Adjunct professor Noelani Porter gave students her best study tips and advice to encourage them as Fall Semester 2024 kicks into high gear.
Porter, adjunct professor of BYU’s Student Development Services Department, currently teaches the Effective Study and Learning class, which helps students develop study and life skills helpful throughout college and beyond. Below are five of her best tips to succeeding in college and in the many years ahead.
Get ahead early on
“I really hope my students take to heart, if you’re going to be effectively managing your time this semester, you have to know what’s coming,” Porter said.
Porter said students must build momentum early in the semester to be aware of upcoming assignments and exams.
She compared the need to gain an early advantage to a ball game. Teams want to build up points as quickly as possible to stay ahead the entire game. This way, they never fall behind, maintain an advantage and end up winning the game.
Similarly in academics, students must take note of every assignment and exam due throughout the semester to anticipate due dates and avoid falling behind.
Junior Shane Koslow, a teaching assistant in a CHEM 351 class at BYU, explained why he likes to front-load his semester.
“When you get to the intense part, when exam season starts, you’re already ready because you’ve already started taking the classes seriously," he said.
Sophomore Tanner Allred, a past student in the study skills class Porter teaches, said he benefitted from applying this strategy in his studies.
“I was never caught by surprise and knew well ahead not to procrastinate,” Allred said.
Using this strategy, students maintain an advantage, Porter said, understanding how much time they need to commit to their classes each week and accurately completing their work.
Practice spaced repetition
Porter highlighted that the brain needs breaks from studying to commit material to long-term memory. Practicing spaced repetition assists the brain in internalizing information to remember when taking an exam.
She recommended students space out their studies over a 24-hour period, instead of cramming it all in the hours right before the exam begins.
Students should set a 30 to 45-minute timer and rehearse the material without distractions, she said. When the timer is up, they should take a break for however long they feel is necessary. This breaks up the material into manageable sizes without being overwhelming.
Spaced repetition results in the best of both worlds, according to Porter. Students stop dreading study time and the brain remembers the information better, resulting in happier test takers and higher test scores.
“You’ll blow your teachers out of the water with your competence,” Porter said regarding the spaced repetition strategy.
Plan your study schedule and study space
Successful study sessions require high-quality study plans, Porter said. Before sitting down to study for an exam, students should map out a plan for how they will study — what chapters they will focus on and how long to study each chapter.
Students may even create flashcards to prepare for the memorization section of their study session. Koslow recommended students make sure their flashcards are not simply verbatim of material they already know and instead include meaningful examples, definitions and even images.
Choosing a favorite place to study boosts the effectiveness of a study session, Porter said. Students should study in learning-promoting environments such as the library, a bedroom desk or an empty classroom.
Brains have trouble focusing in places where they are not trained to learn and memorize material.
Take advantage of campus resources
BYU provides various resources for improving study habits on campus. The Research and Writing Center, the First Year Peer Mentor program and the Peer Academic Study Specialists program are some examples.
The Biofeedback Lab, located in WSC 1500, offers free evaluations to help students understand how their individual bodies handle stress. The lab teaches students methods to manage stress and improve their study habits. Students can call to make an appointment any time.
Rely on the Spirit
The main takeaway Porter aims for students to learn in her class is that learning is eternal, the main purpose of our lives here on earth.
“Eventually, when the syllabi are gone, you don’t have a teacher or professor, there’s no study guide,” she said. “You have to independently seek out knowledge and wisdom so you can use your agency in a way that will resolve the problem.”
It is vital for students to apply what they learn to build up God’s kingdom on earth, Porter said. She said the best way to do this is through the Spirit, who teaches each individual in ways that no professor, friend or tutor could.
“The more we can access the Spirit in our lives, it’s like win, win, win,” Porter said.
Students should remain worthy of the Spirit in all their doings to gain spiritual, as well as earthly knowledge, she said.
By applying these methods, students will improve their grades and lower their stress, resulting in a healthier and more successful student lifestyle, according to Porter.
Students interested in seeing more study tips from Porter can follow her Instagram account.