Why sit around an airport, airplane, hotel, or sitting on a long bus ride when you could be using that time productively to stay ahead of the academic game? Here's a few ideas to constructively fill that time.
1) Downloads. Before you leave consider downloading podcasts or articles into your MP3your articles. You can search the Internet for podcasts from professional organizations which may relate to an assignment. You can also search the Gale databases with the search box below.
Many articles in the Gale databases are available for MP3 downloads. It is an automated voice reader so you will occasionally hear something that sounds weird (like a web address). Still, it can be useful to listen to articles while you are flying or just sitting around.
You can do the same thing with many articles in our Ebsco databases via our HCU OneSearch. Just pay attention in your results to HTML full text articles as it cannot read PDFs.
2) Class Readings
There are a number of note-taking strategies for textbooks and journal articles. A prominent one method is SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review).
Survey: Scan the intro, section headings, and summaries to see what will be discussed.
Question: Turn those section headings into questions and answer them. Write down those questions.
Read: You are reading to answer those question(s).
Recite: Answer those questions in your own words.
Review: Periodically review these notes (and all notes). This will drastically cut cramming.
3) Re-write and recite your class notes.
First, this helps you organize the notes and understand in a way that makes sense to you. Also, this relates to the points above (helps you review your notes and cut cramming). Also, reciting your notes is often a very helpful way to review for tests. The more you review, the more you remember. The About Memory web page suggests that you need to make meaning connections with your notes to remember them better.
Here are some things you can do so you can be more efficient with your time while waiting in airports, on the plane, or on the bus.
1. Charge your electronics.
This includes your laptop, MP3 player (for potential academic podcasts), and any other eletronic equipment.
2. Download articles or MP3 articles!
Your flash drive, tablet, laptop, or smartphone can also be a critical component to your while traveling. If time allows, do some advance searching for upcoming papers and download useful articles. In addition, our Gale Virtual Reference Library as well as our Ebsco databases (Academic Search Complete, for instance) databases actually has HTML articles in MP3 format which you can download, save, and listen to later. that could be really handy! Sorry, but this won't work on PDF articles. Let's say you are in a location where you can't really do much writing or that laptop use will be difficult, at an airport with a delayed departure, or on a long bus trip. No problem. Whip out your trusty MP3 and listen to your article and how it read to you. Downloaded articles or MP3s won't be dependent on the airport's wireless connection.
Be sure to visit the library's mobile page and use all the resources specifically designed for smartphones (they could still be alright on tablets) and download a boatload of useful apps to help!
3. Talk to your professor before you leave.
Your professor may have ideas unique to any upcoming specific assignments.
4. Check out books in advance, if room allows. Better yet, download E-books!
Visit the library's Downloading E-books LibGuide to see how to do it. This will work on smart devices and tablets alike.
5. Texas traveling.
If the team is traveling in Texas, be sure to come to our reference desk and get a TexShare card. TexShare will allow you to check out books from any participating academic or public library in the state of Texas. Check here for the list of participating institutions.If you are staying for more than one day, this could be useful.
6. Study in groups. While on a long bus trip, you could sit together by classes and study together with a friend.
7. Get the Evernote app. You can download a PC version at http://www.evernote.com. The app for your smart device will sync with it. You can put papers in there to edit and copy and paste them into MS Word when you get home or sync with your laptop.
