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Please click on the bullet of interest for more information and tips related to that particular topic. Click ”more” for topics related to Learning and Studying.

By Carol Mithers

(Article from UCLA Magazine, January 2007; http://magazine.ucla.edu/)

Hey, 2007 Parent — Wuz up w/yr kid rt now? NM? Just doing HW? And like, of course, talking 2 ppl. Maybe 5 or 6 on IM. Plus yea, texting 2 more.

Typical, right? Most kids today do their homework with only one eye on the book. The other’s on the computer screen, watching for Instant Messages or MySpace updates; meanwhile, fingers are tapping out return messages, and the steady beat of music coming through iPod earbuds is interrupted only by the regular pinging of cell phones announcing new text messages. A recent Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll found that 53 percent of kids 12–17 did at least one other thing while studying, while 21 percent performed three other tasks simultaneously.  

Parents, save this msg: UCLA Associate Professor of Psychology Russ Poldrack is here to tell you that this isn’t a good idea.

Poldrack, with fellow team members Karin Foerde M.A. ’02 and Barbara J. Knowlton, recently published the results of a multitasking experiment in which 14 men and women in their 20s were asked to learn a simple classification task under two sets of circumstances: once with no distractions, and then while simultaneously counting the number of high-pitched beeps they heard through headphones. In both cases, subjects learned the new skill just fine. But the study, using MRI scans, showed that when asked to multitask, the subjects used a totally different part of their brains — the striatum rather than the hippocampus.

There’s a big difference. The hippocampus, says Poldrack, oversees the development of “declarative memory” — the kind of remembering that allows you to learn a fact, then later retrieve it and apply it to a new situation. By contrast, the striatum governs behavioral tendencies and habits, and information processed in this region is less “flexible”; that is, less usable out of context.

“Imagine that you always drive to work the same way,” explains Poldrack. “The ‘autopilot’ that guides you is what we mean by habit. But if one day there’s a roadblock and Wilshire Boulevard is closed, your autopilot can’t give you an alternative way to travel. You need to have a flexible knowledge of what streets in Los Angeles go where to help you figure out what to do.”

Poldrack notes that listening to music or watching TV are not “the kinds of demanding distractions we presented.” But learning something new while doing stuff that requires an active response — say, updating MySpace bulletin boards — is exactly like trying to study while counting high-pitched beeps. That kind of learning might enable a kid to memorize the names and dates of major Civil War battles — but be flummoxed when asked almost the same thing a different way, such as “name the important events of 1863.”

In other words, if you or your kids want to learn something permanently and usefully, do something very old school: Shut up, sit still, and pay attention. 

General preparation/building confidence:
Review your personal situation and skills
Academic counselors can help you in these areas, or refer to our Guides on the topic:

• Developing good study habits and strategies (a link to our directory)
• Managing time (dealing with procrastination, distractions, laziness)
• Organizing material to be studied and learned
• Take a step by step approach to build a strategy and not get overwhelmed
• Outside pressures success/failure consequences (grades, graduation), peer pressure, competitiveness,  etc.
• Reviewing your past performance on tests to improve and learn from experience

Test preparation to reduce anxiety:

• Approach the exam with confidence:
  Use whatever strategies you can to personalize success:  visualization, logic, talking to your self, practice, team work, journaling, etc.
  View the exam as an opportunity to show how much you’ve studied and to receive a reward for the studying you’ve done
• Be prepared!
  Learn your material thoroughly and organize what materials you will need for the test.  Use a checklist
• Choose a comfortable location for taking the test
  with good lighting and minimal distractions
• Allow yourself plenty of time,
  especially to do things you need to do before the test and still get there a little early
• Avoid thinking you need to cram just before
• Strive for a relaxed state of concentration
  Avoid speaking with any fellow students who have not prepared, who express negativity, who will distract your preparation 
• A program of exercise is said to sharpen the mind
• Get a good night’s sleep the night before the exam
• Don’t go to the exam with an empty stomach
  Fresh fruits and vegetables are often recommended to reduce stress.
  Stressful foods can include processed foods, artificial sweeteners, carbonated soft drinks, chocolate, eggs, fried foods, junk foods, pork, red meat, sugar, white flour products, chips and similar snack foods, foods containing preservatives or heavy spices
• Take a small snack, or some other nourishment to help take your mind off of your anxiety.
  Avoid high sugar content (candy) which may aggravate your condition

During the test:

• Read the directions carefully
• Budget your test taking time
• Change positions to help you relax
• If you go blank, skip the question and go on
• If you’re taking an essay test and you go blank on the whole test, pick a question and start writing. It may trigger the answer in your mind
• Don’t panic when students start handing in their papers. There’s no reward for being the first done

If you find yourself tensing and getting anxious during the test

• Relax; you are in control. Take slow, deep breaths
• Don’t think about the fear
  Pause:  think about the next step and keep on task, step by step
• Use positive reinforcement for yourself:
  Acknowledge that you have done, and are doing, your best
• Expect some anxiety
  It’s a reminder that you want to do your best and can provide energy
  Just keep it manageable
• Realize that anxiety can be a “habit”
  and that it takes practice to use it as a tool to succeed

After the test, review how you did

• List what worked, and hold onto these strategies
  It does not matter how small the items are:  they are building blocks to success
• List what did not work for improvement
• Celebrate that you are on the road to overcoming this obstacle

Check out local centers and resources in your school for assistance!

If you are aware that you have a problem with test anxiety, 
be sure your teacher or instructor knows before any testing begins (and not the hour before!).
There may be other options to evaluate your knowledge or performance within the subject matter.

Developing good organizational skills is a key ingredient for success in school and in life. Although some people are by nature more organized than others, anyone can put routines and systems in place to help a child “get it together.” The Coordinated Campaign for Learning Disabilities has compiled a list of strategies that you can use to help your child get — and keep — her life under control.

1. Use checklists.
Help your child get into the habit of keeping a “to-do” list. Use checklists to post assignments, household chores, and reminders about what materials to bring to class. Your child should keep a small pad or notebook dedicated to listing homework assignments. Crossing completed items off the list will give him a sense of accomplishment.

2. Organize homework assignments.
Before beginning a homework session, encourage your child to number assignments in the order in which they should be done. She should start with one that’s not too long or difficult, but avoid saving the longest or hardest assignments for last.

3. Designate a study space.
Your child should study in the same place every night. This doesn’t have to be a bedroom, but it should be a quiet place with few distractions. All school supplies and materials should be nearby. If your young child wants to study with you nearby, too, you’ll be better able to monitor his progress and encourage good study habits.

4. Set a designated study time.
Your child should know that a certain time every day is reserved for studying and doing homework. The best time is usually not right after school — most children benefit from time to unwind first. Include your child in making this decision. Even if she doesn’t have homework, the reserved time should be used to review the day’s lessons, read for pleasure, or work on an upcoming project.

5. Keep organized notebooks.
Help your child keep track of papers by organizing them in a binder or notebook. This will help him review the material for each day’s classes and to organize the material later to prepare for tests and quizzes. Use dividers to separate class notes, or color-code notebooks. Separate “to do” and “done” folders help organize worksheets, notices, and items to be signed by parents, as well as provide a central place to store completed assignments.

6. Conduct a weekly cleanup.
Encourage your child to sort through book bags and notebooks on a weekly basis. Old tests and papers should be organized and kept in a separate file at home.

7. Create a household schedule.
Try to establish and stick to a regular dinnertime and a regular bedtime. This will help your child fall into a pattern at home. Children with a regular bedtime go to school well-rested. Try to limit television-watching and computer play to specific periods of time during the day.

8. Keep a master calendar.
Keep a large, wall-sized calendar for the household, listing the family’s commitments, schedules for extracurricular activities, days off from school, and major events at home and at school. Note dates when your child has big exams or due dates for projects. This will help family members keep track of each other’s activities and avoid scheduling conflicts.

9. Prepare for the day ahead.
Before your child goes to bed, he should pack schoolwork and books in a book bag. The next day’s clothes should be laid out with shoes, socks, and accessories. This will cut down on morning confusion and allow your child to prepare quickly for the day ahead.

10. Provide needed support while your child is learning to become more organized.
Help your child develop organizational skills by photocopying checklists and schedules and taping them to the refrigerator. Gently remind her about filling in calendar dates and keeping papers and materials organized. Most important, set a good example.