The most effective study habits are different from student to student and class to class. It is important that you determine the most efficient and effective way for YOU to study each different class. You should take some time each semester to consider alternative approaches to each class and select the one that is best for you. If one approach doesn't seem to work, try another. If you aren't sure of how to change your approach to improve your performance, get help from your instructor or the appropriate office (for example, academic services).

This class is often a student's first experience with economics. Economics courses are different than courses in other disciplines you may be more used to. One major difference is the use of models and graphs. Understanding and using models and graphs requires a unique approach to learning and studying that you may not have used before in other classes. This is why it is especially important for you to be open to alternative approaches and to seek help if your approach is not helping you to efficiently and effectively learn economics. What follows is a list ideas for you to consider in determining the best way for you to study.

Time Management

These first suggestions are ideas to help you organize and effectively use your time.

Where? Since effective studying requires full concentration, you should identify a place you find conducive to studying. Each student is different so the same place may not be effective for all. However, you should establish a place in which you intend to do your serious studying early in the semester and discipline yourself to study effectively in that place. Consider the library, a study hall, or your desk if your room is quiet.
Developing or maintaining concentration is not easy. Effective studying can be enhanced by having one place in which you do nothing but study. No eating, talking, phone conversations, or light reading should be done in this location. After a while, your mind will accept the fact that when you sit at this location, you intend only to study.

How? Organization of class materials is essential. Have a separate notebook for each class. This will keep the material in the sequence provided by the instructor. The notebook provides an organized format and prevents you from having to spend a lot of time trying to "get organized" before you can begin studying.
Effective time management is critical to success in college. You have many classes, deadlines, activities and other demands on your time. Keep a "Things to Do " list - a list of things you must do, today, in the next few days, etc. Consult the list and allocate your time so that you can get everything done. Anticipate times when there are many deadlines and activities and start early on some so that you can devote your full attention to them and still get everything done. Estimate how long each activity will take (assume the longest!) and block out time for each on your calendar. Feel good as you cross off the items when you complete them!

When? During the first week of a semester, set a time schedule in which you can effectively operate. To the extent possible follow that schedule. Your time is your most important resource, spend it productively. Spread your study time out so the you study intensively and then take a break as a reward. Several 45-minute study periods throughout the day may be better than a 3-hour block of study from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. when you are already tired.

Take a Break! A healthy and productive mind requires time for recreation. Be sure to include time for enjoyment in your schedule. When you are having fun, do it well! That is, don't feel guilty that you are not studying. Set a time for fun and then return to the other tasks that you need to do.

Study Procedures

The following are suggestions for studying class material.

Organize. It is easier to study when you are organized. Read assigned materials before class. Attend class and take notes. Go over your notes as soon as you can and fill in any missing details and identify questions to ask the instructor. Ask the instructor about questions you have during office hours or at the beginning of the next class. Make corrections in notes. Review for exams several days in advance.

Prepare. The more times you cover the material, the more you will learn. Reading the textbook and Study Guide prior to class will help you organize the instructor's presentation into a broader framework. You will be aware of what will be presented. Remember, however, that many instructors do not follow the text each day. They may use the text as a resource and present additional materials in class.

Take Complete Notes. An excellent idea is to recopy notes at the end of each day or as soon after class as you can. This approach can be helpful for several reasons. First, you can fill in any gaps in your notes while the material is still fresh in your mind. Second each time you go over the material actively (such as writing rather than reading) it is reinforced. Third, your notes will be much neater and for most people their mind is more receptive to an organized task than a disorganized mess. Neater notes should make it easier to study the material. Finally, you can quickly spot questions and material that you don't understand. These questions can be cleared up at the next class meeting.


Ask Questions. Your instructor is a resource you can call to help you better understand the course material. Instructors can not always tell which students have questions. Ask questions as soon as they arise. Later material in class will build on previous sections. If you don't understand something early in the class, the chances are high that you will be in much worse trouble later. Often a short explanation by an instructor can clear the confusion up in virtually no time.

Practice Test Questions. There are many methods to study for a test. One approach which works for many students is to practice in a test taking situation BEFORE taking the test. Use the self-test section of the Study Guide to create a mock test situation. You may also want to anticipate other test questions your instructor may choose and try to answer them in a test-like situation.

Contacting a Professor

Professor have all completed college know what it is like. They want to see you do well in their classes. There may not be much that they can do to help you, however, if you don't contact them for assistance. In contacting a professor, consider the following suggestions:

When? Most instructors list office hours on the course syllabus. These are often the best times to seek help because they are set aside specifically for student questions. But remember, each instructor has different preferences and procedures for working with students, so be certain to identify them for each professor. One special point to note, professors take considerable time to prepare for class. This often means that last-minute details must be taken care of during the period immediately preceding class. Thus, if you want to talk with a professor prior to class, ask whether this is a good time. If s/he knows that you are coming, arrangements can be made to keep the time free.

How? One of the most frustrating problems for a professor is to have a student arrive on the day before the exam and say "I don't understand anything you are doing in class." This doesn't help the instructor determine how to help you (it isn't practical or efficient to start from the beginning and review an entire course). The instructor can answer specific questions, but often the you may not really know what questions to ask. Be prepared when you go to the instructor for help. Do you have specific questions? If not, what areas are you finding difficult? Do you have difficulty with particular types of material (for example, graphs or calculations)? Is your problem with the theory or applying it to specific situations? Answering these questions will also assist you in learning.