By Ramla Basharat
Hi there! My name is Ramla Basharat and I'm a peer tutor at the Center for Learning. I've been tutoring general biology since the fall of 2022 and have successfully helped students improve their grades. In this post, I wanted to share a few tips that I believe are meaningful to other students and have personally helped me stand out academically.
First of all, when I enter any class, my main goal is to learn the material as much as I can, so that I can save some time when I leave the classroom, given my busy schedule. Now the question is how do I do it?
Learning in less time and note-taking:
I pay close attention in class and try to listen to every word that my professor says. I know, sometimes it's hard, but it's ok. Keep trying is the best way to deal with concentration and focus. In the meantime, I make notes by writing down the main points in my own words. This not only helps me remember the material but also improves my skills in multitasking, listening, and writing at the same time. It also encourages me to ask questions when I don't understand something, which is a great way to connect with your professors and help other fellow students who might have similar questions but are too shy to ask in front of the class. Sometimes, when the class moves too quickly, it's impossible to take notes, so my best strategy is to simply listen carefully to grasp the concepts. Also, finding ways to learn in less time is crucial too when there is a lot going on. For example, sometimes instead of reading a page or two, you can use visual aids such as images or graphs to understand complex concepts. Another way is to watch videos about relevant topics.
How to study at home?
Secondly, I study at home and whatever I don't understand, I try to learn it myself through YouTube videos or by reading a certain topic in the course book. If that doesn't work, then I go to my professor or peer tutors. I think it's important that we first try to learn by ourselves because it trains our brain to be curious and helps us in problem-solving. Another trick I have is, when I see a term for the second time, I try to recall it from memory. If I can't recall it, then I go back and learn it with full concentration. Writing can also help with memorization. Then recall it when you see that term again.
Practicing:
"Practice" is a small act but is a very powerful tool for distinguishing yourself from others. It doesn't have to be for hours, but doing it for a few minutes consistently will make a huge impact on your academic performance. For math, physics, and chemistry, you have lots of options to practice, and for biology and other courses where memorization is required, you can find online practice questions related to your course or make flashcards.
Become a peer tutor:
This one is a big one: "Never ever hesitate to teach others." If you get a good grade in a course, start tutoring. It will do wonders and help you remember what you've learned. If you don't know something, you'll try to find out to better help your tutee, which in turn expands your knowledge. Also, you would be helping other students, which is very meaningful and a valuable experience. Finally, trying different ways until you find one that works best for you is a key step towards your success. I also want you to note that sometimes it's ok to feel down and feel like you can't do it all but keep pushing yourself to do at least the minimum and keep going until one day you make it. If you have any study tips, please share with us too.
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