Learning Tips and Study Habits

While some people prefer to have background noise (such as music) going while they study, others prefer complete silence. And it also depends on the type of studying you're doing. For instance, someone studying simple math problems might be less distracted by music than someone studying advanced economics.

The key question to ask yourself is "Am I spending more time listening to the music than I am spending on my studies?" If the answer is yes, then you need to cut the music down or turn it off altogether.

The latest scientific information shows that some background noise usually does help most people "tune out" noises like traffic, construction, or people talking, and help them concentrate on what they are doing. However, this music should be slow to medium paced (not fast rock or heavy metal) and have no vocals or loud drum beats!

Music can affect you in a variety of ways. Depending on the type of music you listen to you can change your brain waves to make you achieve a higher state of awareness/concentration. Instrumentals are usually the best for studying/homework as (as long as decently light) they take you into the alpha brainwave state. You get your most heightened sense of awareness and concentration in this type of brainwave. Stay away from rough beats and lyrics as they can be distracting to your work.

Some people (I am one of them) cannot concentrate when it is too quiet around them. These people do benefit from having music playing quietly in the background while they work. Notice the emphasis on quiet - playing your favorite music loudly will just distract you from your work, and will have a negative effect on your studies. Sometimes it helps to play classical music or jazz - music without words - because many people key in when they hear words, and subconsciously focus to figure out what is being said.

Science is a good subject to apply other subjects: you use reading and mathematics, history and geography. Here are some tips for you:

• Bone up on your math skills so you can do things like calculate weight and mass, work chemical formulae, and figure out how big a brontosaurus was
• Read - the more you read, the smarter you get, and science has a lot of things to read! You can learn all about living things, rocks and minerals, dinosaurs, and even things too small to be seen with your naked eye.
• Study history - science has progressed throughout history, and it helps to have a good understanding of what time period things were discovered

*DO NOT ERASE other answers!! ADD yours to the end of the list*

You may vote to ban homework -- but then you would have to stay at school until you showed each teacher that you could do the work! You'd be at school from 6am until 10pm.

Here's what some of our WikiReaders have to say:

• Banning homework is not significant - it is just a forlorn hope of students who don't want to do it.
• Yes. The school day requires the average teacher to teach 8 different subjects in a k-6 classroom. The average time he/she has to teach each subject is 40-45 minutes. This does not include the interruptions from various things that happen in a classroom. In my classroom homework is what the child doesn't finish in the room when I give them work time after teaching an assignment. Some teachers add to class work by giving an extra assignment for home. When a teacher teaches an average class of 30 students homework is one way to determine if the child understands what is being taught that day and other times it is a carry over assignment due at the end of the week to gage if the student understood the concepts taught.
• It causes stress for students (I'm not saying all). It also causes unnecessary stress for teachers as well as students. Students have to worry about getting the assignment done and if they don't get it done they will be punished obviously. Teachers get stress from just punishing the student. So basically homework=stress source=bad idea
• I personally believe that they should not have to do homework. Because, it appears to cause more harm than good for the student than just learning in class with the help of a teacher readily accessible to the student. This is just my opinion as a sophomore in high school so think what you want but I have spent many late nights throughout my schooling working on pointless projects where I could learn the information quicker and comprehend it better from reading the text book or listening to the teacher explain the ideas and helping with the work in class instead of doing homework.
• Reasons not to have homework:1.) It kills trees. 2.) It puts too much stress on kids. 3.) Home should be a place where you relax from school. 4.) Some kids may not have the proper materials. 5.) Lastly, some kids may not have the support and or help they need at home. 6) Homework has risen 50 percent since homework began. 7) Because of more homework about 22 percent of kids fall asleep in school because of lack of sleep and 29 percent fall asleep doing homework. 8) Sudbury Valley schools have been doing just fine without homework for 35 years now. 9) There is not one single study that shows that homework helps kids learn.
• Teachers give homework to teach their students how to study and research for themselves. It can also be used to allow the students to do something that they can't do in the classroom because of lack of resources or time etc. It can also be used to make a link between the pupils home and school life. It is also a useful way of showing a child's parents what the child is learning at school.
• Well I think that we learn in SCHOOL! So why not keep school in school!
• homework is a good idea because if we did'nt have homework then whats the point of going to school any some work can be to make your own song or something like that which would be cool
• Homework can be a good thing and a bad thing at the same time.
• Homework actually tests your level of understanding on the chapter. It also helps you revise for your exams and asks you questions that don't appear in your textbook. For example, if you can't answer most of the questions, it means that your level of understanding for that chapter is low and you need to consult a teacher about it. However, too much homework is not a good thing. Thus, if you're not able to cope, do talk to a teacher about it! I tried it in high school and apparently, it's working.
• Yes because It can disrupt family time and you sometimes dont get all the sleep you need if you work on it all night,it can also be stressful.it takes up time that could be spent with friends
• Kids should have homework. Homework stengthens brain cells and helps the mind develop. Some may say that home work causes stress but stress happens all your life. They are suppoesd help you manage that stress by giving you a little bit more homework each year.
• No - key reasons to have homework

1. to build up the knowledge of the student to a level required for examinations

2. The time table required to tutor knowledge is very tight and ensuring the studant is on target to move on to the next subject does require some additional work

3. when leaving school and entering futher education, university apprentiships addtional study time will be expected of the student - undertaking this at a school levels develops (but clearly not always) a discipline to follow up on studies

4. many education bodies are "advised" by the government of the day that home work is expected to raise the educational standards of the are group

• Homework is a complete waste of time. schoolwork should be done in school. (hence the name) Not only that, but kids need to get exercise and be active to stay healthy and use up there energy before and after class so they won't want to talk and move around in class.They will also get more sleep because they won't be up all night doing it and be more focused instead of fighting to stay awake.
• Children should have homework because we will be able to have a good education and you wouldn't be able to get a job.
• This is a very touchy subject to most. Some people will agree that home work is good to have to further their education, others think that school work should be done in school and stay there not taken home after being in classes for 5 hours plus.
• Homework i believe furthers the child's education and doesn't make the child lazy and forget full of what they learned.
• No, I don't think homework should be in school, but experts say that it shows the progress in an average student's brain.
• Yes we should have homework because it exsercises the mind. Homework prepares you for the challenges that you will get in life later. Homework can help you understand the subject more. It prepares you for everything in life.
• No they shouldn't it's harder on the kids minds
• Homework is a waste of trees. Trees are living too. How would you like it if your leg was chopped off and turned into wasteful homework?

The only reason I can think of for teachers not giving homework is that not having homework would make their jobs a whole lot easier. That really would not be fair to students, though, since homework helps them learn the lessons, provides an opportunity for them to develop good study habits, and provides them an opportunity to be responsible.

Teachers have to give homework. The idea and reality of homework is to increase learning in a different environment. It also gives parents an avenue to see the progress that the child is making. Homework is a tool that allows the child to take what he has learned and apply it in a different setting

Homework can be a good thing and a bad thing at the same time.

Homework actually tests your level of understanding on the chapter. It also helps you revise for your exams and asks you questions that don't appear in your textbook. For example, if you can't answer most of the questions, it means that your level of understanding for that chapter is low and you need to consult a teacher about it.

However, too much homework is not a good thing. Thus, if you're not able to cope, do talk to a teacher about it! I tried it in high school and apparently, it's working. All the best! :)

Yes, because summer is about hot weather, swimming pools, going to the beach, and going out with friends. For most of those who hate doing homework even in the summer, have to do it any way. Eventhough some teachers say that summer homework helps students maintain their skills. However what if you get the whole summer off from doing work. This is why summer homework should be banned.

Of course. Teachers are giving homeworks not to bother you. It is helpful because having homeworks is a test if you understand a lesson and if you can answer questions without the teacher's help. (Unless if you're going to make your family answer it.)

I went to the "Smart Note Taker" website - it is poorly-written, with a lot of typographical errors, and thus is not a professional site. Also, the contact address is a gmail address, which is not a reputable business email. I'd say this is a case of something that sounds too good to be true - don't waste money on it.

It seems to be some sort of recording device where you write your notes with a pen onto your laptop instead of typing - I can't see how that would be worth the money.

My advice is to learn how to take notes yourself - see the Related Questions - and then you will be the Smart Note Taker!

There is now a product SIMILAR to this "Smart Note Taker" listed on the market with a delivery time of "soon" - it is made by Kawell Industry in Hongkong - there are no prices listed, and the MINIMUM order they will accept is for 50 devices! Here's their information: