Honing Efficiency Skills & Other Study Tips
Welcome to Part I of our special ‘Academic Coaches Series’ where we will be highlighting our talented Octant Academics team. We’ll start off this series by introducing you to our go-to for sciences, Andrew Pontbriand. Below, he provides you with some tips and strategies for academic success.
LOOKING FOR SCIENCE HELP?
Andrew joined the Octant team in January 2020. Since then, he has helped students navigate courses ranging from introductory high school chemistry to second-semester organic chemistry. Andrew also assists students with SAT Chemistry and AP Chemistry test preparation, earth science courses, biology courses, organizational skills, and writing skills development.
Andrew is a lifelong student both inside and outside the classroom. He graduated summa cum laude from Colorado College with degrees in both Geology and Chemistry. While in school, he worked as a research assistant in both an organic chemistry and igneous petrology laboratory. Since graduating, Andrew has provided teacher support in a middle school reading intervention classroom; volunteered as an adaptive climbing team instructor at his local rock climbing gym; and worked as a laboratory assistant for the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Andrew’s current interests include plant-based nutrition and trail running.
LOW-TECH STRATEGIES TO CREATE MORE FREE TIME
What if I told you there was a way to get more (productive) work done in a shorter period of time? Would you believe me?
Working non-stop throughout the day can be taxing, but… I would wager that “non-stop” work for most is punctuated by quite a few rabbit holes of distraction: checking your phone updates, checking the news, or opening [insert your favorite social media website here]. Of course, these are just a few of the myriad ways in which technology puts its arm around us and taunts us with that sweet, sweet aroma of dopamine and wasted time.
For anyone who’s watched Netflix’s recently added docudrama, The Social Dilemma, it won’t come as any surprise that all those websites and apps we love so much are designed to suck us in, to nurture an addiction. OK-OK! Enough of this trapped-in-the-maw-of-technological-development rhetoric — where do we go from here? Let me start by referring you to a beautifully simple time management method called the Pomodoro Technique, developed in the 80s by work-smarter-not-harder guru, Francesco Cirillo. By the way, pomodoro is the Italian word for tomato. Here’s the idea:
Decide what you want to work on
Set the pomodoro timer for 25 minutes
When the timer goes off, take a 5-minute non-work break
Repeat steps 2-3 three more times
After four pomodoro cycles, take a longer break (30 minutes)
Rinse and repeat
Important: if you become distracted in the midst of a pomodoro or find yourself wandering off into reverie, restart the timer!
Firstly, I would strongly advise against indulging in tech during your 5-minute breaks. From experience with trying this, the time flies by and it’s all too easy to get sucked in. Here are some alternatives: read a book, eat a snack outside, or close your eyes for some quick rest.
Secondly and most importantly, when that rest timer goes off, get up and start your new cycle! Don’t overstretch your breaks — you’ll have a longer rest soon and you’ll have a longer rest soon and you’ll create plenty of free time at the end of your day. Happy tomato-ing!
ANDREW’S STUDY TRICKS
Let’s face it, no two classroom experiences are ever going to be the same — different material, different teachers, or even different schools; however, I believe there are a handful of essential strategies that you can always employ to make your life easier and your learning more enjoyable. Of note: I’ve numbered the following strategies, but don’t put too much stock into the particular ordering I’ve chosen; the strategies work best in conjunction with one another.
1. Develop an Organizational System
This is going to look differently for everyone, but do actually take the time to organize your notes, lecture slides, quizzes, tests, and whatever else your teacher gives you, per class. Whether you’re into digital organization platforms or prefer the more traditional folder system, you have options. Here are some ideas:
Google Drive (guide) — especially helpful in remote learning environments
Your computer’s default file management system
A series of physical folders and/or binders (still works!)
Regardless of the approach you choose, please at all costs avoid the ‘I’ll-deal-with-this-later’ approach, which will inevitably lead to you pirouetting in a tornado of anguish and misplaced papers the night before a test.
2. Use a Planner
When I was in grade school, I used to give a halfhearted effort to writing assignments in my planner. I was confident I could keep all my assignments and due dates organized in my head. Needless to say, this wasn’t and isn’t a good approach. By using a planner, you don’t have to waste precious cognitive energy trying to remember everything; just write it down.
You have a wide variety of options for planners, depending on your style:
Bullet Journals (my personal favorite; I use one of these)
Todoist phone app — even comes with location-based reminders!
Google Calendar
Pre-formatted planners
My only quibble with pre-formatted planners is that they don’t provide enough space for writing down all my daily tasks — precisely the reason I made the switch to Bullet Journals, in which I can use as little or as much space as I need.
3. Take Good Notes in Class (Even Remotely)
In the Age of Remote Learning, it’s all too easy to think you can rely solely on the lectures, slides, and other documents your teachers post to your school’s learning management system to prepare for exams. This information is obviously valuable, but you should supplement it with the notes you take during your Zoom sessions.
Here are some quick tips for taking good notes:
Use pen/pencil and paper (highly recommended)
Write neatly and in an organized manner
For a more structured approach, check out: Cornell Notes
Important: Review (don’t just reread) your notes after class
What does reviewing your notes look like? Well, you might clean up your formatting, clarify ideas that you wrote down hurriedly in class, and use your textbook or other resources to elaborate upon what you already have. The key is revisiting this material regularly for optimum retention.
4. Ask Questions!
I cannot stress this enough: do not hesitate to ask your teacher for clarification on a topic that is confusing you. Teachers are a wealth of information and they want to help you succeed. You can ask your questions in class or during office hours, of you can write an email if it’s a pressing matter.
Here are some quick tips:
Write down questions as you review your notes each day
Have your list of questions ready for class or office hours
Don’t sweat it if you think other students might know the answer to your question; this is your education
5. Redo Practice Problems (and Review)
How many times before a test have you quickly looked over your notes, maybe done a few practice problems, and thought to yourself, “Yeah, I know this stuff”? If your answer is greater than zero, please keep reading (I’ve done it too)…
Doing so is not recommended and is certainly not going to guarantee your desired score on the test. One of the worst feelings is sitting down for a test and realizing that, out of hastiness, you forgot to review some key concept that had been taught earlier in the class. You can avoid this predicament quite easily.
Think about what a test really is: an assessment of your understanding of the material that has been taught in class. Everything that you need to succeed on a test has been provided to you, whether in the form of notes, lectures, videos, or past quizzes and tests. My advice is this: redo your practice problems from scratch and diligently review your other materials (don’t skip anything). And don’t wait until the last minute to prepare; start early!
Final Thoughts
School can get busy, so be sure to take some time to relax here and there. Enjoy the outdoors, practice a hobby, or cozy up with a good book. You’ll come back to your work feeling refreshed and excited to learn.