Transcript Powerpoint slides from seminar

Writing Centre Seminar
Writing and Study Skills Seminar
How to Get the Most Out
of Your Courses
Rosie Gronthos
Writing Centre
Welcome
I hope this talk will help you to get the most
from your readings, tutorials and lectures by
providing you with useful strategies to take
efficient notes and manage assignment
deadlines.
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Outline
• Manage your time to meet assignment
deadlines
• Participating in tutorials
• How to take efficient and accurate notes?
• How to get the most from your readings?
• Useful Learning Guides
• Maths Learning Centre
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Managing your time
At the start of the semester
The University of Adelaide Planning Calendar
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/dates/academic/
Download print version of the 2015 Academic Year Dates (pdf).
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/governance/principal_dates/
2015%20calendar.pdf
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Plan the semester
For each course you are enrolled in:
• Write due dates and percentages for each
assignment
• Note any other commitments
• Mark important dates besides your
assessment due dates
• Keep your planner close to where you study
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On a weekly basis
• Add your contact time onto your planner
• Add non-negotiable commitments
Can see blocks of time you have available in
a week to fit in your non-contact time.
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At the start of each week
• Overview your commitments
Allow for free time, rest and social
activities
• Try to schedule one hour blocks for tasks
• Break down major assessment tasks into
manageable ‘bits’
• Use small amounts of time for less demanding
tasks
• Allow enough time for your preparation
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How to manage assignment
deadlines?
• Use extensions only for emergencies
• Go through the correct procedure to
obtain an extension
• Always contact the lecturer as soon as
possible
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What is a tutorial for?
• To discuss the concepts in the course in
more detail and how they apply in various
situations.
• To have more interaction with each other
and the teaching staff than in a lecture.
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What might happen in a tutorial?
This is different in different courses and
with different tutors. You might:
• watch the tutor present examples
• have a large-group discussion of readings
• work in small groups on problems or
discussion questions
• take turns presenting to the class.
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Prepare for tutorials
• Check your course information guide or
course home page to find prior readings
for each session
• Complete any activities you may have been
asked to do in preparation
• Review your notes from the week’s lecture
• Write any questions or comments
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Participating in tutorials
• Be an active participant
• Ask any questions relating to the lecture or
readings at the start of the tutorial
• Ask any questions about the assessment
process or tasks
• Be proactive in the discussion
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Participating in tutorials
• Aim to say at least one thing in every
tutorial
• Come with some comments/questions
prepared
• Listen respectfully when others speak
• Take accurate and efficient notes
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Note taking
Before the lecture
• Access lecture notes on MyUni if they are
available
• Do the set reading
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During the lecture
• Sit where you can hear and see the material
clearly
• Put the date, name of the course and topic at the
top of your notes
• Number the pages of your notes
• Do not try to copy exactly what the lecturer says
• Keep to the main ideas, concepts and terms
• Look for cues from the lecturer on what is
important to note
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During the lecture
• Develop an abbreviation system that
works for you
• Use diagrams or graphs to summarise
information
• Attend lectures and use effective noting
taking skills
• Engage critically with the lecture material
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After the lecture
• Review your notes
• Talk to students or ask the tutor if you are
unsure
• Store your notes in a clearly marked folder
or organised in efficient manner
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Making notes from readings
• Clearly head notes with the course and
topic
• Note full bibliographic details
• Try to write a one sentence thesis
statement
• Keep your notes to the main point or key
ideas
• Try to write the points in your own words
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Making notes from readings
• Note any page numbers for direct quotes
• Leave space for critical comments
• Store notes in an orderly and easily accessible
way
Be selective when making notes from
your readings.
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Useful Learning Guides
•
•
•
•
•
•
Making Notes
Note-taking Abbreviations
Managing Your Time
Participating in Tutorials
Active Listening
Mind Mapping
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Maths Learning Centre
Drop-in service
• 10am to 4pm weekdays
• Sit down and one of the staff will come to you
• Any mathematical component in any course
• Level 3 Hub Central
Web resources
• Worksheets to revise assumed knowledge
• Recordings of revision lectures for particular courses
• www.adelaide.edu.au/mathslearning/
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To sum up
• Manage assignment deadlines by using a
semester planning calendar
• Be an active participant in tutorials
• Use effective noting taking skills during
lectures
• Be selective when making notes from
readings
• Take accurate notes by finding a method
that works best for you
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For further thoughts
Thank you. Are there any questions?
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Writing Centre Details
WEB:
FACEBOOK:
EMAIL:
PHONE:
VISIT:
www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre
www.facebook.com/WritingCentreUofA
[email protected]
8313 3021
Level 3 Hub Central, 10am-4pm Mon-Fri