Archive for the ‘Study’ Category
February 17th, 2010
All of your life your mother has told you, “Get some rest.” Students were taught at a young age to go to bed early in order to get their full 8 hours of sleep. Although this was enforced throughout most of their lives, the majority of adolescents and young adult do not follow this rule.
Staying up late to watch television or hang out with friends is hard to resist. When you are young and full of energy, it seems pointless to go to bed when you still feel so lively after midnight. However, the effects of sleep-deprivation have proven to be even more harmful to people in the long run than anyone ever realized.
Our bodies are like rechargeable batteries and our beds are the docks where we get reenergized. Most everyone seems to recognize the normal short-term side-effects of lack of sleeping: difficulty concentrating, physical weakness, and even mood swings. Long-term deprivation of sleep will not only increase the seriousness of these common side-effects, but it can also cause more serious consequences, as well.
Addictions
It’s interesting how one bad habit can lead to another. Overloading and becoming dependent on caffeine is one such bad habit that is developed from excessive sleep deprivation. You stay up late, and pay the price in the morning by feeling exhausted, so the first thing you reach for in the morning is a cup of joe, or two, or three. When that’s not enough, others reach for the caffeine provided in colas. The side effects of caffeine has been mentioned in a previous blog (http://blog.eduify.com/index.php/2009/11/04/coffee-how-much-caffeine-is-too-much/) and most people should understand the unhealthy habit of consuming these drinks in high quantities. Staying up late could be described as the gateway to other bad habits.
Weight Alterations
Although no one wants another reason to think about their weight, a lack of sleep can tie directly to your figure. Because your hormone levels can alter depending on the amount of sleep we get, your weight can be directly affected, too. Your hormones affect the way we gain and lose weight, which should give sufficient motivation for the more self-conscious individuals to finally get an adequate amount of sleep.
Physical Fatigue
The body cannot perform as well if it is not rested. In effect, your body may actually feel much weaker than it usually would. Your backpack could feel 5-10 pounds heavier to you if you have not been giving your body the rest it so craves. It’s bad enough that you can feel tired after a day of studying, so who wants to start out the day already feeling tired?
Weak Immune System
Although the occasional sick day can be a welcome day off, constantly getting sick can be a nuisance. Without proper sleep, your body not only becomes weaker, but your immune system does, too. Why else would your doctor recommend sleep when you are ill? Your body cannot fight of germs as easily as it once could if it is weakened from exhaustion. People who do not get a proper amount of sleep often find themselves catching colds and flues more frequently than other people who are a bit more rested.
Mental Fatigue/Aging Your Brain
Lack of rest makes your mind become weaker the same way your body becomes weaker. Your mind’s strength shows with its ability to concentrate, but concentration will not come so easy if your mind is not rested. In fact, some recent studies compare sleep-deprivation to aging your brain since the parts of your brain that are affected by aging are the same parts affected by being sleep-deprived. Just like your muscles and joints become slower as they get older, your brain can also become slower, which is exactly what results from sleep deprivation. You may not be as quick-thinking and even tend to become a bit more forgetful when your mind is tired. Some mental illness like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are said to be an effect of tired brains, as well.
More research on the effects of sleep deprivation can be viewed: http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/31/brain and http://www.sleep-deprivation.com
February 11th, 2010
Study, study, study… it’s what students do almost every day of their life. And, if they aren’t studying, then they are worried about when they have to start studying again after their short break. Unfortunately, that is just the way of the student. There are good and bad ways to study though. If you are a student who wants to improve your grades, then there are simple tricks and tips to keep in mind that will not only improve your grades, but possibly make your own studying habits a little simpler on yourself.
Overall, it comes down to planning. Think ahead a little bit and try out these 7 things to help improve your study skills and, ultimately, your grades.
#1 Get Rest
Although this has been gone over many times, it is never said enough – Get enough rest before you go to school. Showing up to school tired means that you are not focused on the material that your teacher is lecturing or on what you are reading. If you are having trouble focusing in class while you yawn every ten minutes or more, chances are that you are not getting enough sleep during the night. If you are still skeptical on the importance of getting sleep, there is an entire blog on Eduify that is dedicated to the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation.
#2 Eat Before an Exam, (but don’t drink much)
Food is fuel. When people do not eat properly they become tired, weak, and grumpy. None of those symptoms of hunger are conducive to proper concentration while you try to study or attend class. If you are in class and you stomach is grumbling because you skipped breakfast again, you are going to end up daydreaming about food rather than listen to the lecture. Do yourself a favor and eat something that will tide you over while attending class. However, you may not want to drink anything in excess. The feeling of a full bladder and needing to run to the bathroom in the middle of class can be just as distracting as an empty stomach.
#3 Arrive to Class Early
When students are showing up to class late they are often out of breath or are interrupting the instructor’s lesson. A late entrance not only distracts the students, but it distracts the teacher, which is no way to get on a teacher’s good side. Being late also means that you have missed some material that was first given in the beginning of class, which may leave you a bit frazzled and possibly missing even more information as you ask a fellow student, “What did I miss?” I recommend showing up five or ten minutes early to class, so you have time to take your seat and set up your books without disturbing anyone with your backpack’s zipper or adjustments of your chair. An early student is prepared and in a ready state-of-mind to be taught.
#4 Make Flash Cards
Many students make flash cards when they are preparing for a test. I suggest making flash cards even before your test. Make early preparations for your test. If there is some information that you feel will be difficult to remember, you should put it on a flash card, that way when it is time to take your test, most of your flashcards will already be set for you, which should make you more relaxed than having to prepare cards last minute for your test.
#5 Record Lectures
If you happen to have a teacher who goes over material quickly or does not seem to stay on a topic long enough for you in class, ask the instructor if he or she would mind that you record the lecture. With a copy of the lecture in your pocket, you can later rewind and listen to any important parts that you may have missed jotting down in your notes. Most teachers do allow students to bring a recorder in to class, as long as they are warned ahead of time. It is not ethical to record a person talking who is not aware of it, so be sure to ask your teacher for permission before doing so.
#6 Read the Material after the Lecture
It may seem simple, but there are far too many students who only listen to the teacher lecture over a subject, but never actually read the material in the book. After the lecture, make time to read over the same material your instructor went over. Going over a lesson twice will help solidify the information in your memory better.
#7 Discuss Material with Friends
Although most students do not want to talk about their homework, having a discussion about the material you are studying is a great way to help remember information. If you are reading something confusing or interesting, relay that exact information to a friend or family member. When you force yourself to repeat the material and think about the topics in a conversation, you help yourself remember the information better. Since I had trouble remembering dates in history, I used to spout off facts to my brother with, “Did you know…?” He would usually roll his eyes or ignore me because he didn’t want a history lesson, but I just continued talking at him and it was a lot of help for me to remember the facts easier.
January 29th, 2010
by Julia H. Jackson
I saw the film L’Auberge Espagnole shortly before I made the decision to spend six months studying in Granada, Spain. The 2002 movie, which translates to “The Spanish Apartment,” follows a French grad student during his adventurous and life-changing year studying in Barcelona. I was considering taking on a Spanish minor, and knew that if I really wanted to master my language skills, I needed to invest in cultural immersion. Somehow, the idea of spending another six months filling out language workbooks in California wasn’t nearly as exciting as the prospect of actually having to survive in another language 24 hours a day, seven days a week, far from home. After a consultation with my academic counselor, I discovered that if I found the right program and the right university, I could fulfill requirements for my major and minor abroad. I marched to my university’s study abroad office, and stayed for an hour, mesmerized by the array of brilliantly colored brochures advertising foreign study programs. Where did I want to go? How much would it cost? Did I want to live with a host family? Did I want to go for a summer, a semester, or (gulp) a year?
Today, we’ll share 5 Programs that Sponsor International Study, while keeping in mind the criteria when considering foreign study programs. Namely: school accreditation, transferring academic credit, housing options, school financing, term lengths, language requirements…If you are considering studying abroad, you might start by perusing the following online resources.
Average grade level participant: undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral, or professional
Average term length: varies, depending on the program, although usually between 6 months-one year
Average cost: varies, but the IIE has links to many government-sponsored programs, which can offer varying amounts of funding, depending on your field and level of experience
This organization is home to a variety of study- and work-abroad programs, and its study abroad portal is a comprehensive search engine for associated foreign study programs. The IIE is a great place to go to get information about prestigious fellowship programs, such as the Fulbright Scholarship, which offers funded trips for graduate students, teachers, and researchers. When in doubt, try stopping by one of their American offices, in San Francisco, Washington D.C., Houston, New York City, Denver, or Chicago.
Average age: 15-25 years old
Term length: short term (3-6 weeks) and long term (one year)
Average cost: participants pay for travel, clothing, and insurance
Famous for being the world’s “first service club organization,” Rotary International sends more than 8,000 students around the world each year as part of an international exchange. Students live with host families, attend local schools, and serve as cultural ambassadors. Rotary also hosts local community service clubs through Rotaract, as well as a teen exchange program called Interact.
Average age: high school, college, graduate, professional
Average term length: varies anywhere from one week to one year
Average cost: varies depending on the program
The CIEE website breaks down its offerings as “study,” “work,” “train,” “teach,” “hire,” “host,” and “connect.” This is a great way to browse international work and study programs, whether you are a high school student looking for an exchange abroad or a teacher wanting to participate in the International Faculty Development Seminars. A great resource not only for academics, but also for any recent college graduates considering a year teaching abroad. I enjoyed my semester in Spain so much that after completing my bachelor’s degree, I worked as a Language and Culture Assistant in southern Spain as part of their Teach Abroad program.
This website presents study abroad programs from around the world in a way that’s simple to navigate. If you have a specific idea country or field of interest in mind, the database will help you narrow down your options. It also summarizes the differences between major American study-abroad companies, such as the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), CEA Global Education, and Academic Programs International. Although there is less comprehensive financial aid information, IIEPassport does promote diverse offerings, and might help you if you are looking for a private company to work with.
Age, term length, and cost varies from program to program, although most of them listed are privately owned, so they are likely to be more expensive than government-sponsored exchanges.
1. Your University Study Abroad Office
The number of great study abroad programs out there can be overwhelming, and perhaps your main goal is to fulfill requirements for your degree. If that’s the case, a surefire way to insure that you get the right credit for the right classes is to go through your own university’s study abroad program. Most universities have partnerships with schools abroad, or may even have academic affiliations with departments in other countries. If that’s the case, go for it! If you plan to study in a non-English-speaking country, this may be the best bet, because it will often require you to take classes with other international students or non-Americans. Sound scary? It might be at first, but the immersion will do wonders for your speaking and comprehension skills!
If your school does not have a study abroad office, you can still get credit for going through other university programs. Make an appointment with your academic advisor to review the programs you are considering, and together you can map out a way to get credit for your classes abroad.
A few good examples of university programs include the University of California’s Education Abroad Program (EAP), Boston University International Programs and Arcadia University College of Global Studies.
If you could go anywhere, where would you go? What would you study? What would your Spanish apartment look like? We hope this is the first step in getting you to explore the world, if you haven’t already….
January 11th, 2010
By Amelia Anderson
There is no avoiding the anxiety that comes with the start of a new school year. Students cannot help worrying whether they will like their teachers or whether they can handle the new homework. It is the unknown that can be so frightening, and being unprepared only heightens that feeling. However, if you have an idea of what to expect from your classes and can get yourself ready for them, you will not feel so overwhelmed and nervous at the beginning of class. Here are some ways to prepare yourself for your new classes even before they begin.
Buy Your Books Ahead of Time
Most teachers make the book lists for their classes available to the students in advance. It is a good idea to buy all the books you can before classes start, so you can be prepared for class. So many students make the mistake of buying their books the day after classes start, but this often leads to problems. Long lines at the bookstores are a nuisance and books are easily sold out. Having a delay in getting your books can make you fall behind with your homework early in the semester, and turning in homework late is a bad way to start your classes.
Read Some of Your Homework Before Class Starts
Reading the introduction or skimming some of the homework in your new textbook is a good way to see what is coming in the next few months. Instead of wondering whether your homework is going to be difficult, take a look and see what your book has to offer, so you can mentally prepare yourself for upcoming homework. Don’t get so ambitious that you actually do the homework, but familiarize yourself a little bit with what you will be studying. Getting too far ahead probably isn’t a good idea since you may see some material that is confusing, which could just make you that much more nervous in the first place. The idea is to make yourself aware of what you can expect, so there are no real surprises when you start your classes.
Practice Skills You May Have Forgotten
Subjects that require practice like math and grammar rules may be difficult to remember when you come back from a long break. If you feel you are getting a little rusty with your algebraic formulas, or are having trouble remembering punctuation rules, it may help to do some light studying before the new classes begin. Skim through an old grammar book, or find some math sheets online that you can practice a little bit with. Getting some practice will not only jog your memory, but it will help you feel prepared for the upcoming school year.
Skim Through Last Year’s Grades
Take a quick look at the kind of work you turned in last year. What kinds of grades did you get? Were you happy with them? What did you do well? What did you do badly? Keep these past grades in mind as reminders of what good habits you should keep up with the New Year, and what bad habits you should be fixing this coming year. If you slacked off or turned in-work that was incomplete, these old assignments should be a wake up to make better practices for the upcoming school year.
Have Your Backpack Ready
It may seem minor, but having your backpack organized and set with your binder, books, pens, and pencils will make you feel prepared for the first day of school. Throwing all of your things in your bag at the last minute can make a student feel anxious and unprepared. If you are rushed into putting things together, you are likely to forget something important, or leave yourself with the fear of forgetting something. In short, if your backpack is prepared early, you will feel less anxious and more prepared for class.
November 4th, 2009
by Adam Krause
Let’s be serious: caffeine is awesome. What other legal, nonprescription, tasty drug allows you to thoroughly wake up in the morning, concentrate at work, and subvert your body’s urge to sleep seven to eight hours at night? I’ve tried caffeinated mints, caffeinated water and would love to try caffeinated bacon. A typical day for me begins with coffee, continues with cola and ends with Earl Grey tea. I’m even drinking caffeine AS I TYPE THIS!
However, for you students out there, it may actually not be too wise to become dependent on the miracle drug for fueling all your last-minute papers. In the interests of science, Eduify has compiled a list of caffeine’s effects on the body, listed according to number of eight-ounce cups of coffee.
Read the rest of this entry »
