Notes on Effective Study Strategies by Dr. Stephen Chew

Introduction

• Speaker: Dr. Stephen Chew, Professor of Psychology at Samford University
• Purpose: Series of videos on effective study strategies for college students
• Focus: Help students transition into college and improve learning effectiveness

Importance of Accurate Beliefs

• College transition involves academic challenges
• Effective study strategies are crucial for success
• Misconceptions can undermine learning

Common Misconceptions

1. Underestimating Time Commitment

   • Students often underestimate time needed for assignments
   • Example: Students think they can read multiple chapters quickly but often skim without comprehension
   • Tip: Always plan for assignments to take longer and allow time for review

2. Memorizing Isolated Facts

   • Many use note cards to memorize definitions without understanding concepts
   • Good assessments test comprehension, not just memorization

3. Beliefs about Natural Ability

   • Students believe they are inherently bad at subjects (e.g., math)
   • Academic success is more about hard work than innate talent
   • Advice: Commit time and effort to improve

4. Multitasking Illusion

   • Students think they can multitask effectively while studying
   • Research shows multitasking significantly reduces learning effectiveness
   • Recommendation: Minimize distractions during study time

Metacognition

• Definition: Awareness of one’s understanding of a concept
• Critical for differentiating between successful and struggling students
• Weaker students often overestimate their understanding

Study Example

• Dr. Chew conducted a study where students estimated their exam performance
• Graph showed actual scores vs. estimated scores

Findings

• Most students scored below their estimates, indicating poor metacognition
• Successful students: estimates clustered around actual performance (diagonal line)
• Weaker students: often overconfident and unaware of their preparation level

Conclusion

• Transitioning from high school to college involves developing a more accurate sense of metacognition
• Poor metacognition may indicate ineffective study strategies
• Upcoming video will focus on improving study skills to enhance learning effectiveness