HBL: How To Study At Home Effectively

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, HBL (Home-Based Learning) was introduced in schools for students to attend online lessons at home rather than physically in school, in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus. It may be hard for some students to focus at home, where distractions are everywhere, such as their phones and computers.

In addition, for those who took up extra tuition classes outside of school, these physical lessons would have also been changed to online lessons. This article will discuss some tips for students to take notes in order for them to study effectively at home, considering that all students now will be having online classes occasionally for school, whether it is once every month or once every two weeks.

(HBL)Home Base Learning : How To Study At Home Effectively

 

1) Make a study timetable and stick to it:

This is crucial in order to manage your time properly and not fall too behind in your studies. Allocate a reasonable amount of time for each subject, and make sure to include some break times in between to avoid feeling overwhelmed. It is also important to start studying early so that you will not have to rush and cram everything at the last minute.

Make sure you have a plan for the next week or so planning what you are going to revise on that day. Scientific research has found out your brain will absorb things more effectively if you go back to it once the next day, then again a week after. This is so you can keep refreshing your brain and make sure you get it.

By going back to something you’ve learnt in the past, you have a different understanding and it helps you interlink the knowledge to, maybe, something else from another chapter. By leaving a topic untouched, no matter how easy it is, will make you forget it.

2) Find a comfortable and quiet spot:

It will be harder to focus if you are studying in a place where there are a lot of distractions around you. Find a place at home where you feel comfortable studying in, and make sure to minimise distractions as much as possible. Turn off your phone, close your door, and let your family know not to disturb you while you are studying.

3) Take breaks:

Although it is important to focus when you are studying, do not overdo it to the point where you feel stressed out. Take short breaks in between to clear your head, and stretch or walk around for a bit. You can also try listening to music or reading a book during your break time, as long as it is not something that will distract you too much.

Do give yourself an ample amount of breaks! Having a good amount of rest and relaxation is pivotal to your mental health, and it also makes sure you have a refreshed mind for more learning!

Burnout is a serious problem that many students face, crippling them and stunting their potential moments before the major exams. To avoid this, portion your time well between study-time and rest-time. During your rest-time sessions, do anything that makes you feel energized and happy! Play a sport, hang out with friends, read a book, maybe even take a nap!

Time used for self-care is not time wasted at all!

4) Get enough sleep:

This is important in order to function properly and be able to focus during your studies. Make sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep every day, and avoid staying up late at night studying. 

There are many benefits to getting enough sleep, one of which is that it allows your brain to function properly. When you are tired, your brain is not able to focus and learn as effectively. This is because when you are tired, your body releases a hormone called cortisol, which can impede cognitive function and memory recall. In addition, when you are tired, you are more likely to make mistakes, which can lead to lower grades. Therefore, it is crucial for students to get enough sleep in order to be able to focus and learn during their online lessons.

5) Have healthy snacks:

It is common for students to feel hungry while studying, but do not just reach for anything and everything in the pantry. Have some healthy snacks such as fruits or nuts handy so that you can munch on them while studying. Avoid sugary snacks as they will make you feel more tired instead.

6) Try different methods of study:

Some students may prefer to study alone, while others may prefer studying in groups. There is no one correct way to study, so find a method that works best for you and stick to it. Some students learn better by listening to audio recordings or watching videos, so try out different methods and see which one helps you understand and remember the concepts better.

Inevitably, there may be quite a lot of memory work needed for certain subjects, such as history or even biology. You need to devote a good amount of time doing so before your examinations. It would be wise to set aside specific times and sessions to memorise the subject content, long before your exam season. Memorising the content over a long period of time, as opposed to in short bursts days, or hours before your exams, is way more effective in the long run as your brain is able to better retain the information that you learnt.

What memorisation technique works for you largely depends on the type of learner you are. If you’re a visual learner, making colourful and succinct cue cards might be helpful. For auditory, you might find trying to speak your content aloud more beneficial. Either way, you want to find ample time and the right memorising technique to overcome this huge hurdle.

There are many techniques of memorisation, so you should experiment with a few to see which works better for you. Some popular techniques are:

– Creating mnemonics: This involves creating short, catchy phrases or words to help you remember a certain concept or process. For example, the mnemonic H2O = H–O–H can be used to remember that water is a polar molecule because it contains a hydrogen bond.

– Writing out notes: This is a rather old-fashioned way of learning, but it definitely works for some people! Handwritten notes have been proven to be more effective in helping people remember information, as opposed to typing them out on a computer. If you’re someone who prefers this method, get a good quality notebook and start taking down notes!

– Drawing mind maps: Mind maps are a great tool for visualising complex concepts and organising information in an easily comprehensible manner. You can use them to break down the different topics in the particular subject, and map out the relationships between different concepts. This will make revising for your examinations a lot easier as you’ll be able to see the bigger picture and remember everything in the right context.

– Repeat, repeat, repeat: This is probably the most common way that students learn. Reading through your notes multiple times will help embed the information in your brain, and before you know it, you’ll be able to recite them in your sleep!

7) Do not hesitate to ask for help:

If you are struggling with a certain concept, do not be afraid to ask your teacher or classmates for help. It is better to get clarification early on so that you will not fall behind in your studies. 

Making mistakes is a part of learning. It is how you get better at things. If you make a mistake while studying, it means that you need to learn from it so that you don’t make the same mistake again. Examinations are important, and you want to do your best so that you can get good grades. But if you make a mistake, it is not the end of the world. What is important is that you learn from your mistakes and do better next time. 

Asking for help does not mean that you are weak or dumb. It means that you are smart enough to know when you need help and are not afraid to ask for it. So, if you are struggling with your studies, do not hesitate to ask for help.

By following these tips, hopefully, students will be able to study effectively at home and still perform well in their major examinations.

For those who need an extra push, fret not, Sophia Education is here to help!

With our tuition classes at Sophia Education, students are able to receive ample time for consultations to work through their doubts and misconceptions. The small class sizes for our small group tuition also ensure that our tutors can devote more attention to each student and provide personalised guidance, a feat that might not be possible for regular school teachers who are focusing on up to 40 students at a time. 

Sophia Education‘s tuition provides our students with concise notes and resources every lesson so that they can have a better understanding of the topic and practice more effectively. Our top tutors will guide the students step-by-step and help them to overcome their weaknesses quickly. 

So, if you are looking for quality tuition, look no further than Sophia Education! Contact us now or visit our website to learn more about our personalised tuition services!

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