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"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
This is an article adapted from the "Perspectives in Learning" brochure published by Benjamin/Cummings (1995). It contains strategies that may be helpful in your study of life science. At the end of this article is a list of websites (Study Skills Websites) that are excellent sources of study and learning strategies.
Suggestions on how students can do well on tests and in courses:
1. Go to class! Be awake and alert, ready and wanting to learn as an active learner. Have a positive attitude and be ready to be challenged to think critically. Sit close to the front so you can maintain eye contact and eliminate distractions. Don’t sit next to a "friend" who is going to distract your attention. Don’t attempt a course that is above your skills placement as in math and English.
2. Actively read your textbook assignments. Keep up with your assigned readings (including outside, supplementary or extra credit work) so you’re ahead— or at least on schedule—in preparation for class lectures and discussions. In texts, make notes in the margins and underline key words and phrases. "Use up" your textbook-don’t try to preserve it for resale.
3. Ask good discussion questions in class as preparation for potential test questions. Ask questions to clarify any information you don’t understand. When available, use instructor study guides and textbook (publisher) study guides to help you understand instruction. Ask intelligent questions to clarify any test questions not clear to you.
4. Interact with the instructor. Get to know him/her. Ask about the types of test questions you’ll be expected to know. Clarify any vague concepts, ideas, or details. Ask the instructor about purposes and goals in learning course material as related to your major or anticipated career.
5. Take notes from class lectures and textbook reading.. Outline your notes. Discipline yourself to take notes and review them often. For class discussion or possible test items, ask questions from your notes. Keep a dictionary accessible at all times. Supplement lectures with text readings. Put notes in your own words and recite them to yourself or others.
6. Study and review lectures and notes consistently on a regular, daily basis for at least 10-15 minutes. Memorize the important material, but also see the relationship of parts to the whole. Don’t procrastinate and try to cram for a test the night before. Start studying at least one to two weeks before a test. Spend quality time studying rather than quantity time. Try to study one to two hours per week for every semester hour you are taking.
7. Study with a partner or in a study group if possible; talk about possible test questions. Exchange notes to fill-in missing details. Make sure you study with a good student-not someone who will distract you. Arrange to study together about two hours per week.
8. Write essay test questions in the proper form. This includes: an introduction, thesis statement, body of supporting details, facts, examples, and a conclusion. Make the first sentence of your essay a good topic sentence. Conceptualize show relationships and how events and ideas fit together as a whole unit. Be concise, and don’t add padded "stuff." Learn themes and major sections. If possible, take a practice test in the actual test room setting.
9. Use good test-taking techniques. Read the directions and instructions carefully and follow them! Budget your time on tests so you don’t leave blanks. Don’t panic! Sometimes you will remember information later during the test. Answer the items first that you know best. Study so you know what things are alike and different (comparison/contrast). Go over your test when it’s returned. Use it as a guide for the final. Learn from your mistakes so you don’t repeat them.
10. Get enough sleep; don’t allow "stuff" to keep from getting the sleep you need to study and do well on tests. Don’t stay up cramming, but rather review often instead. Eat properly and don’t take drugs to keep you awake; they can distract you instead of helping you. Keep fit physically and spiritually.
· PREREADING A TEXTBOOK CHAPTER
Kate Kinsella
San Francisco State University and
Art, Research, and Curriculum Associates, Inc.
Prereading a textbook chapter is an active learning strategy that can improve the "communication" between the textbook author and the student. Through prereading, the student develops a mental outline for the entire chapter. This outline is the framework whereby concepts new to the student can be readily learned during more thorough chapter reading or classroom lecture. Prereading allows the student to develop a realistic study plan by providing insight into the length and level of difficulty of the chapter.
I provide the following steps to my students to explain how to preread their text.
How to Preread a Textbook Chapter
1. Read the chapter title. The title provides the overall theme of the chapter.
2. Read the introduction or first paragraph. The introduction or first paragraph gives the reader an idea of what the material is about.
3. Read each major heading. The boldface heading will tell the reader what is contained in the section below the heading.
4. Read the first sentence of each paragraph. The first sentence often states the central thought of the paragraph. However, be aware that in some material the first sentence may function as a transition or lead-in statement. When this occurs, read the second sentence of the paragraph to determine its central thought.
5. Note any typographical aids. Notice words in italic type or in boldface type. Use of a typographical aid indicates that the term or sentence is important.
6. Note any visual aids. Notice any material that is numbered, lettered, or presented in list form. Graphs, charts, pictures, diagrams, and maps are other means of emphasizing what is important in the chapter.
7. Read the last paragraph or summary. The last paragraph or summary gives a condensed view of the chapter and helps the reader identify the main points in the chapter.
8. Quickly read any end-of-chapter material. If there are study questions, read through them quickly. They will indicate what is important in the chapter. If a vocabulary list is included, skim through the list rapidly to identify important terms.
Chapter Prereading Worksheet
To actively guide their prereading, I give students the following worksheet of questions. By answering the questions on this worksheet while prereading, students are able to develop a realistic reading and study plan.
1. What is the chapter title?
2. What does the introduction or first two paragraphs tell you about what the chapter will cover?
3. What information is included in the chapter summary or last paragraph?
4. What kinds of visual aids are included in the chapter?
5. List any vocabulary that is written in italic or boldface type in the first section of the chapter.
6. Are there study questions at the end of the chapter?
7. Is there a vocabulary list at the beginning or the end of the chapter?
8. What is the level of difficulty of the chapter? Very difficult? Somewhat difficult? Easy?
9. How many pages are included in the chapter?
10. Estimate the time it will take you to read the entire chapter.
11. What is your reading and study plan? Will you read the chapter all at once or will you break it down into two or three study sessions?
12. Where do you plan to read this chapter?
13. When do you plan to read this chapter?
TAKES TIME!!! Learning requires a commitment of TIME.
"Rule of Thumb"- 2 hours study/1 hour class
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Click on any of these sites for additional study tips:
More Study Tips: http://www.cbv.ns.ca/sstudies/links/learn/stutips.html#8
Culture Shock! Transition between high school and college: http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/website/website.htm
Very extensive site on study guides and strategies: http://www.studygs.net/