La Sierra alum’s book offers college exam ‘cheat sheet’

Titled “The College Success Cheat Sheet: Simple Ideas to Help You Study Less and Learn More,” the 100-page paperback is written by Jonathan Lee Davidson, a Redlands resident and 2012 La Sierra business management graduate whose accomplishments include receiving the university’s prestigious President’s Award for Outstanding University Undergraduate Student. 

Davidson’s academic achievements were not always so stellar. Despite intense efforts at studying, Davidson, a good high school student, nearly flunked out of San Bernardino Valley College and barely squeaked into La Sierra’s undergraduate business program. “I just thought I wasn’t cut out for college,” Davidson said. But while taking a psychology class from La Sierra adjunct professor Lisa Fast, Davidson learned of a study technique based on brain research called the spacing effect. The process makes use of long-term memory by building connections over time. He put it into practice and noticed almost immediate results in half the study time. “From then on I didn’t fail any more classes,” he said. “Within a quarter I was averaging 3.98 [grade point average] for the rest of my time at La Sierra. I decided it was something I could share with other students to help them with their study techniques.”

The spacing effect calls for students to quickly read textbook chapters the night before the chapters will be discussed in class, take detailed notes during class and review the notes that night before going to sleep. This results in the brain’s exposure three times to the material. Prior to a test, the student then only needs to review his or her class notes and key points in the textbook once a day for a minimum of five days. “You can study fewer hours per week while learning more if you work with your brain rather than against it,” Davidson writes. “This technique alone – once I learned how to apply it – completely transformed my college life.”

The spacing technique incorporates a revised textbook reading method Davidson learned about in a community college reading class called SQ3R. Davidson’s extrapolated technique, which he calls surveying, involves reading a textbook chapter in its entirety before class without highlighting or taking notes, except when tackling dense science or math courses, and then reviewing the chapter later by reading only topic sentences, word definitions, bulleted text, italicized or boxed copy and other highlighted information, as well as the chapter summaries. The surveying method works with the spacing effect to capture all pertinent information in a much shorter space of time, Davidson says.

The book includes pointers on how to study math and science, how to spur creativity in writing papers, how to handle timed exams, and emphasizes the importance of reading widely and getting adequate rest with bedtimes before 10 p.m. in order to make the best use of the spacing effect. Good nutrition through a diet of minimal fat and processed foods, and a weekly Sabbath rest are also foundational to clear thinking and maintaining energy levels, according to the book. Most of all, students need to be “actively finding your gratitude and thinking toward a compelling future. If you’re going to college you’re privileged,” Davidson writes.

Davidson concludes each chapter in the book with a brief interview of a successful college student who in many cases has gone on to earn graduate degrees from top universities. He asks their advice and their college study techniques. A student named Steven discusses his use of “memory castles” which he used in college to remember formulas, data sets and other information. The memory castle is a visual world based on a familiar location, such as one’s home and in which the student visualizes activities that spur memories of information, such as a painting on a wall behind which is a chemistry formula.

Davidson wrote the first draft of his college ‘cheat sheet’ book while a senior and completed the project after five or six drafts. After professional editing by La Sierra English Master of Arts alum Laura Melchor and design by a Los Angeles designer, the book debuted on Amazon on July 9 offered in paperback and Kindle e-book formats. Thus far Davidson has sold around 300 copies of the book and more than 1,200 people downloaded a free Kindle version during a five-day promotional.

“It’s probably the thing I’m most proud of,” Davidson said. “It felt like such a relief and a sense of accomplishment. I know if people read it and apply what they’ve learned it will help them. I might have failed out of college if not for these techniques.”

Davidson currently works as a development officer for La Sierra’s Advancement office. His writing interests have extended to the film industry. After taking a screen writing class in La Sierra’s film and television program last spring, he became hooked on the craft. He is currently writing a script for a film about the internment of Japanese students during World War II and is applying for a Master of Fine Arts in screenwriting at the University of Southern California. Meanwhile he and his wife Ally, a La Sierra business graduate and professional photographer and realtor, are planning to start a vegan packaged food company.

Davidson dedicated his book to his wife, and to Nancy Snow, an English professor at San Bernardino Valley College. In Snow’s class Davidson learned the skill and the importance of good writing. He started the class with more than 30 classmates and finished with seven. “She insisted on great work,” he said. “And those who stuck with the class learned how to write well. I don’t think this book would have happened were it not for her.”