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Ambient-mixer.com is a great resource for ambient sounds to use while studying. You can study in the Slytherin common room at Hogwarts or in the Winchesters' bunker from Supernatural.

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Listen online to relaxing sound atmospheres, ambient music or chilling sound effects. You can even create and mix your own moods, all for free.

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Eliminate potential distractions by studying in a quiet environment where you will be left alone. If you prefer, create a studying atmosphere by listening to an instrumental playlist.

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Are you a visual, auditory, reading/writing, kinesthetic learner?
Adapt study methods to your personal learning type.

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This video gives 40 great tips to help you be a more effective studier.

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40 Study Tips, Tricks & Hacks // Part. 1 REMAKE

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Here are some tips to help your studying go a bit smoother. These tips are specifically for the SAT, but they can be utilized in studying for any subject!

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Tips for effective, efficient studying (article) | Khan Academy

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If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

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We remember things better when we write them down. Use your note taking skills!

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Mnemonics help you remember acronyms.

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Quiz yourself! Utilize websites like Quizlet to help you make flashcards on the go.

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During sleep, your brain strengthens new memories and puts them in long term storage.

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-Organize your study space
-Practice old exams
-Organize study groups with classmates
-Take regular breaks
-Snack on brain food

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Fun tips + tricks for college note taking.

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How to Take Notes – Note-Taking Tips for College

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-Compare notes with classmates
-Go over the reading and make a list of key points to make sure you take notes on during the lecture
-If you've missed any points, go back and add notes

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Note taking tips from Oregon State University.

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Attending class lectures is one of the most important things you can do for your academic success. Taking effective notes in class ensures your time spent in class is productive and useful.

According to experts, taking notes in class has two primary functions: (a) it keeps you alert, attentive and accountable as you listen, and (b) the notes themselves become a record of what was said in lecture or discussion that can be used later for studying and review (Seward, 1910). According to Hartley & Marshall (1974) students who take notes experience increased attention and concentration in class (as cited in Cuseo, Fecas & Thompson, 2007). In addition, writing during class and reviewing notes before tests produces better recall which is important to your performance on exams (Kiewra, 1985). When evaluating your own note-taking strategies, ask yourself if you're achieving those two primary functions. If you aren't, consider ways you could alter your strategies to be more effective.

It's important to keep in mind the different levels of note-taking. Surface-level note-taking involves writing down the words you hear but not really paying attention to the meaning or topic; this might be similar to a court reporter taking a transcript of a trial: they record information but may not be personally processing it (Anderson & Armbruster, 1991). In comparison, as you seek to be effective in your note taking. and to get the most out of the practice, you should aim for meaning-based note taking which is characterized by thinking and processing what's being said. Rather than trying to write down every single word that you hear, you listen to the lecturer and begin to make connections and form your own understanding of what's being presented; you write down in your own words what's being discussed. This level of note taking is ideal for the classroom lecture when you listen for main ideas, make inferences, and identify question areas.

Remember, too, that notes are only as good as what you do with them. Go back into your notes and be sure you've gotten all the answers you're looking for to the questions you had during the lecture or reading or pre-work that you did ahead of class. Then, see how you can transform what you've recorded.

Can you turn it into a study guide?

Can you combine several sets of notes on the same topic? (notes from reading, from discussion/recitation/lab, notes from the lecture, etc.)

Can you take your notes and turn the information into a diagram or a mind/concept map?

By going into your notes and turning them into something new, you're asking yourself to make connections, to continue to put information into your own words, and to identify gaps in your understanding and the information you've taken down. If you're interested in more note-taking information, take a look at our Note Taking 101 material below, and if you'd like some additional tips, read on:

Prepare your brain for its information intake. When you read and take notes before you go to class, it primes your brain for the content you'll encounter in lecture. You can develop questions about what's unclear, or what you want to know more about, etc. All of this allows you to anticipate the lecture and make connections between what you've read and what you're hearing, and to fill in gaps.

Print any provided lecture notes. At times, instructors will post lecture notes or PowerPoint slides on Canvas or the class website prior to class. If you print these out, then you can write your notes directly into the slides. You're not writing down what's already there; rather, you're trying to capture new information from the lecture.

Pay close attention to the entire lecture. Listen for main ideas, relationships between concepts, and examples. Actively think about what you're hearing and make choices about what to write down in your notes. Why is the instructor choosing the examples they do? How do the different parts of the lecture all connect? What's the point?

Take notes on assignments and exam information. If the lecture includes any discussion of expectations for an assignment or exam, this is important information to write down. The information may not be included on a formal assignment description or on Canvas, or there may be an additional detail that will be helpful for you to think about.

Revisit your notes and their information. After class is over, spend time revisiting, rewriting, transforming and/or studying your notes. Add to your notes with information from the book/videos/discussion boards. If you meet with peers to study, connect with them about their own notes, as they may have written something down that you missed and vice versa.

Evaluate your note taking. Compare with other students, check in with the instructor, and try to use your notes to teach someone the material. If your notes don't seem effective when you revisit information or are studying later, revise your note-taking strategy.

Want more information about note-taking? Our Note Taking video can tell you more, and show you more, too.

Interested in seeing some note-taking styles? Check out these examples of note taking!

Want more of the strategy/science? Check out our Note Taking 101 packet below.

Still have questions or want to talk with someone about all of this? Come and see us in the Academic Success Center:

Waldo Hall 125 | Monday through Friday | 9 AM to 5 PM

You don't need an appointment, you can just drop in and ask questions and we'll sit down with you and chat about your experience and what you're trying. It's one of our favorite things to do, is talking with students about their classroom and study strategies and processes. We can't wait to see you!

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Attending class lectures is one of the most important things you can do for your academic success. Taking effective notes in class ensures your time spent in class is productive and useful.

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-Have pens, pencils, + highlighters on hand
-Highlight, underline or use a different color for important words/phrases
-Leave space to add notes you may have missed
-Keep organized by dating your notes

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A few examples of note taking styles from Oregon State University.

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Note taking tips from a teacher.

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As a teacher, there's nothing more gratifying than when your students "get it." You can sense neurons working and the concepts beginning to click and see the light of recognition in their eyes. You help to pass on information in a way that allows students to absorb and digest it.

But what about when your students don't get it? When looks of bewilderment cloud their faces, assessment outcomes are low, and despite hours spent trying to explain the same concept, they just don't seem to understand.

Sometimes, the root of this problem starts with note-taking. Depending on the age level of your students, some are just beginning to learn to take notes, while others in high school and college have already done so in most of their classes. If you teach older students, you may assume that this is a skill your students already possess as so many tools are available for organization of their learning process. However, you'd be surprised by how many of them haven't a clue how to take good class notes. Spending a lesson on note-taking may boost overall learning, as well as spare you from re-explaining material you already covered.

Here are some tips for effective in-class note-taking that you can share with your students.

Organization

It's better to use a three-ring binder than a spiral notebook. That way you can rearrange and organize your notes or insert classroom handouts.

Date your notes and number your pages.

Use a highlighter to highlight main points.

Leave blank spaces between notes in case you missed something and need to add it later.

What to write down

Write down vocabulary words you don't understand and write down the definitions.

Don't try to write down the entire lesson. Many teachers give background information that leads up to the main point.

Summarize main points expressed during the lesson.

Write short sentences and use abbreviations.

Copy down all important content written on the board, including high level ideas and important events and names.

Pay attention to cues

Many teachers give cues that will let you know that important information is coming. They may say something like: "This is important..." or "The main idea is..." "In summary..."

Pay attention to the tone of voice. If the teacher raises their voice and speaks slowly and with emphasis, or uses gestures to gain your attention, it's generally because they're stating an important point.

Many teachers also repeat important points in case students missed it the first time. If you catch a repeated phrase or concept, you can be sure it's important and should be recorded.

Increase retention

Retention of information decreases exponentially as time passes. In order to prevent yourself from forgetting the information in the notes you've taken, it's best to review your notes within an hour after class is over.

Read your notes after class and write down any questions you have in order to ask the teacher later.

Without looking at the notes, read the questions and formulate answers to them.

Briefly review notes from previous classes to refresh the knowledge and increase retention.

Mobile review

To be sure that your students use these tips properly and become better at note-taking, do a short follow-up. You can send them review questions via Remind and have them react for quick, formative assessment. Send your feedback to students as well-for example, you can attach a voice clip or a photo of great notes, or checklist of what good notes should include.

Also, if you want students to use your tips properly and be in the know of the "life hacks" that could make their learning process easier, start a blog like EssayUniverse and share your advice there. This will help students to keep track of best hints for effective note-taking and more.

Sharing these tips with your students will help you to cover more material, as well as increase overall learning and retention. A lesson in note-taking is time well spent.

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As a teacher, there's nothing more gratifying than when your students "get it." You can sense neurons working and the concepts beginning to click and see the light of recognition in their eyes. You help to pass on information in a way that allows students to absorb and digest it.

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Fun ways to stay organized in your note taking.

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How I take notes - Tips for neat and efficient note taking | Studytee

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Underline key points so that they stand out to you.

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Sometimes it gets hard to keep up with note taking. Use symbols and abbreviations that you understand to help you take faster notes.

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Use pictures, graphs, diagrams, etc. to help your brain process information.

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Dive your page into two sections: main ideas + secondary ideas.

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Divide your page into three sections: Keywords, Notes, + Summary.