It is always overwhelming to start a new course. After enrolling in a dental assisting program, you might be intimidated by the new terminology and study aspects. Student life is always filled with anxiety about being academically good enough and acing your exams. But don’t worry, everyone gets nervous about their studies. We will give you five study tips you can incorporate to help you successfully complete your dental assisting program.
1. Practice Note-Taking
Taking notes in every class is a must. Try to concentrate in every class and write down any important information. You can do the following to take notes effectively:
- Get creative and colorful; use highlighters and multi-colored pens to divide your notes into sections. This will help you categorize your topics and make it easier to revise them later.
- Do not hesitate to ask your professor what information is important to write down.
- Write down whatever your professor writes on the board.
- Underline anything you need to research more about or a topic that seems important.
2. Rewrite Information in Your Own Words
The terminologies you will come across may be hard to memorize and recall. Therefore, you can try rewriting what you study in your own words. This trick works like a charm, as you will be explaining the topic to yourself. However, it is important to be familiar with the textbook definitions.
3. Stick to a Schedule
Organizing your time is an essential element of surviving a dental assistant program. You will have a lot of work to do, so it is better to make a schedule. Divide and assort slots to homework and studying. Before you start a lesson, revise what you did the day before. As a result, you will remember what you have learned for a long time. Also, joining a study group with regular meetings can come in handy.
4. Lecture Recording
You might find it hard to note down everything during a lecture. Thus, you can try recording your lecture so you can give it a listen later and complete your notes. It will also update you with any important information you may have missed. Moreover, you can repeat a part you could not understand well. With recorded lectures, you will not have to ask your professor to repeat what they said.
5. Get to Know Your Learning Style
There are different types of learners. Some are visual learners, some learn better by hearing, while some are tactile learners. Knowing your learning style can help you study better. After knowing your learning style, you can try different strategies to retain information and study effectively. For instance, diagrams and video lessons may help a visual learner. Similarly, listening and reading the notes aloud might help an auditory learner. Utilize your learning style as much as you can.
The Closing Word
Enrolling in a dental assistant program might seem intimidating, but you can succeed with the right tips and study techniques. If you look forward to becoming a dental assistant, Greatwood Dental Assisting Program might be the key. For more information, call us at (281) 728-6012.