How to Get the Most Out of Studying: Part 1 of 5, "Beliefs That Make You Fail... Or Succeed"

Summary

Dr. Stephen Chew's video series introduces effective college study strategies, emphasizing the importance of accurate learning beliefs. He debunks common misconceptions like underestimating study time, memorizing isolated facts, and the belief in fixed abilities. Chew highlights the pitfalls of multitasking and the significance of metacognition in understanding one's learning. He stresses that success in academics is more about hard work and effective strategies than innate talent, aiming to equip students with the tools for academic achievement.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Attending college is a significant transition, and understanding the academic challenges is crucial for success.
• 🧠 Dr. Stephen Chew is a cognitive psychologist who studies how people learn and think, aiming to share effective study principles.
• 🚫 There are no quick fixes or magic products for becoming an 'A' student with little effort; effective learning requires work and strategy.
• 🕒 First-year college students often underestimate the time needed for assignments and studying, which can lead to ineffective learning.
• 📚 Comprehending material requires careful reading and review, not just skimming through chapters.
• 🔍 Many students focus on memorizing isolated facts, but true comprehension is tested in exams, which requires understanding concepts.
• 💡 The belief in natural aptitude or talent for a subject is a common misconception; academic success is more about hard work and effort.
• ⏰ Time and hard work are necessary for academic success, but they must be balanced with other life obligations.
• 🙅‍♂️ Multitasking is often overestimated by students; research shows that it reduces focus and learning effectiveness.
• 🚫 Distractions during study time can significantly impair learning and increase the risk of poor grades.
• 🤔 Metacognition, or the awareness of one's understanding, is a key difference between successful and struggling students.
• 📉 Weaker students tend to be overconfident in their understanding, leading to underpreparedness and poor performance on exams.

Q & A

Who is Dr. Stephen Chew and what is his field of expertise?

Dr. Stephen Chew is a professor of psychology at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He specializes in cognitive psychology, studying how people learn and think.

What is the purpose of the video series by Dr. Chew?

The purpose of the video series is to help students make the transition to college-level academic work and to provide information that can be helpful in almost any learning situation.

What does Dr. Chew emphasize about the use of quick fixes or magic products for learning?

Dr. Chew emphasizes that there are no quick fixes or magic products that can make someone an 'A' student overnight with little effort, as such things do not exist.

What common misconception does Dr. Chew discuss about the time needed for college assignments?

Dr. Chew discusses that most first-year college students grossly underestimate the time required to complete assignments or study material effectively.

Why does Dr. Chew argue that memorizing isolated facts is not an effective study strategy?

Dr. Chew argues that memorizing isolated facts is not effective because good teachers test for comprehension, and understanding the concept is not achieved through memorization alone.

What belief does Dr. Chew mention about natural ability in a subject and how does he refute it?

Dr. Chew mentions the belief that people are naturally good or bad at a subject and nothing can change that. He refutes it by stating that academic success is more about hard work than inborn talent.

Why does Dr. Chew warn against multitasking while studying?

Dr. Chew warns against multitasking while studying because research evidence shows that we are bad at multitasking, especially when one of the tasks requires concentration and effort like studying.

What is 'metacognition' and why is it important for effective learning according to Dr. Chew?

Metacognition refers to one's awareness of how well they truly understand a concept. It is important for effective learning because accurate metacognition is a key difference between successful and struggling students.

How does Dr. Chew illustrate the concept of overconfidence in understanding material among weaker students?

Dr. Chew illustrates this concept by discussing an exercise where he had students estimate their exam performance and then plotted their estimates against their actual scores, showing that weaker students were the most overconfident.

What does Dr. Chew suggest is the first step in improving study effectiveness?

Dr. Chew suggests that the first step in improving study effectiveness is to improve one's study skills, which will be the topic of the next video.

What is the main message Dr. Chew wants students to take away from the video?

The main message Dr. Chew wants students to take away is that using effective learning strategies can maximize the learning outcome from study time, and that understanding and overcoming common misconceptions about learning is crucial.