Preparation for online study Copy

For many participants on the course, this may be the first time since school days to restart studying. For them, and for all the participants, there is a reassurance that this course is not like school.

As an adult, you take responsibility for your own studies. The emphasis changes from your being a passive receiver of knowledge to your being an active seeker of understanding. This does not happen all at once. If you are returning to study after a long time, it will take some time to adjust and get used to how you work, how you want to work, and what you want to get out of studying this course.

Often study skills have not been learned in any systematic way, but they are skills that can be developed and will be useful for a lifetime. It goes without saying that everyone will study in their own way, and so these notes are presented as suggestions, that you may find useful. They may seem very simplistic, but often this may be the most effective way

Many people find it difficult to get down to work. You may promise yourself to sit down and study for an hour at seven o’clock in the evening. At seven o’clock you make a cup of coffee. At a quarter past seven, the phone rings. At half-past seven there is a programme on TV.

At eight o’clock you make a quick phone call.

All this is a common experience, so you are not alone. However, there are ways to make getting down to work easier.

Create a place to work. Whether this is in your bedroom, study/office, or even in your kitchen, make sure you have enough space and privacy. This is your time and the people closest to you need to be made aware of this. Make sure that you are comfortable, that there is enough light, warmth, etc.

Let others know when you will be studying. It may be difficult to arrange to be on your own when you are studying, but interruptions can make it impossible to concentrate.

List the tasks beforehand. It can be very easy to make excuses not to get down to work, and one can be “What should I do?’ If you plan in advance and write down what you will do in the time set aside, then you will be more focused and will feel you have achieved your goal for that day.

Try to be as specific as possible e.g. I will read the first 10 pages of Unit 1 and make a note of the parts I don’t understand, or on the key points, it contains. Try to break down the tasks into small parts. It can be very daunting to think of reading all Unit 1, and this could discourage you from ever getting started.

Work out your best time to study. You may have little choice when to study, or it may not matter to you anyway. But some people work better, or more easily, at some times of the day than at others. It is also important to recognize that your span of concentration is limited and that you cannot expect to study intensively for hours. It is better to study well for a short time, rather than attempt to keep going when all you are doing is staring at the words on the page. Take some time to work out what is best for you.

Let others know when you will be studying. It may be difficult to arrange to be on your own when you are studying, but interruptions can make it impossible to concentrate.

Studying does not take place in a vacuum, it is always in a context that may help or hinder you. Recognizing that context may help you manage the feelings you have toward your study.

The final factor in studying is your Learning Relationships. This refers to the support you may have a need, from family or friends. They could be important in helping you set aside time for study, talking over/discussing the reading material or assignments with you, and generally backing you up.

We at The Behavioural Training Institute hope you enjoy the experience of learning about the fascinating subject of Psychology.