Instructify

April 16, 2009

What can I say about getting students to study that doesn’t sound ultra-mega cheesy? Or hasn’t already been said a thousand times before? Its two classic struggles: on one side, the teacher who tries to motivate the student into hitting the books; on the other, the Instructify poster trying to put a new spin on it.

My heart really goes out to that second guy — he’s in a tough spot. If he ends up writing something cliché, he might have to take a hard look in the mirror and realize what a middling talent he has become. We don’t need to worry so much for the teacher trying to motivate the student, though. At least they can fall back on these study tips from UnderGradZone.com.

Although these study tips are designed for new college students, what’s to stop you from using these tips in your classroom? You’ll just need to make a couple quick switches in some of the terminology they use. We’re aware that giving students 80+ pages worth of study tips to read is kinda like putting out a fire with rocket fuel, so the best practice might be to divide this up and pass it out over time.

Saturday Night Live had a pretty good sketch recently. In it, the guy from the High School Musical movies returns to his alma mater to impart some of his new-found wisdom. His advice is timeless: school isn’t all singing and dancing and jazz hands. Eventually we all have to grow up and start studying seriously. But don’t ever let them take away your jazz hands. Not. Ever. -NICK YINGLING

ACT: Study Tips