Stay Smart: Summer can still be a time for students to learn
The new school year is here, bringing the hustle and bustle of setting up dorm rooms, finding money for class supplies, making new friends and getting to know roommates.
But as students approach the academic portion of the college experience, they may find that as the glorious summer proceeded, the painstakingly stored knowledge needed to pass tests and eventually work towards that long-awaited degree has been lost.
What is the solution to this common problem among the scholastic community?
While students would all like the answer to be binge watching our favorite shows on Netflix, unfortunately that method has proven to have the undesired effect mentioned above.
There are many ways, whether dull or revolutionary, to counteract this occurrence: taking lectures during spare time or reading books, among other things.
“I read a lot of books, both fiction and nonfiction,” said Evan Hall, a history major.
For some, taking summer classes helps to keep up the mindset needed to be able to learn more effectively in classes in the upcoming year.
Charity Maeda, a senior majoring in liberal arts, likes taking online classes. “I love it because I get time to study on my own. I can do it on my own pace which helps me with time management,” she said.
One method is to watch documentaries. One website, Kahn Academy, is dedicated to this. On this website, there are topics ranging from math to science to language arts, for all ages. It is a great and easy way to keep your brain stimulated and prepare for the upcoming year.
Even working a job can keep some of these skills up. Taking a math course? Cashier for the summer. Maeda said that she looks for a job that includes problem solving.
It is important to stay in touch with the things you learned last year, and sometimes not all that easy.
“After three months of using the fun part of your brain, it’s hard to switch back and remember everything,” said Kearsten Howlett, a creative writing major.
Brain plasticity, in simple terms, is how the brain is structured to gain and retain knowledge. When someone learns something new, new pathways are created between the neurons in your brain. In other words, the brain is restructured. If these new pathways fail to be used over a long period of time, the brain “prunes” what is not needed and the pathway dies out.
Students can be creative with how they decide to stimulate their brains over the summer. It doesn’t all have to be sitting and reading textbooks for next year’s classes. If a student is studying wildlife science major?, they could hike the Wasatch Front for a week or help with a local sports team if studying physical therapy.
Hall said that he fills his time with things that interest him, like playing the bass guitar, so that he is actively using his brain.
A well-balanced life is very important. Recreation is just as important for learning as studying is. Scientists recommend that you take a 10 to 15 minute break from studying every hour or so. Constant study can be tiring and the brain needs legitimate breaks. Playing games to stretch the mind can help students for a few minutes, between study sessions.
Sometimes students have a tendency to focus on the recreational aspect a little more than the academic aspect, but learning doesn’t always have to be boring. Students can make it fun and exciting. Break boundaries, go explore, and have fun while not being a total couch potato during the summer. Open up new paths – literally.
–roniastephen@gmail.com