“Effective Strategies for Successful Studying: A Discussion on Preparation and Retention” “Creating a Productive Study Environment: Tips for Retaining Information”

Then, in at least 100 words (addressing fellow students by first name), respond to two classmates’ posts
Response to benjamin discussion post : 
Adult life is already a complicated formula that we must navigate and learn from, and when you add in returning to advanced education as an adult the mix becomes quite thick. To combat this additive one can employ a state of preparedness through the courses you take. Just by being prepared for each week, wanting to soak in the information, and staying focused on desiring to learn helps you hold in what is being taught (Davis, 2011). To find this state of readiness one can, “Set the Stage,” by, “choosing : study area in your home, sit in a comfortable chair, use good lighting, and create a study “toolbox” (Davis, p. 77, 2011).” Time is one of the most needed things when you begin the process of studying. Ensure you have enough time to sit down and retain the data instead of trying to quickly scan over it or during constant distractions. Using the same spot and time for studying trains the brain for absorption of information (Davis, 2011). Also, it has been researched that repeated recall testing over rereading materials gives much more potent learning and long-term memory (Kapricke et al., 2009). Keeping aware of these methods will allow one to be successful in whatever course they are embarking on in college.
Studying for me is best when I can sit in what we call in my family the “gaming” room where most of our PCs and laptops are in. I can enclose myself in a quiet space as there is a sliding door to seal off sounds and it is a little away from most of the other rooms that have high traffic. I tend to do my best in the early morning hours after I work out and am cooling down from it. I will get up from time to time and stretch, pace around for a few, and eat my breakfast. Doing these displays many of Davis’s strategies of keeping the same place and time, taking mental rests, and maintaining nutrition, which are critical for accurately retaining what I am studying (Davis, 2011).
When it comes to certain systems I use to study, one of them is I like to actively read by highlighting and writing side notes on a separate sheet of paper. Doing this allows me to review as I go and test myself over the material by using short-term memory recall (Davis, 2011). Another system I also favor is two mnemonics of memory retention which are, “Creating acronyms,” and,” Using associations (Davis, p. 84, 2011).” By performing these, my mind can quickly visually see the information by the starting letter of each word or referencing them to something I associate with in my life. I also like to have my spouse test me when it is a significantly important exam, such as a promotion, giving me one more tactic to keep information inside the long-term bank. Sometimes I will reread something to press it further within my mind. In a survey, it was found that many students use at least three methods of studying and, “Repeated reading was by far the most frequently listed strategy with 84% of students (Kapricke et al.,
2009).” These approaches have been very advantageous for me all my life, be it in academics or professional testing and have helped me preserve things that I am learning.
Keeping prepared is a practice I have possessed for quite some time. I prefer to have a plan for things, goals laid out, and chasing the feeling of the outcome when they are accomplished. Research shows that a way to ensure these achievements are completed is to test myself over and over on the material, allowing the retention of information to be recalled rather than forgotten (Karpicke et al., 2009). Staying on the path of what has been effective for me and utilizing a new method for studying to keep things fresh, will bring myself one step closer to graduation. As it has been stated, hard work pays off and nothing of value comes without effort (Davis, 2011).
Response to kandice discussion post : 
Studying can be a difficult task with so many distractions around. Having a positive setting for studying can increase your ability to retain information that was learned. When studying you need to be well rested because you don’t want to fall asleep while trying to study. ” Studying on a bed might cause you to become too relaxed to retain information or possibly fall asleep” (Davis, 2011 p977). Another thing is to be in a very calm environment where the distractions are hardly there. No television, limited cellphone use, and no family interruptions. Studying can be hard trying to focus on notes when you feel like you already know the information.
Learning new information can be fresh on the mind for that day but without studying the facts start to clash. I personally like to study a day or two before testing.
Studying the day before an exam always makes me forget what I learned that week. Set a timer so you don’t over study have it set for twenty-five minutes and work towards your goal (University of Wisconsin- La Crosse, 2024). When you set the timer it could be looked at as motivation to get to the end but you don’t want to rush it so you won’t learn anything. Don’t focus on the timer and focus on the work the time will fly by. Spending the entire day studying can cause you to increase your stress levels and sometimes make you forget what you were trying to retain at first. You have to give yourself a decent break.