Study methods for college students: Using assignment notebooks

Studying in college is a very difficult tasks. It is because you need to develop a lot of patience, sacrifices, careful planning (like what A-team does) and hard work in order to get things done. Not only getting things done, but getting it right also.

There are only two objectives in studying college and that is getting good grades and completing your courses.

This short guide will elaborate the methods on the use of assignment notebooks in order to develop a good study habit especially useful for college students.

I suggest you to have one notebook with around 100 or more leaves (the more leaves the better), divide it into parts. The 1st section is the “task input” list and the 2nd half for “daily organized tasks”.

To generate the “task input” , list down all tasks:

a. Instructed by your college professor (example the assignments, projects, appointments or pages/books to be studied).

b. Have in mind studying. For example, you need to study that specific subject a lot because you find it difficult. Write that subject here and as the topic details.

c. Other extra-curricular activities (such as practising schedules pertaining to your activity in university glee club for example)

d. Your daily class schedule, so you will never forget attending important classes (common in college because of irregular scheduling).

This also includes the other list such as time to meet your girl friend or boyfriend, or do some shopping.

This task input should be updated in hourly or daily basis. Marked “complete” for those tasks that are not any more relevant or important to you. For this to be very effective, you need to list down ALL possible tasks that you might think you need to do, again including all possible inputs from your teacher (such as clue where he/she might get the exam).

I have found this page to provide good tips in studying college.

Now you have a complete list of “task input”, it is now the time to organize it. You need to answer to following questions:

1.) What should I do for today? Again you will need to see it from your task input. List down relevant tasks that are needed to be done today, including any assignments, quizes, long exams, important studies, etc.
2.) What time should I need to get this done? Time management, get those difficult things done first before you get tired for the day.

So you will need to put this input in your “daily organized tasks”. An example output will be:

June 14, 2010

1.) Attend the following classes:
a. 8:30 to 10am- algebra
b. 10:00am to 11am – effective communication
c. 1-3pm – trigonometry
d. meet with husband- 3pm-4pm
e. read 3rd chapter on algebra – 4pm to 7pm
f. dine out- 7pm – 8pm
g. doing algebra exercises – 8:30pm to 10pm
h. prepare for effective comm exam -10pm to 12am