You’re sweating, your knees shake as you walk into the classroom for the Calculus exam. You know you’ll fail, you’re completely lost. You have absolutely no idea what the test will say. Your heart and faith drop when you take out your pencil. You know you didn’t study… maybe you didn’t know how.

Foundation

Studying is not all easy, at least once in the life of a student he/she has sat down with absolutely no idea what’s going on. From study groups to flashcards, students have had trouble with the classes they either don’t care about, despise, or simply don’t understand one thing the teacher is saying.

New studies say 95% of students in high school have participated in some sort of cheating and plagiarism. These studies show how instead of studying, students are cheating and lying to the whole school system. And just because they don’t understand how the subject works. There are many reasons behind it, but the most important issue to address is how students are not reaching their potential. They are getting distracted and this leads to poor studying skills

Here in The Columbus School teachers have their opinions about it, none of which are great. “The main reason that students get distracted is because they’re not engaged, they are not fully engaged with the topics they are studying or they do not have clear instructions on what they have to do,” Susana Arias from Learning Center said.

“As a 21st century problem in education students are getting more and more distracted,” 10th grade English Teacher Andrew Ambron said.

It’s not only a problem seen by teachers but it’s affecting students as well, “It’s a huge problem who not only affects them as one but also the people around them,” 11th grade student Daniela Villegas said.

A Massive Problem and its Roots

Even though there are other problems (even bigger) in schools in general, this is an exponential problem. When you enter the habit of talking in class with your friends and getting distracted you enter your comfort zone. The comfort zone is extremely hard to get out off because it takes every ounce of energy you have. This limits students to rise and learn, which will leave them more behind as time passes.

“Every class is cumulative so as time passes you get more behind, and that’s why people fail because at the end they don’t have either the time or ability to recoup everything,” 11th grader Valeria Ochoa said.

It’s known as a vicious circle, students make this a daily routine. “In school they say they’ll do the work at home so they distract themselves in school and not do anything, and in their houses they say they’ll do everything in school so they start texting friends, watching netflix, etc,” Villegas said.

Susana Arias from learning center says the main reason for this problem comes from the motivation and engagement the students have with the class.

“They are not fully engaged with the topics that they are studying & they don’t have clear instructions as to what they have to do,” Arias said.

Students are aware of this problem, but they still don’t help themselves. “In pre calc my partners put music out loud which dis concentrates me a lot, it’s a group thing,” Villegas said.

It’s also an extremely dangerous problem because it spreads like wildfire, picture it as a reverse tree. “By the students getting distracted it becomes a group thing, one kid getting distracted affects all of them,” Arias said.

End of Period

Exit tickets and/or deadlines are one strategy teachers have applied to the system for students to work harder. Teachers see this as an extraordinary method for concentration.

“I have assignments due till the end of the period or evening, this way students understand that they can’t just waste their time and to this later, they have a straight deadline that if they want to get all the credit available they should work,” Ambron said.

If this strategy works on every student both on grades and productivity, then it absolutely works.

“I think that’s crucial, to have exit tickets at the end of the period, that would make students actually spend their time wisely if they know they have to turn something in at the end of the class period,” Arias said.

This method is so effective, students use it in their own lives. “I put deadlines by myself so I have a schedule about what I’m going to do that week,” Ochoa said.

It’s extremely useful because you have both plan a and plan b; if you miss your teacher’s deadline you have yours to focus. It will make you more responsible and when the exam comes you already have an study session to rely on.

“In order for me to rest, I need to make sure I have all my homework ready because if I don’t have my assignments aligned with the deadlines I would freak out,” 11th grader Elisa Cuartas said.

Having deadlines and limits with your work is so powerful that if you do it consistently you may pass all the way through the year without studying.

Electronic Devices

“If I don’t force myself I wouldn’t be able to do anything,” Villegas said.

Social Media and technology nowadays is the biggest time sucker and distraction there is in this world   “If I see a notification I would get distracted and 3 hours would go by without me noticing it,” Ochoa said.

Some teachers also rather have technology put away while having a class discussion, whilst doing an exam, in reading time, etc.

“Normally students have an smartphone or laptop, and normally that is one of the main reasons students get distracted either by watching YouTube videos or scrolling through Instagram and they don’t realize time goes by in overdrive whilst using this devices,” Ambron said.

Study Groups

Study groups have both positive and negative responses. Some students think it helps the gang concentrate and they rely on their friends’ help, but other students don’t work with them and believe it’s just a distraction.

“I’m not a fan of study groups, it’s one way ticket to stupidity,” Cuartas said.

Other students find this quite useful; having your partner’s help right away, being with related people whilst studying something “boring,” etc. “Flashcards help me a lot, but mostly reuniting with a small group of friends to study is key to success,” Villegas said. Even though you don’t personally encourage these methods, applying them to your life may improve your habits, lifestyle, and results.

“Not only for my parents to see, just because I want to be proud of myself…” Ochoa said.