As homeschool parents we understand the need to teach key subjects to our children such as math, language arts, science, history, etc. Over the years we may even figure out how to teach this information in different ways based on the learning styles, personality preferences, and interests of our students.
During the teen years students gradually become more independent learners. Because they will begin to take responsibility for their own learning they need to understand HOW they can best learn information.
What are study skills?
“Study skills are strategies for learning well. They include techniques you can use to motivate yourself and master content.” – Thinker Academy
The really important thing I wanted my kids to understand is that study skills are skills that need to be learned and practiced.
Some kids might naturally find ways to easily gather and retain information, but most won’t! It is important to understand how to study most effectively and then practice the behaviors and skills that help you learn best.
Thinker Academy’s Study Skills Course
The Thinker Academy’s online Study Skills Course is designed specifically for teens.
The cognitive scientists who developed this program have not only conducted first hand scientific research on learning, but they are also experienced teachers. They understand how students learn best and how to help students develop strong study skills.
This online course begins by teaching how memory works and how to apply that information to studying smarter.
Here is a short video from the course that introduces sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.
The remainder of the course teaches specific and usable study skills including:
- Textbook reading strategies – assess, read & explain, self-test
- Strategies for lectures – prepare, attend & notetake, edit & self-test
- Time management techniques – time, activities & scheduling, control
- Testing strategies– test analysis, get ready, take it
Study Skills Course Format
A great deal of thought and scientific research has been applied to the delivery format of this course.
This course includes:
E-Learning format – The course is completed entirely online with no printed materials needed. My kids were able to access the program from their own computers and we didn’t have to print a thing!
Multimedia presentations – Each course topic includes a variety of videos, interactive demonstrations, quizzes, and more.
Self-paced content – Students proceed through the course at their own pace, unlocking new content as they master topics. They do have the ability to go back and access/review information from previous sections if needed. This short but effective course can typically be completed in approximately 6-15 hours so it is a nice supplement to learning at any time of year. (*Note – my children completed this course during the last 2 weeks of their summer break as a way to prepare for the new school year which worked really well for us.)
A variety of strategies are introduced – Throughout the course many different study strategies are introduced. Students are reminded of the importance of creating their own “tool box” of study skills they find most helpful. I really like that the program doesn’t take a “one size fits all” approach and teens are encouraged to try new skills and strategies until they find the ones that work best for them.
For more information about the Study Skills Course, you can visit the Thinker Academy’s website.
The Thinker Academy site also includes a FREE “Learning Coach” Course for parents and a free trial of the Study Skills Course for students.
As a veteran educator, Susan is always looking for new ways to bring learning to life for her family. Her family’s favorite subjects to study together are history, geography, and literature. Susan shares her family’s educational adventures at Education Possible.