Have you ever been taught how to learn and study effectively, or did you have to figure out what works for you on your own? Although you spent many years in school before arriving at the University of Iowa, most college students across the country, as many as 80 percent in some research studies, say that they have never been taught how to study. 

To help you become the most successful student you can be, the Learning at Iowa team has distilled decades of research from cognitive science and created practical recommendations for effective learning. 

Use the following strategies based on the Three Ms to kickstart your fall semester.

Three strategies for a productive semester

Harness your mindset

As you start the new academic year, take time to reflect on how you are contributing to your success. Are you encouraging yourself? Do you believe you can do it? What types of obstacles or problems tend to trigger your fixed mindset thinking? 

Although there is a lot about college that is beyond your control, challenge yourself to think about what you can control, like your mindset, your study habits, and how you spend your valuable time. A new academic year is a great opportunity for a fresh start, so take advantage of it. Your future self will be so grateful!  

Set behavioral goals

Instead of focusing on performance-based goals (e.g., get an A in every class), identify the concrete actions you can take that will get you there. Consider what habits you can adopt this semester to enhance your success. A few examples of behavioral goals you can work towards include: 

• Attend every class and participate regularly
• Visit office hours every week to seek clarifications
• Use academic resources like supplemental instruction regularly, not just before an exam
• Ask yourself “Could I explain this material to someone else?” as you review your notes

Manage your time well

Time management is challenging because college courses are far less structured than high school. 

Additionally, many of the features of college courses (e.g. deadlines that are far in the future or infrequent feedback on assignments) can lead to procrastination, increased stress, and burnout. Be proactive by planning and monitoring your time this fall:

• Create a calendar
  List all your time commitments (classes, work, student org meetings, etc.). Adding everything to your calendar helps you better understand where you spend your time so you can be strategic with your priorities. It doesn’t matter if you use a paper planner or an online app – just review it regularly!
• Note deadlines
  When you get your syllabi, enter deadlines for assignments and exams into your calendar. Make sure you set up reminders leading up to those deadlines so you can space out your learning and reduce stress.
• Develop a study routine
  Plan to work on your classes during a consistent time each day and in set blocks of time rather than by which assignment is due next. For example, plan to study from 7-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with short breaks after every hour or so.
• Minimize distractions 
  Place your phone in airplane mode and keep it out of sight. Check it only during your scheduled study breaks as a reward to yourself. Check out more strategies for staying focused. 

Don't forget The Three Ms

Learning at Iowa recommendations are based on the Three Ms: Mindset, Metacognition, and Memory.

• Mindset
  Successful learners know that they can learn with practice and effort.
• Metacognition
  “Thinking about thinking" involves an assessment of what you know and what you don’t yet know. Three critical components of metacognition are planning, monitoring, and evaluating.
• Memory
  The third M centers on the learning processes that produce the most effective learning, strategies such as spacing out your learning and testing yourself.

For more information on the Three Ms, check out these short videos.

For more ideas and recommendations, visit learning.uiowa.edu/students.