Many students returning to school worry about their study skills. They might be concerned that their skills have grown rusty over the years, or that they’ll have trouble finding the time to study. Fortunately, there are many different productivity hacks that you can use to make the most of your study sessions and remember the information you cover.
If you’re looking to train to become a dental assistant, here are just some of the most effective techniques you can use.
1. Opt for Short and Frequent Study Sessions
It might be tempting to get all your studying done in one giant cram session. However, if you have a busy schedule and want to use your time most effectively, it’s best to avoid this approach.
Part of the reason for this is that a short study session can often feel less intimidating. For procrastinators, this can be especially useful, as it makes it easier to commit to a study session. If you feel nervous about going back to school, this could be an excellent approach as you start your program.
Another reason why this technique is so effective is that it’s easier on your attention span. It can be hard to concentrate for several hours without having your mind wander onto something else. A short study session helps you make the most of the time you do spend studying when completing dental assistant training.
2. Quiz Yourself Often During Dental Assistant Training
When studying a topic, it’s not uncommon to remember everything during a study session, but then forget some of that material a few hours later. Quizzing yourself can help you notice what you remembered and what you forgot, helping you focus your efforts and retain as much information as possible. Try quizzing yourself on oral anatomy or charting symbols and see how you did. This helps to cement the information in your memory, and can help prevent you from “blanking” during an exam.
3. Make Use of Visuals, Rhymes, and Other Tricks
Some people are visual learners, while others might respond better to sounds or other stimuli. That’s why using several different approaches when studying can be a great use of your time. For example, during a study session, you could repeat different terms out loud, and then spend some time highlighting notes or looking through flashcards. By using different techniques, you’ll be able to connect with different kinds of learning.
Auditory learners, for example, learn best through sound, music, and rhymes. Visual learners, on the other hand, benefit most from pictures, diagrams, and flashcards. By incorporating different styles, you can discover which approaches work best for you and make the most of your study sessions.
4. Explain Concepts in Your Own Words
Memorization is important, but so too is truly understanding the concepts you learn in class. Quizzing yourself using flashcards can help you remember specific vocabulary, but when it comes to more in-depth lessons, a different approach often works best. For example, it can be a really good idea to try explaining concepts in your own words to someone else.
You could take a lesson from your dental assistant course, such as the importance of oral health management, and explain the concepts you learned to a friend or family member. This will help you better remember the lesson, and makes it easier for you to explain or summarize material during a test.
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