Learning skills are the tools for doing the job of learning.  One reason why many students do not do well in college is because they have not upgraded their skills for learning college level academics.  The SSC has how-to handouts on college level learning.  It also offers college level learning skills workshops each quarter.  For more information, contact Dale Taylor (dtaylor@shawnee.edu) or Teresa Redoutey (tredoutey@shawnee.edu).

  How to Improve Concentration

Humans tend to do what they tell themselves to do.  Therefore, it’s easier to concentrate if you set a specific length of time to study and consciously tell yourself that “I will concentrate” for that length of time.

Have everything you will need before you begin to study: pencils, pens, paper, notes, textbooks, reference books, etc. 

Study with a pen or pencil in hand and condense what you read into organized notes.  Rewrite and better organize lecture notes.  If you study by rereading and suffer from poor concentration and poor recall, you are normal. If your study style is not to focus on one subject for long periods of time, then vary what you do.  Read and take notes for awhile, formulate questions and answers for a time, recite and review to break the monotony.  Another example is to do math problems for awhile, then read another subject, review that subject, and then go back to math. Study in the same place and use that place only for studying.  Remove potential sources of visual and auditory distractions or remove yourself to a less distracting study environment.

An effective step-by-step plan for studying and learning makes concentration easier.  For example, take main ideas and turn them into questions and place them on one side of a note card.  On the other side, use the details that clarify and explain each main idea as answers for your questions.  Frequently and regularly look at the questions and practice reciting answers aloud from memory.  Then, turn the note card over to check your answer.  If right, move on to the next note card.  If wrong, don’t move on until you read the answer aloud and quiz yourself again until you get it right.

Research shows that those with healthy diets earn higher grades.  Avoid quick uppers such as sugary snacks and drinks because quickly rising and falling blood sugar levels negatively affect concentration.  High fat foods cause sluggishness and drowsiness.  Snack on fresh fruits and vegetables.

Fighting sleepiness lowers concentration. It is easier to concentrate and feel motivation when you have  goals and can see yourself progressing toward those goals.

  It is normal for concentration time to vary individually from 5 minutes on up.  Take a short 5-minute break when concentration wanders.