Educators’ Stress Is A Serious Matter That Needs Attention – Dr. Somali Ghosh
How to Make Learning More Fun!
Students, here is how to make learning more fun!
If you are or have ever been a student, you may remember the days when you dreaded going to school. You may remember the dry, long lectures when the clock couldn’t tick any faster. Perhaps you may remember, that after a long, boring day at school, you head home only to face a mountain of homework, which is arguably harder than just sitting through a teacher’s beautiful yet slightly too relaxing voice. Zzzz….what? Did someone say my name? But never fret, never fear. Your resident expert student is here! Yes, I am an expert at being a student, which means that I have spent most of my life, also known as approximately seventeen years of my short life, in school.
I know a thing or two about staying awake and engaged in classes and especially about making learning more fun for myself at home.
Here are my three top tips for making learning more fun:
Ask questions during class
Yes, you heard me right. Class will be easier to stay awake in if I try to wake myself up? Yup, that’s correct. I strongly believe that everyone has a little bit of curiosity in them, and this applies to most, if not every topic. By asking questions during class, you unintentionally make class about what is likely your favorite topic. Math? English? Chemistry? Nope, it’s you. By asking questions during class, you are unintentionally tuning the class into your own interests and making it more relevant to you (and likely someone else who has the same question or is wondering the same thing). Plus, talking helps me stay awake, so hopefully this will help you stay awake as well! I pay closer attention to what the teacher is saying, because, well, I asked the question. Isn’t talking about what you’re interested in, well, fun?
Use the Pomodoro technique to study and do work
Okay, now you made it through the day of classes better because you asked a couple of questions. Congratulations! Now, onto that mountain of homework and studying. Motivation low? Me too, sometimes, when I forget my handy techniques! This is why I use the Pomodoro technique or a variation of it to help me get work done. Timers are my best friend, and maybe they will become yours too.
So, the Pomodoro technique is essentially relying on timers to allocate work times and break times. The traditional method is based on the half hour. Time yourself for twenty-five minutes of work, then five minutes of break. Repeat this cycle, otherwise known as a pomodoro, three times, and after the next twenty-five minutes of work, take a longer twenty to thirty minute break (Pomodoro Technique, Accessed 2022).
Now this technique is great and all, but I sometimes find that I don’t have the focus for twenty-five minutes of work. Sometimes, it’s asking a lot, right? Here’s where you can adapt the method for your own needs! Feeling low? Try a five minute timer, and notice how much more motivated you are after starting. I usually settle for a solid twenty minutes and keep my breaks flexible but not too long. Now, what to do during your breaks? Read on to find out!
Rewards
During study breaks, use it to reward yourself and motivate yourself for future studying! Have a package you can’t wait to open? A friend you can’t wait to text or call? Utilize the same self-discipline that it takes to set a timer in the Pomodoro technique and do your work for a little bit first. If cleaning is fun, get up and do some vacuuming. If working out is fun (I like song workouts that are <4 minutes long), do a quick one. Maybe snag a snack every once in a while to keep your brain pumping, or put on some upbeat music for a mini dance party. Sometimes, you can take advantage of the rewards built in directly in school, like the badges that Kapdec offers.
