journey. And so, the purpose of this recording is to give you some driving lessons" in learning.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Going to College: Managing your own learning Getting down to study: Practical tips on motivation Managing your study time Learning from lectures: Listening and note-taking skills Improving your reading and summarizing skills Focusing effectively: Improving your concentration skills Remembering and understanding what you learn: Practical tips Evaluating what you learn: Thinking critically Planning and writing essays and papers Exam skills: Doing your best when it matters most

About the Author :
Prof Aidan Moran is Director of the Psychology Research Laboratory in the School of Psychology, University College Dublin UCD. He is the author of the best-selling book Managing Your Own Learning at University: A Practical Guide (2000, UCD Press), Learn to Concentrate (2009 MindCOOL Productions), Learn to Win at Golf (2009 MindCOOL Productions), as well as many other books on sport psychology and is an adviser to many of Ireland's top athletes and teams.