All You Can Eat

Have you ever been to an "All You Can Eat" buffet, stacked your plate so high with food that your hands hurt from carrying your plate because it was so heavy, and then sat down to eat and you could only stomach the first layer? Chances are you are one of those people that have "eyes bigger than your stomach." Usually these people are so hungry that they overestimate how much food it will actually take to suppresstheir hunger. So, rather than grabbing amoderate amount of food and then going back up for seconds if they are still hungry, it ends up being like a competition to see who can fit the most amount of food on one plate.

In a weird way, my studying habits are like an "All You Can Eat" buffet. Instead of dividing my studying up to a little bit each day, I tend to wait until the day before a test to start studying, where it all piles up to one huge mess. Each time I trick myself into believing that I am capable of preparing a study guide, making flashcards, and memorizing the material all in one night. I don't know who I think I am, SuperGirl? Because someone must need superpowers in order to get all of that done, and then do well on the test the next day.

Thankfully Dr. Blumin introduced me to the "20-Minute Test Prep," a strategy for test preparation and a method of time management. I first applied this technique to my NSD225 class, Nutrition in Health. As I copied down not es from the lecture, Professor Short would make it a point to inform us when she was about to give us a question that would be on our next exam. In my notes I put little stars next to these questions so I knew to study them for the test. After class I stopped by the Kimmel Computer Lab because I had to print something for a class later in the day. As I waited for the computer to load (PCs take so long!!!) I realized that I could use that time to do a "20-Minute Test Prep".

I took a few minutes to read over my notes from that day and do a quick review. I also made a few flashcards because that's the way I like to memorize information, so by making a few flashcards now I will be saving myself time later on. Knowing that I already had 3 test questions from class, I divided a sheet of paper into two columns, and on one side wrote "Her Test Questions" and on the other side I wrote "My Test Questions," where I would come up with my own set of potential test questions. By doing a quick review and making a list of potential test questions after each class, the amount of preparation I will need to do before the test will be minimal. This way, instead of needing to relearn all of the old material since I had not looked at it in weeks, I will only need to briefly review my notes and my study guide will already be made from the composite of anticipated test questions. Bye Bye Cramming!

With the success I had from using the "20-Minute Technique" in my NSD225 class, I figured why not apply it to my WGS101 class, Introduction to Women's Studies. NSD225, being a facts-based class, it was easy to come up with potential test questions since the assessments are multiple-choice exams. However, even though WGS101 is also a facts-based class, we are assessed through readings and papers, so creating questions off of notes wouldn't be too helpful for me. Instead, after one of my lectures I sat down and reviewed my notes, and then on a piece of paper I wrote down my thoughts and ideas that I could possibly use in one of my upcoming papers. By doing so I am able to review my notes so I will remember the material for the next class, as well as basically start writing my paper since I will have a lot of my thoughts already down on paper. While I did not follow the "20-Minute Technique" 100% for this class, I adapted it to better suit my needs for the class and way of learning.

In the end, it's not about sticking

to the rules, it's about doing what's right for you in order to better manage your time and tasks. By evaluating yourself and your classes, you will be able to then take action and try out different learning techniques that in the end will help you succeed.

I Can Manage my Time?! News to me..

I used to have too much time. So to solve this problem, and to make some extra pocket money for school, I contacted the Department of Recreation over the summer to ensure I would be hired for the very competitive, "fitness center attendant" job. Don't get me wrong I love working at the gym, but there is no doubt that my gym job exhausts me...given it requires absolutely no physical activity or mental stimulation. This is not a joke. But still after each shift, I am emotionally and mentally drained. When I'm working at Archbold Gym and the radio is non-stop playing jams like Rihanna's, "Cheers to the Freakin Weekend," how exactly am I supposed to sit down and whip out a four page, double spaced paper on the interlocking of systems between racism and gender discrimination in a patriarchal society which has embedded itself deep within our country for my Women and Gender Studies class?! I will point blank say that none of my work gets done when I am working at the gym over at Marshall Square Mall either. When the T.V directly to my left is playing "Toddlers and Tiara's," with subtitles perfect for me to read along with, it will always win over my homework..no matter how degrading and horrible that show is. My excuse at the end of the day is always that I am too tired to do work, and more and more often I say, "I will do that assignment tomorrow." Yeah I say that for a few days...and when you scroll down and see all the free time in my schedule...I actually sound like a complainer.

This Fritter Finder is one of the most amazing strategies I have ever used. And all I had to do was color a few boxes in with a highlighter...It forces me to visually see all of the time that I actually have to do my homework every week. Which by the way ended up being 28 hours of free time, and I had to color in my "Friday," to understand that I actually have all day on Friday. SO, now I use my "yellow" space, and plan out my days in the morning figuring out when I will be going to the library and which books I am going to leave my room with. This week I was successfully able to use it to study for ECN203. Right after ECN, I like to go through the textbook again to fill in my notes and re-write them to help the information stick in head. However, its difficult for me to do this right after class, as I like to prepare for my next three classes of the day in this small break, where I also have toeat lunch. Using the Fritter Finder allowed me to fill in times where I can study for ECN, on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons. This helped me become a better learner, as I was able to plan out different times (taking action) to learn the material and therefore become a more efficient student.

Another technique that has been very beneficial for me is setting my notes up to look like Jeopardy. To be completely honest, the first time I learned that this was a strategy we had to

apply to one of our classes, I didn't think it would work. It seemed a bit juvenile, only because it's a game we used to play in middle school to practice for our social studies tests. However, after setting up my notes like this for my MAT121 class, I realized that it actually helped me the most out of all the strategies I had practiced to date. I am able to write notes on the right page during class, and simultaneously write numbered test questions on the page to its left. When it comes to future test, I will already have set up several mini practice questions for myself. This strategy helps me to demonstrate the material in a way that will allow me to become a more successful learner, by simply creating a page set up that looks like a practice test.

Using a Jeopardy setup in my notes challenges me to recall information, and therefore, I will be able to apply it to other math problems once I have the formulas and terminology memorized. I can already notice how much it helps me learn material just after a few days of using it. As I have a test coming up next Wednesday, I will continue to use this strategy, as the statistical terms we are beginning to learn are more and more challenging with each passing class.

But hey, at least I have 28 hours to study for it...who would’ve known??

At the end of every day, I have to understand that everyone has work to do, and eventually all of my friends will have jobs and have to balance everything as well. But the thing I will now remember, is that I actually do have time, and there are many ways for me to spend it using strategies that will help me succeed in all of my classes.