The nature of education has changed drastically in the last decade due to new technology and an emergence of hundreds of new computer programs and websites designed to help educators and students access and retain information. These new tools for reviewing material can be very helpful, but students should be make sure that they are used to facilitate learning and do not serve as a crutch. Websites like www.sparknotes.com have a wealth of information that can be used to review course material and prepare for standardized and in-class tests, but teachers and administrators often discourage its use because students have gotten into the habit of using SparkNotes as a first stop, instead of using it to supplement class work. Additionally, websites with user-generated content like www.wikipedia.org, www.youtube.com and answers.yahoo.com have millions of webpages full of information which are all available at the click of a button, but because of the nature of the content creation, the sites contain information that is not always as reliable as those found in more traditional sources. Despite these risks, new technology has proven very helpful in three areas of education: providing content that is easy to access, allowing students to quiz themselves or review in a more enjoyable or effective format than rereading notes or assigned reading, and connecting students online so that they can collaborate effectively on school work. To the right is a list of sites that you might find useful when studying material or reviewing for a test.

Getting ready for a test, whether on a chapter, a book, a multi-chapter unit, or an examination, begins with organization. Keep a notebook or folder with notes, handouts, graded homework, graded quizzes, and graded tests (if you are allowed to keep them) so that you can review consistently over a period of time. Having to assemble all your resources at the last minute is not going to help you. Keeping up on a daily basis, making sure that you identify any questions or problem areas before they slip away into new material, is the best way to be ready for a test. Be sure to talk with your teacher about any questions you may have as soon as you encounter them. These points are all a matter of general study skills, but they also have a big influence on your preparation for a test. If the teacher has given you a review sheet for a major test, be sure to work on it the first day you receive it. Take the information for which you will be responsible and divide it up into manageable units for however many days you have until the test. Be sure to use on-line resources when they are available and are genuinely helpful. Make yourself a study schedule, especially for semester examinations, and be sure that you set mastery goals for yourself within the time allotted (i.e., I’ll finish IDs by Tuesday, take a discussion question a day until I’m through with them, etc.). Most importantly, get a good night’s sleep before a major test or examination.