studying

15 study tips from students just like you!

Prepping for a test, working on a big project, or getting ready for exam season?

There are a million different ways to study and countless strategies to help you study in a way that works best for you. We asked AC students to share their tips for successful studying and we’ve compiled them here for you!

“Get Sleep!”

“Try studying with others!”

“Remember to take breaks and get snacks”

Switch things up, “Try Quizlets”

“Do smaller tasks first, so all attention can be focused on the larger ones”

Mix things up “Highlight”, “Colour Code”, “Study smart: use many learning modalities including pics and videos”, or try using “Flow charts and diagrams”

“Before starting, read the instructions, then read and organize information, then get started.”

“Just start somewhere, anywhere”

“Do some exercise before sitting down to study”

“Try the Pomodoro method”

“Find a good environment to work in – some people do better with background noise and different environments”

“Try Meditation before studying”

“Eat healthy, sleep well, and take some rest before the exam day”

“Study with no pressure and free mind”

“Coffee”

If you are finding that you could use some additional support in your studies we highly recommend reaching out to Student Support Services. They have a wide variety of resources, workshops, and support available to help all students succeed.

Join in on the ultimate study session!

We’re getting down to crunch time for the Spring/Summer semester! There’s lots of assignments, large projects, and of course, exams coming up.

Anyone else miss having some study buddies to just sit around campus with and to help you focus on getting your stuff done?

While the majority of us aren’t yet back on campus, the AC Hub and the Student Learning Centre wanted to help recreate a bit of that atmosphere for students.

On July 28th, 2021 from 11 AM – 1 PM they are going to be hosting virtual study session live from Algonquin College’s Horticultural Building. Join the zoom call and enjoy the sights while also listening to some live music from musician Zachary Martin. He will be providing a live relaxing study soundtrack for attendees for the first hour of this event.

So tune in, because sometimes it’s easier to focus if you have a buddy or twenty to help keep you accountable and on task.

Need some help with what you’re working on?

In the second hour of this event, Student Learning Centre Coaches are going to be available in break out room workshops to offer academic support if you’re stuck on something or would like some assistance with:

  • Presentation Skills
  • Math
  • ESL Conversation Group
  • How to utilize the Library and avoiding Plagiarism
  • Writing

REGISTER TODAY

Essential Tips for Online Learners

How many times a day do you think you check your phone? 50? 100? 200? With the countless distractions and notifications that are constantly popping-up, staying focused on your work and classes requires a lot of self-regulation. This is especially true if you are an online learner. Without anyone around to keep you accountable, it’s a challenge to avoid going down the internet rabbit hole. We’ve got some helpful tricks and tips to help you succeed as an online student.


Establish a schedule

Grinch reading his schedule

While taking College classes online allows you to have a very flexible schedule, this unstructured time can lead to many challenges. To make things easier, try creating a weekly timetable for yourself like you would have in a real classroom setting. Dedicate certain days to specific classes and budget at least one hour of homework for every hour of class time. Try to spread out activities so you don’t get overwhelmed, and make sure you leave enough room in between for downtime.

Here’s a template you can download to make your timetable and instructions on how to create a weekly schedule using software like Google Calendar or Outlook.

 

Set blackout periods

Woman looking for phone

Studies show that you can lose up to 40% of your productivity by task-switching. To prevent this, turn phone on Do Not Disturb mode and block distracting websites on your browser to avoid temptations for set periods of time throughout the day. Make sure to be realistic when you set your blackout periods so that you can actually stay committed. For example, tell yourself that after every three hours of studying you will reward yourself with one episode of your favourite Netflix show. If you are too strict with your rules, you are bound to crack and break them.

 

Find a dedicated study area

Eating Chips in Bed

Whether it’s a coffee shop, your local library, a home office, or your kitchen table, it’s important to have a designated study area where you feel comfortable with limited distractions and a strong internet connection. Although it is tempting to do work in your bed or on your couch, your “quick power naps” can very easily turn into hour-long slumbers. Instead, pick one room or area to study in and stick with it. Over time, you will get used to the space and you’ll have less new stimuli for your brain to process.

 

Use a notepad

Kermit typing fast

Taking notes by hand can seem cumbersome, especially when all your courses are on your computer anyways. But just because you can type faster than you can write, doesn’t mean it’s the best alternative. In fact, you will be more likely to absorb the material when you are taking notes by hand and summarizing as you go, rather than typing 100 words a minute and retaining none of it. Studying your handwritten notes can also help reduce the eye strain that results from too much screen time.

 

Socialize with peers

Lonely Pablo Escobar

Just because you are studying online doesn’t mean that you should do it alone. To avoid isolation, try to participate in online discussion groups with other students who are in the same course or program as you. Make a conscious effort to plan activities and get-togethers with friends throughout the week. Socializing will help your brain engage in new ideas and can help reduce stress levels.

 

More resources

Check out more resources for online learners including our program guide and upcoming info sessions.

Free Apps You Need to Survive First Year

Food

Screenshots of Tasty Mealime Eat This Much

via Buzzfeed, Inc., Mealime Meal Plans Inc. & Eat This Much, Inc. June 2019 (Click to enlarge)

Tasty/Eat This Much/Mealime

If you’re someone who enjoys cooking, apps like Tasty are full of delicious and dorm-friendly recipes that you can easily whip up between classes. For a healthier alternative, Mealime and Eat This Much have a collection of nutritious recipes and meal prep ideas so you can avoid that famous Freshman 15.

Ritual/Skip the Dishes/Uber Eats/Foodora/Door Dash

For when you’re in the mood to #TreatYourself, you need to check out these apps that connect you to restaurants around Ottawa.

Ritual allows you to order and pay ahead of time so your food is ready for pickup as soon as you get to the store. The app also lets you make group orders and earn rewards with each transaction.

When you’re too lazy to even go to the store, Skip the Dishes, Uber Eats, Foodora and Door Dash all deliver your favourite meals straight to your home and/or campus. Perfect for long study sessions or when you don’t want to get out of bed.

Money

Money

via Splitwise Inc. June 2019 (Click to enlarge)

Splitwise

Anyone who has ever lived with roommates knows how difficult it can be to keep track of who owes what. Tools like Splitwise aim to simplify this by allowing you input shared expenses and keep a running total over time. Now you can settle your balances in one big payment so you don’t have to feel petty chasing after people for $6 for laundry detergent.

Mint

If spreadsheets aren’t really your thing, then Mint is for you. The personal budgeting app connects your account to your banking institution(s) so you can have a better view of your finances. You can set limits for yourself and receive alerts when your spending habits are higher than usual.

Flipp

Flipp gets you one step closer to becoming an Extreme Couponer. You can explore weekly flyers at local retailers, find coupons to save on everyday items, sync your shopping lists, and much more. At first it may seem time consuming, but you’d be surprised at how quickly those couple of dollars in savings add up over time.

Groupon

Before spending money on any activity, the first thing you should always do is check Groupon. From exercise classes, to paint night, to three-course meals, you can always find a bunch of great deals on local goods and services.

School

Trello preview

via Trello, Inc. June 2019 (Click to enlarge)

Trello

As the popular saying goes, there is only one way to eat an elephant: one bite at a time. The same concept holds true when it comes to college. Between exams, placements and assignments, it can be overwhelming to keep your head above water. One way to overcome this is by breaking down each task step-by-step. Project management tools like Trello help you stay on top of your game by organizing your school work into to-do lists by subject or deadline.

Brightspace

Most professors use Brightspace to post digital material, allow communication between students and faculty and conduct assessments. Although you can use Brightspace on any laptop or computer, it’s a great tool to have on your mobile device so you can stay up-to-date on the latest assignments and access course material from anywhere.

WhatsApp/FB/Google Hangouts/Skype

No matter what you are studying in College, you are bound to have at least one group project where these apps will definitely come in handy. Whether you are #TeamiPhone or #TeamAndroid, you and your teammate can share files and have group text/video calls – even if you don’t share the same type of smartphone.

Grammarly

Grammarly helps correct your spelling and grammar while you work and makes suggestions on how to kick your writing up a notch. Although this tool is best used on desktop, you can use their keyboard integration on mobile to make sure you are always putting your best foot forward.

Getting Around

Bus Buddy preview

via BusBuddy – My Appatory June 2019 (Click to enlarge)

BusBuddy/Ottawa Transit/MyTransit/Route 613

Almost everyone in Ottawa can agree that waiting at a bus stop for five minutes in the middle of winter can feel like an hour. Two hours if you are also running late for a class or exam. Do yourself a favour and download one of these apps so you can track the location of your bus in real time. That way you can wait for the bus inside and plan your trip accordingly.

Lyft/Uber

If you are an international student coming to Ottawa for the first time, you may not know of the ride-sharing apps that the nation’s capital has to offer. Lyft and Uber both –offer discounts for first time riders and Uber allows you to split the cost of the ride with your friends to make carpooling easier.

College is a huge life transition, but you have the power to make it easier at the tip of your fingertips. By reading this list, we hope you discovered new ways on how to save money, time and stress. We’ll see you on Campus!

Studying Tips: How To Do It Right

Studying is the key to success but man is it hard. It takes discipline and focus to actually commit to the task. Or does it? These super, duper helpful tips will make studying a little less painful. You’ll be doing it like a pro in no time!

Learn to study

Find a good study spot

You don’t always have to camp out in the library. Find a spot that you feel comfortable in. Whether this is your bedroom, a coffee shop, or your mom’s couch; it works if you’re comfy. This will put your mind it as ease. You retain information more easily when you’re relaxed. That’s what studying is all about.

Lady doing DJFind what works for you.

Learning habits

Now that you’ve found a good spot, you need to find a good method. If furiously jotting down notes and memorizing them is your thing, cool. If that technique is getting stale, maybe switch it up a little. Changing things around keeps your brain from getting bored.

Take how you learn into consideration. You know what learning habits work best for you. If you’re a visual learner, draw some pictures, and make it a game. If you’re more an auditory learner, try writing a song or poem to help you memorize things better. Make things more interesting for yourself.

New stuff

Your brain likes shiny, bright colours, the smell of ink on paper, the sound a notebook makes when you crack it open for the first time. Keep this in mind when you’re studying. New stuff is refreshing and you will want to use them. You can check out Connections for any on campus deals.

Taking notes

Taking notes is a great idea, but it’s easy to miss something important if you aren’t paying attention. Try taking point form notes and expanding after class is done. If you summarize your notes later, you’ll spend more time listening in class. Active listening is great way to properly retain information.

You can easily improve your active listening skills in a few different ways. Try facing the speaker and making eye contact. You don’t have to stare them down (that’s weird). Eye contact is a good way to focus on what the speaker is saying. Pretend you’re having an interesting conversation with them. Don’t understand something? Ask pertinent questions. Not only will this show the speaker that you were listening, you’ll also get the answers you need.

When you’re jotting something down, make it count. Cater your note-taking to your learning style. If you’re a visual learner, quickly sketching something you can refer to when studying may work for you. Pictures are an easy way to remember something. You don’t need to be an artist either. Use the sketch as a reminder.

Need some help practicing these tips? The Student Learning Centre holds workshops on study skills and more!

Explain it

If you want to test if you were really listening, try summarize the lecture after class to a friend or family member. Not only will be sure to thoroughly understand what you just learned, you’ll know what to ask about if there are gaps.

Try explaining the lesson to yourself or some friends from class. You should have them explain it to you, too. If all of you are vague on a subject it will be worth bringing it up to the instructor for them to revisit.

Practice

It takes a while for something to become a habit. Studying is no exception. If you need an extra hand, Algonquin College is here to help. There’s a ton of Student Support Services you can take advantage of. This includes studying workshops, tutoring, and lots of other things. You’ll go through a lot of trial and error before you find the right method for your learning habits. Don’t give up. You’re killin’ it, friend! I believe in you.