Studying for this exam is boring me to tears!

[Complexity]

I'm trying so hard to remain focused on my studies for an exam this Tuesday, but I'm having such a hard time. The material just isn't all that interesting and the book is even less so. My mind won't stop wondering! Ugh!

MUST... STUDY.

MUST... FOCUS.

MUST... STAY AWAKE!

Just thought I'd share my misery.

[myjohnson]

What-cha studin?

[Complexity]

Currently, Child Development. Cognitive development theories. Just incredibly exciting, right?

I need to motivate myself. Three more chapters to go over. Every 5 pages, I'll post my progress. Not that anyone cares, but just because it will give me a small reward as I go.

On page 224 now. I get to take a quick break when I hit page 230. Chapter ends on page 273. So...

1) 224 - 230: DONE!
2) 230 - 235: DONE!
3) 235 - 240: DONE!
4) 240 - 245: DONE!
5) 245 - 250: DONE!
6) 250 - 255: DONE!
7) 255 - 260: DONE!
8) 260 - 265: DONE!
9) 265 - 270: DONE!
0) 270 - 273: DONE!

Let's see how long it takes for me to get through 6 pages (taking notes as I go).

[Darbex]

I know how that feels I am studying for my CPA and boy do I have ADD.

[Complexity]

No ADD here, but just boring material. And I'm not feeling good.

I made it through to page 231. Only took 1 hour and 10 minutes. At this rate, I should finish the chapter sometime next month. :(

CPA and ADD do not mix! I feel for you!

[mark razmandi]

UGH I HAVE TO READ TOO!!! im not going to though...im busy lol with fish stuff!!!! college sucks! but i love it lol

[Complexity]

20 minutes later... I've read pg 231 at least 5 times now. I get to the end of the sentence and realize that I didn't listen to the words in my head as I read them. Back to the top, start over, and it happens again. Ugh! Ugh!

I'm also getting sick. I threw up and my stomach feels like it's being filled up like a balloon, ready to pop.

This is sooooo not fun.

[cichlid1409]

20 minutes later... I've read pg 231 at least 5 times now. I get to the end of the sentence and realize that I didn't listen to the words in my head as I read them. Back to the top, start over, and it happens again. Ugh! Ugh!

i do this too, really aggravates me too, i hate re-reading and it really slows me down.

[myjohnson]

So is this book like a normal text book?

Like with chapter headings, paragraph headings, bold words, etc?

[Complexity]

Yup, normal text book. It's annoying in that it has a bunch of side comments (pictures with explanations) and tables interspersed throughout. So I'm constantly having to go back and forth to get it all in.

Okay, made it to pg 235. 2 sections done, 8 to go. My stomach isn't doing well, but it's stabling out a little.

[myjohnson]

Tip on how to read normal text book and process a lot of the "needed" information, from my experience anyhow:

1) Read the Index
2) Read the chapter headings
3) Read the Paragraph headings
4) Read and memorize all bold words where found/and or needed
5) read the little notes under pictures and graphs
6) Sit back and think about all of it. Try to thing of the subject in it's general context.
7) Go back to the beginning and read the what you read early, but this time read the first and last sentence of each paragraph.
8) If you don't understand what you are reading, then read the whole paragraph.

By doing this I found that I could read around 100 pages in 60 mins and memorize the important things.

The one thing I hate about text book reading was all the bull**** examples. But it beats reading case law any day of the week.

p.s. These are just general things I found that worked for me. I didn't really study anything hard so it may or may not work for you.

Good luck and hang in there. School sucks but the girls look good.

[Complexity]

Page 240. Took an HOUR. So it's taking me an HOUR to go through 5 pages?! No wonder I'm hating this!

Thanks, myjohnson, for the tips. I may try them out at some point. I'm having to read this text more thoroughly because the professor has clearly stated that about 1/3 of the exam questions are from parts of the text that were not part of the lectures. Plus, she gives "chapter questions" that I have to answer. So I'm having to do more than just reading. I have to read, take notes, check the book questions, get the answers, type out the answers (in an easy to recall form with appropriate highlighting). And I'm integrating all of this into the lecture notes, as well. It's a royal pain.

The exam isn't until Tuesday so I still have tomorrow to study. Plus, I have a high average in the class so far. There are 4 exams total. I've taken 1. This will be exam #2. To make an A in the class, I can lose as many as 19.5 points (each exam is 50 points). This includes the extra credit which I've already done. So far, I lost just 1 point on exam 1. That puts me at a 105 average at the moment with a 18.5 point safety net. So I should do fine as long as I push through these chapters.

But I do need to learn how to do all of this work faster than I'm doing. I'm making great grades (all A's so far), but it's a lot of work. After this exam, I have 3 papers and 4 more exams to do in the following 2 weeks. I'm going to be busy.

[Complexity]

Still an hour on that one. Lots of videos with that one or I would have finished faster.

I'm calling it a night. Need to get some sleep. I just hope Piaget's theories don't give me nightmares!

[Darbex]

Its probably more that I cannot read boring crap for so long but I call it ADD. After about 1/2 to 1 hour I stop and go do something else like get on the box so much better.

[myjohnson]

I fine it more bearable to read boring stuff if I speed read over it.