FIJI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION & MEDIA
COM 303: INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION LITERACY
STUDY SKILLS & STUDY HABITS
It is very crucial for students to develop effective study habits in order to be successful. Studying is a skill and to be
successful in school requires a high level of study skills.
Students must first learn these skills, practice them and develop effective study habits in order to be successful.
Good study habits include many different skills: time management, self-discipline, concentration, memorization,
organization, and effort. In addition, the desire to succeed is also very important.
Here are some tips to organize your studies and ways to help you remember what you study. Once you develop
effective study habits, the job of studying and learning will become easier. Instead of working harder, you will be
working smarter!
1. Get Organized.
Between assignments, tests/ examinations and extracurricular activities, it’s all too easy for things to slip
through the cracks.
A planner or study guide can help you keep everything organized. Write down assignments, appointments
and to-do lists.
Review items in the planner at both the beginning and end of the day to stay on track.
This serves as a reminder so that you do not get off track!
2. Know the Expectations
Know the expectations of all your courses/ programmes. There should not be any surprises when it comes
to how and what you will be graded on.
Know your course outline which can serve as a guide for the semester/ trimester/ quarter.
If expectations aren’t clear, see your lecturer/ tutor. Do not wait until you receive a bad report. Try to feel
comfortable approaching teachers with questions about grading and assignments at any time.
3. Designate a Study Area.
A good study area is one with the least disruptions or distractions.
At home, it may be in the privacy of your room or in the living room early in the morning when everyone else
is still asleep. Certainly, not with your cell phone or music on!
At the university, the library may be a good study place – for reading or making notes/ summaries. Or in a
lecture/ tutorial room for group discussion or just going over your notes.
Studying in front of a TV is not a good idea.
Try to institute a “communications blackout” policy with no cell phones or social media allowed until study is
completed.
4. Develop a Study Plan.
Know the assessments on your course outline – tests/ assignments and the topics that will be covered.
Create your study plan and allow ample time to prepare.
On your study plan, put in the due dates of all assessments.
Prepared by S. Nawalowalo Dept. of Communication, Samabula. 30/01/18
Allow time for review/make notes, group discussion, reading/researching, etc.
Stick to your plan!
5. Think Positively.
Have the right mindset. It will make a lot of difference!
Think positively when studying or preparing for an exam.
Avoid negative thinking, like “I’ll never have a good grade on this exam.” Instead turn it into a positive one
like, “I will get a good grade and I must study hard.”
6. Create a Study Group.
Working in groups can help students in many ways:
- when they’re struggling to understand a concept
- it can enable them to complete assignments more quickly than when working alone.
Provides moral support
Teamwork
Small and structured groups reduces distractions.
7. Practice Active Listening.
Learn to listen when an instructor is presenting.
Concentrate on the main points being made.
Think about what the speaker is saying
Pay attention to how things are said (gestures, tone of voice, etc.).
Avoid talking or thinking about problems when listening.
If a teacher says, “This is important” or “I’ll write this on the board,” there’s a good chance students will see
the concept on an exam.
8. Review Test-Taking Strategies.
Do not feel stressed when taking an exam. It is part of learning.
Learn to manage or handle stress by:
- Preparing well
- Arrive on time to the examination room and try to stay relaxed.
- Be sure to read all of the directions on the exam so that you understand what to do
9. Read Actively.
When reading a text – a paragraph or chapter, try to make notes and get something out of what you are
reading. It’s all too easy to skim over an assigned book chapter and not know the main points of what you
read.
Active reading is making an effort to note the main idea of each passage and look up unfamiliar words or
concepts.
Make an outline of the chapter or create flow charts and diagrams that help map out the concept at hand.
After each section, have students write a summary in their own words and come up with possible exam
questions.
Source: “10 Good Study Habits to Help Your Child Succeed in the New School Year”
(www.sylvanlearning.com/blog/index.php/10-good-study–habits–new–school–year/
Prepared by S. Nawalowalo Dept. of Communication, Samabula. 30/01/18
Prepared by S. Nawalowalo Dept. of Communication, Samabula. 30/01/18
