Transcript Strategies for College Success

Strategies for College Success
University Learning Center
University of Arizona
Introduction
• The purpose of this course is to expose you to
various strategies and techniques that will enable
you to become a successful student in the
postsecondary environment
Course Contents
• Section 1: Self-assessment and Selfmanagement
• Steps in Successful Goal Setting and Achievement
• Learning Styles
• Anxiety/Stress Management
Course Contents
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Section 2: Study Skills Development
Time Management
Memory Techniques
Methods of Reading College Textbooks
Note Taking Strategies
Exam Preparation Tips
Test Taking Strategies
Internet Resources
Section 1:
Self-assessment
and Self-management
Lesson 1: Goal Setting and
Achievement
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What we’ll be covering:
characteristics of goals
how to break down goals
where goal setting can go wrong
Goals should be...
• Realistic
• The goals of winning a marathon after two
weeks of training is an unrealistic goal. Use what
you’ve accomplished in the past to set a
reasonable goal for the future.
Goals should be...
• Self-chosen
• You are much more likely to achieve a goal that
you set for yourself than one that has been set for
you
Goals should be...
• Moderately difficult
• A goal that is too hard or too easy will decrease
your motivation and won’t show you what you’re
really capable of accomplishing
• Use what you’ve accomplished in the past as a
guide
Goals should be...
• Specific
• For example, getting an “A” in Math and a “B” in
Geography is a lot more specific than just saying
that you would like to get good grades this
semester
Goals should be...
• Measurable
• You’re more likely to give up if you can’t see any
progress toward your goal
• For example, getting an “A” on your midterm is
measurable progress toward getting an “A” in the
class.
Goals should be...
• Positive
• Say what you do want to accomplish instead of
what you don’t want to do.
• For example, try “I will attend all classes,”
instead of “I won’t skip any classes.”
Goals should be...
• Flexible
• If it looks like you can’t reach your original goal,
be flexible and redraw your plan
Goals should be...
• Associated with a deadline
• When do you plan on accomplishing this goal, in
a month, day, or year?
Goals should be...
• Written down
• It will serve as a better reminder to keep you
motivated
Where goal setting can go wrong
• When goal setting is disorganized
• For example, keep personal and academic goals
separate
Where goal setting can go wrong
• When goals are unrealistic
• For example, becoming a company CEO
immediately after graduation is an unrealistic
goal
Where goal setting can go wrong
• When you set goals that are ‘beyond’ your control
• For example, winning the lottery is definitely
beyond your control
Where goal setting can go wrong
• When goals are vague
• For example, “becoming successful” or “becoming
a better student” are not clear goals to work
toward.
Where goal setting can go wrong
• When you set too many goals
• For example, at any one time you should focus on
achieving only three or four goals
How to break down and achieve
goals
• see example
Summary
• Goals with certain characteristics will enable you
to be more successful in goal setting and
achievement.
• Breaking down large goals into parts will help
you to see what steps you will need to complete
on the way to accomplishing your goal
Homework assignment: Apply what
you’ve learned
• set an academic or personal goal
• select one personal or academic long-term goal
and break it down to the steps you will need to
achieve in the next year, next 6 months, next
month, next week, and tomorrow
Lesson 2: Learning Styles
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What we’ll be covering:
What is a learning style?
How you develop a learning style?
What’s your learning style?
How information on your learning style can help
to improve your learning
What is a learning style?
• an individuals’ characteristic and preferred way
of gathering, interpreting, organizing and
thinking about information. Your style includes
the type of environments you like to learn in,
your preferences for working with others, and the
way you perceive information.
• no single style of learning has been shown to be
better than any other
How do you develop a learning
style?
• learning styles develop over time as a result of an
individual’s inherent preferences and experience
with his/her environment
• they can and do change over time
How can information about learning
styles improve your learning?
• You may be more satisfied and more productive if
you are studying with methods compatible with
your style. Right now you may be studying with
methods incompatible with your style and not
know it.
• You can experiment with building up lesspreferred styles so that you can be equally
comfortable with different tasks and in different
learning environments.
In class assignment: What’s your
learning style?
• Complete the learning style assessment
• View Suggestions for Studying and Learning
based on learning style
Summary
• Your learning style influences the way that you
perceive and process information. By knowing
your learning style, you can employ methods and
strategies to make studying and learning more
productive. Without this information, you may
make studying and learning more difficult for
yourself without even realizing it.
Homework assignment: Apply what
you’ve learned
• Write full description of how you like to learn
– Answer the following questions: “How do I learn
best?”, What time of day do I learn best?, What kind
of environment do I learn best in?, Do I learn better
alone or with others?
• What study strategies are (or would be)
particularly helpful for you?
• How will you be changing your study methods
now that you are aware of your learning style?
Lesson 3: Anxiety/Stress
Management
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What we’ll cover
What is stress?
What causes stress?
Strategies to reduce stress
Strategies for dealing with stress
What is stress?
• Stress is the way that you react physically,
mentally and emotionally to various conditions,
changes and demands in your life.
• Many students experience varying levels of
stress each semester.
• High levels of stress can affect your physical and
mental well-being and academic performance.
Symptoms of stress
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headaches
nervous stomach
change in appetite
rapid breathing
rapid heart rate
sweaty palms
irritability
anxiety
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fatigue
insomnia
dissatisfaction
anger
depression
inability to
concentrate
In-Class Assignment: Reflect on a
stressful situation
• Write a brief description of a recent situation
that caused you stress. Summarize your mental,
emotional and physical states at the time.
What causes stress?
• Anxiety: uneasiness and distress about future
uncertainties
What causes stress?
• Changes in life’s expectations or demands
• Ex. Marriage, divorce, pregnancy, illness, bills,
increasing demands of a university course load
What causes stress?
• Disorganization: feeling unprepared and
powerless
What causes stress?
• Physical Constraints
• Ex. Physical exhaustion, lack of good exercise
and diet strategies
What causes stress?
• Time constraints: multiple projects and deadlines
In-Class Assignment: Selfassessment
• Take the anxiety/stress assessment
• Use the results of this assessment to pinpoint
specific causes of stress in your life. What (if
any) control do you have over these areas of your
life?
• Make a list of things that you can do to lessen
your stress.
Strategies to reduce stress
• Take control- manage your time instead of
letting it manage you. Use a to-do list, follow a
written plan, set goals and follow through.
• Procrastination is a major cause of stress. Make a
realistic list of things you need to do each day.
Start doing the most important things first. That
way, even if you don’t finish the list, you get the
most important things done.
Strategies to reduce stress
• Take a break
• Sometimes it is better to get away from the
situation for a short time- take a brisk walk, focus
on pleasant thoughts. Then, go back to the task
feeling refreshed and ready to go tackle whatever
it is you have to do.
Strategies to reduce stress
• Work on your attitude
• Put things into perspective- try not to take
yourself so seriously.
• Think positive- “If you think you will fail, or
think you will succeed, you are probably right.”
--Henry Ford
Strategies to reduce stress
• Get help
• See your instructor, go to tutoring, and
participate in study groups. See how to form a
study group.
• Keep in touch with friends and family, and
develop a support group.
Strategies to reduce stress
• Physical stress busters
• eat right, exercise regularly and get plenty of
rest
Strategies to reduce stress
• Practice, practice, practice
• Build your confidence- do extra math problems,
practice test-taking at home, rehearse your speech
a couple of times before the presentation
In-class assignment: Self-reflection
• Go back to the stressful incident that you
described in the first part of the lesson and list
some strategies for dealing with the situation, and
some things you could have done to prevent it
from being stressful. Also list some ways you can
avoid a reoccurrence of such a situation in the
future.
Strategies for dealing with stress
• no one can avoid stress all the time. In a stressful
situation, try these tips to help you overcome the
effects of stress.
Strategies for dealing with stress
• Join the crowd
• Even though you may think you are the only
person in the world who is experiencing stress,
the fact is that everyone experiences it sometime.
Strategies for dealing with stress
• Talk to someone
• Find someone you trust, discuss the problems and
look for solutions
Strategies for dealing with stress
• Put it in perspective
• Chances are, this is only one small part of the
rest of your life
Strategies for dealing with stress
• Visualize
• Sit comfortably and think of a favorite place.
Imagine yourself in a successful situation.
Strategies for dealing with stress
• Breathe
• Sit quietly, and breathe deeply and slowly.
Continue for five or six breaths. It is calming and
the extra dose of oxygen increases the brain’s
thinking ability.
Strategies for dealing with stress
• It’s all in your head... and shoulders
• Roll your head loosely in a wide circle. Repeat five
times. Tighten right shoulder and raise it as far
up as possible and hold, then relax slowly. Repeat
with left shoulder. Repeat with both shoulders.
Strategies for dealing with stress
• Go on a diet
• Eating light and avoiding sugars can help with
performance and lessen stress. In a stressful
situation like an exam, have a light meal of
mostly protein. Remember, a heavy high
carbohydrate meal can put you to sleep.
Strategies for dealing with stress
• Lighten up
• Take responsibility for your feelings. When you
get angry, take a break and cool down before you
act.
Strategies for dealing with stress
• Use it
• A little stress is a good thing- athletes use it to
increase performance. If you are experiencing a
small amount of anxiety, it can help to keep you
active and alert. Use it to increase your
performance.
Summary
• Stress is mental, emotional and physical tension,
strain, and/or distress
• The signs of stress are classic. You may get a
headache, stiff neck, backache, become irritable,
lose your temper, and you may feel exhausted and
find it hard to concentrate.
• When these symptoms appear, recognize them as
signs of stress and find a way to deal with them.
Just knowing why you’re feeling the way that you
are may be the first step in coping with the
problem.
Homework assignment: Apply what
you’ve learned
• Write about a situation where you would
normally experience a high level of stress, (i.e.
taking a test, giving a presentation, etc). Is the
stress a bad thing? Can is be used to increase
your performance? How would you do this? What
coping strategies can you use to help you deal
with the situation?
Section 2:
Study skills development
Lesson 4:Time Management
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What we’ll be covering:
advantages to good time management
assess your time management skills
create your ultimate schedule
making to-do lists
Time Management
• Why is time management important?
• one of the most important skills for beginning
college students
• being able to accomplish your goals depends, in
part, on your ability to make the most efficient
use of the time that you have
• good time management skills can actually save
you time
In class assignment: Assess your
time management skills
• Complete the ‘Are You Using Your Time Wisely’
assessment
• What areas of time management are you strong
in?
• What areas could you improve?
Time Management Tips
• Monitor your time
• If you feel like you don’t have enough time, spend
a few days monitoring your time to see exactly
how it is spent
• download Where Does the Time Go?
Time Management Tips
• Make a daily to-do list
Steps to making to-do lists
• Write a list of activities that you want or need to
accomplish today
• Remember to prioritize and list the most
important tasks first
• Check to see if there are any activities that you
can accomplish at the same time
Steps to making to-do lists (cont.)
• Write down how long you anticipate it will take
you to get the task done
• Write down when you will start each activity
Making to-do lists: Know your
options
• Do it now- the most important things with
approaching deadlines need to be done first
• Schedule it- you can break up large tasks into
smaller parts and schedule each part
• Ask someone else to do it- in a study group or
team, each person can be responsible for a portion
of the project
• Trade tasks- for example, you run the errands
while your roommate cleans the apartment
In class assignment: Practice
making a to-do list
• view a sample to-do list
• think of the things that you would like to
accomplish for tomorrow
• use the steps we discussed as a guide in creating
your list
Time Management Tips
• Use a planner
– a planner can be an effective and easy way to help you
organize your time
– look at a number of different kinds of planners before
you select one- some will help you more than others
– choose one that is easy to carry with you
– commit to checking/updating it daily
– try to include your daily to-do list in your planner
Time Management Tips
• Make a long-term calendar
In class assignment: Make a longterm calendar
• Download the Semester-on-a-Page
– write in important dates like exams and due dates
– post it where you can see it, like by the phone or on the
refrigerator
Time Management Tips
• Try to be flexible
• Don’t overload yourself. Always leave some freetime for some last-minute additions
Time Management Tips
• Avoid marathon study sessions
– a couple of hours each day will help you to remember
more than eight hours at once
– taking the time to schedule study time will help you to
avoid procrastination and reduce stress
– remember to schedule study time over 5-7 days instead
of packing it all into one or two days
Time Management Tips
• Use waiting time
• Waiting time is the time you spend in between
meetings, classes, events, etc.
In class assignment: How to
effectively use ‘wait time’
• One of the best ways to get more out of your day
is to use ‘waiting’ time
• Create a list of 5 things that you can do in 10
minutes
• Create a list of 5 things that you can do in 20
minutes
Time Management Tips
• Learn to say ‘no’
• Examples of good ways to say “no”
• Instead of: “I really should study”, say “You
caught me in the middle of something important,
I’ll call you later.”
• “I can’t go the movies tonight, but I can go on
Saturday.”
• “Before I say yes, let me check my planner and get
back to you.”
Understanding procrastination
• When do you procrastinate?
– low interest or motivation
– large tasks
• What happens when you procrastinate
– increase stress
– poorer performance
Reducing procrastination
• Break tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks
– for example, writing a paper can be broken down into
getting references, reading reference, writing an
outline, creating a rough draft and completing the final
copy
• When given an assignment, do some work on it
right away
• Spend some time studying each day
• Reward yourself along the way
The Ultimate Schedule
• Download the sample Ultimate Schedule
The Ultimate Schedule
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First, block off time for your FIXED activities
class
work
meetings
The Ultimate Schedule
• Second, block off time for your RITUAL
activities
• meals
• travel/commute
• sleep
• grooming
The Ultimate Schedule
• Third, block off time for your PRIORITY
activities
• studying
– try to schedule 2 hours of study time for each hour
spent in class
• exercising
The Ultimate Schedule
• Your FREE time is the time that remains, use it
for:
• watching television
• shopping
• socializing
Summary
• As time management skills develop, your stress
and anxiety levels will go down and productivity
will go up
• Time management tools which include day
planners, to-do lists, weekly and long-term
calendars will increase organization and help
eliminate procrastination
Homework assignment: Apply what
you’ve learned
• Download the Weekly Schedule Sheet
• Using the steps for creating the Ultimate
Schedule, design your ultimate schedule
Lesson 4: Memory Techniques
• What we’ll be covering:
• things that can effect your ability to remember
something
• basic memory tips
• strategies to improve your memory
What can effect your ability to
remember something?
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distractions
time of day
your comfort level
stress
your interest in the material
your level of motivation
Thirteen memory tips
• Learn from general to specific
• Before learning something new, get a general
overview to use as a framework on which to hang
specific details
Thirteen memory tips
• Make it meaningful
• Why is this information relevant? What is the
value in knowing this?
• If you don’t see the value– Find it! What kinds of situations could you be in that
you would need this information?
– Use this as an opportunity to use strategies that will
make you a better student
Thirteen memory tips
• Create associations
• Relate what you’re learning to something that
you already know
• Try using analogies and metaphors
Thirteen memory tips
• Learn actively
• Manipulate or change the information in some
way
• Try creating a mind map, diagram, pictures, or
note cards
• Always put information that you’re trying to
learn into your own words
Thirteen memory tips
• Reduce distractions
• Turn off music, phone, television
Thirteen memory tips
• Monitor what you’ve learned
• Check yourself to make sure that you’re learning
• Try self-testing yourself using the review
questions at the end of the chapter or make up
your own
Thirteen memory tips
• Check your attitude and anxiety
• Find yourself thinking how much you hate the
course or instructor? Know when your attitudes
and/or anxiety are inhibiting learning and try to
address them
Thirteen memory tips
• Turn abstract ideas into concrete examples
Thirteen memory tips
• Distribute learning
• Use many short sessions for studying instead of
one long session
Thirteen memory tips
• Remember something else
• When you get stuck and can’t remember
something, try to remember something that is
related to it or what you were doing at the time
that you learned it.
Thirteen memory tips
• Stay away from studying similar topics at the
same time to avoid confusion
Thirteen memory tips
• Use mnemonics, or memory techniques
• Try creating a song or rhyme to help you
remember
• Use acronyms
Thirteen memory tips
• Avoid studying material in the same sequence
• Try starting at the end or middle of the material
Summary
• By using memory techniques you can take steps
to learn and remember information more quickly
and effectively
• Most memory techniques require that you change
or organize the information that you need to
learn. Repeated reading of text and notes is often
not enough.
Homework assignment: Apply what
you’ve learned
• Pick five concepts that you will be required to
know in a class
• Apply any memory technique that we’ve
discussed to each concept
Lesson 5: Note taking
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What we’ll be covering:
what to do before, during, and after class
picking out main points in a lecture
the Cornell Method
mind mapping
What to do before class
• Pick the right notebook
• there are numerous advantages to picking a 3ring binder
– handouts can be inserted into the relevant sections
– pages of notes can be removed and replaced
– dividers can be used to separate sections or topics
What to do before class
• Read your textbook
• reading your textbook can help you to
understand what is being discussed in lecture
What to do before class
• Skim the notes from the last class
• this will refresh your memory and focus you for
the next lesson
What to do before class
• Make a commitment to attend all classes
• You may be getting only a partial set of notes if
you copy from other students
• Note taking is a skill and you may be copying
from someone who is a poor note taker and not
realize it
What to do during class
• Try to sit in the front, center portion of the
classroom
– fewer distractions
– can see and hear better
– less likely to doze off
What to do during class
• You will need to identify the visual and verbal
cues given by the professor that indicate an
important topic is being addressed
– examples of visual cues: gesturing, writing on board,
underlining
– examples of verbal cues: repetition, summaries, listing
Identifying important points
• Think of three additional verbal cues that would
indicate an important point
• Think of three additional visual cues that would
indicate an important point
What to do during class
• Use a method of note taking
– Use Cornell Method
– Create Mind maps
The Cornell Method
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Split page method of note taking
Allows space for possible exam questions
Allows space for student reflections and summary
Good for self-testing
Practice using the Cornell Method
• Download a sample page of notes using the
Cornell Method
• Recopy a page of your notes using the Cornell
Method
Mind Mapping
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Pictorial representation of ideas
Good for visual learners
Shows how topics and ideas are related
Uses both sides of your brain
Steps to mind mapping
• Identify the topic of the lecture or reading, place
in the center and circle it
• Branch out the main ideas, each stemming from
the main topic
• From each branch, mark key words and examples
• Don’t be afraid to personalize it with pictures or
symbols
Mind Mapping Practice
• Download a sample mind map
• Practice creating a mind map
What to do during class
• Identify possible exam questions
• Use them to self-test yourself later
What to do after class
• Review your notes within 24 hours
– Are they complete?
– Do they make sense?
What to do after class
• Identify any questions that you may have and find
the answers
• Re-copy or re-organize if necessary
Note Taking Practice
• Watch this short lecture and use the note taking
strategies we discussed
Summary
• Class notes will be a better study tool for you if
they have the proper content (the main points of
a lecture) and are organized in a way that makes
sense. Try using the methods that we discussed
to accomplish those two crucial aspects of note
taking.
Lesson 6: Reading Textbooks
• What we’ll be covering:
• previewing
• annotating
Why preview?
• improves concentration, memory, and
understanding
• only takes 5 minutes to preview an entire chapter
• if you don’t have enough time to read before
class, previewing may give you enough
information to understand what is being
discussed
Steps to previewing material
• (1) Read the chapter title
• The title announces the topic or subject. Try to
remember what you already know about the topic.
Steps to previewing material
• (2) Read the introduction or first paragraph
• This is a lead-in to the material and will often
itemize what the chapter will cover. If it is long,
read only the first 5 or 6 lines.
Steps to previewing material
• (3) Read the closing paragraph or chapter
summary
• These sections are often used to draw conclusions
based on the facts that have already been
presented or to restate key ideas.
Steps to previewing material
• (4) Read questions or vocabulary at the end of
the chapter
• This section is used to test your knowledge of
the material. Reading them beforehand alerts you
to what is most important within the chapter.
Steps to previewing material
• (5) Read each boldface heading
• Headings separate chapters into main divisions
and indicate important concepts. By looking at
these headings, you can detect the organization
of the chapter and the general approach of the
author.
Steps to previewing material
• (6) Look at any pictures, graphs, or charts
• Pictures, illustrations, or captions may help you
clarify ideas and give direction to your thinking.
Why annotate?
• Have you ever felt that you’ve been reading for
hours and can’t remember what you’ve read?
• annotating can keep you focused
• annotations tell you WHY important points are
important
• download a sample page of annotated text
Steps to Annotating Text
• First, preview a chapter or subunit of text
• Next, read one or more paragraphs. Then stop
(the amount will vary, so judge according to your
text’s difficulty and organization).
Steps to Annotating Text
• After reading, go back and underline the key
word, phrase, or idea to which your annotation
will refer.
• These key ideas often occur as: definitions,
examples, lists, causes/effects, characteristics,
similarities/differences, and names/dates.
Steps to Annotating Text
• Check your annotations to be sure that they make
sense and that you are not merely copying the
text into the margins.
• In order to be most effective, your annotations
must be in your own words, except in the case of
technical definitions.
Steps to Annotating Text
• If you have no annotating, you should have no
underlining.
Steps to Annotating Text
• Go on to the next paragraph or section.
Remember, not every section of text will have a
key concept that should be annotated, but every
page or section usually does.
Summary
• Reading your text numerous times is often not
enough to insure that you have understood and
retained the information covered.
• You must actively participate in the reading
process by thinking about what you already know,
identifying topics that you don’t understand and
picking out important points that are likely to be
on a test.
Homework assignment: Apply
what you’ve learned
• download text
Lesson 7: Exam Preparation
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What we’ll be covering:
key elements of exam preparation
creating and using note cards
the Eight-day study plan
What problems are you currently
having with preparing for exams?
• Take a moment to complete “Exam Prep: A Self
Check”
• What areas could you improve on?
Key elements of exam preparation
• Know what the exam will cover
• If you don’t know, then ask. Visit instructor’s
office hours or ask over e-mail.
Key elements of exam preparation
• Know what type of exam will be given
• Match the method of study to the kind of exam
you will be given
• (hint: you wouldn’t use note cards to study for an
essay exam)
Key elements of exam preparation
• Avoid procrastination
• If you wait until the last-minute to study, you’ll
remember less and stress more
Key elements of exam preparation
• Use memory techniques
• Remember the techniques we discussed?
Key elements of exam preparation
• Make sure you’ve taken adequate notes and read
the text
• Get any notes that you’ve missed
Key elements of exam preparation
• Have the proper attitude
Key elements of exam preparation
• Monitor your anxiety level
• A little anxiety is good, but a lot will hurt your
performance
• Remember what we talked about in the stress
management lesson?
Key elements of exam preparation
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions
• Ask during class, over e-mail, at tutoring and in
your study group
Key elements of exam preparation
• Look for (or create) practice tests and questions
Creating and Using Note Cards
• When note cards are a good idea
– when you are a visual learner
– when you will be given an objective test
Creating and Using Note Cards
• Using them the right way
– frequently shuffle the cards to keep from learning them
in order
– use only one concept per card- they aren’t designed to
hold more
– use your own words- by putting concepts in your own
words, you’re actively learning while you create them
– take out the ones you know until the final reviewdon’t waste your time studying things you already
know
The Eight Day Study Plan
• download the Eight-Day Study Plan
Summary
• Re-reading your text and notes is often not
enough to prepare you for an exam. You will need
to have good study strategies and a good study
plan.
• It’s also important that you know where to go for
additional help, including instructor office hours,
tutoring centers and preceptors.
Homework assignment: Apply what
you’ve learned
• Complete the Eight-Day Study Plan for one of
your classes
• Download the Eight-Day Study Plan Sheet
Lesson 8:Test Taking Strategies
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What we’ll be covering:
general test taking strategies
how to take different kinds of tests
learning from your mistakes
what to do when you don’t know the answer
General test-taking strategies
• Try to ignore other test takers (before and during
the test)
• Sit in your usual seat, if possible
• Bring all necessary materials
General test-taking strategies
• Listen carefully to directions
• If something is vague or hard to read, stop and
ask the instructor for clarification
• Answer the easiest questions first, mark and
postpone the harder questions
• Change your answer only if you’re absolutely
sure the second answer is correct
General test-taking strategies
• Look over the test and budget your time
accordingly
• Leave time to review your work
Suggestions for objective tests
• Circle or underline clue words like all, every,
none, always, etc.
• Watch for negatives
Suggestions for answering essay
questions
• use pencil or erasable pen
• read the questions carefully and underline key
words
• create an outline in the margin of what you’d like
to say
• begin your answer by rephrasing the question
• in the next sentence announce what you’ll be
saying in the rest of your answer
• devote a paragraph to each of the main points
Suggestions for answering essay
questions
•
•
•
•
•
•
save time to check for the following:
completeness and clarity
punctuation and word usage
spelling
neatness
did you answer the question?
Suggestions for computational
exams
• as soon as you receive your test, jot down any
formulas you needed to memorize
• try drawing a picture if you’re stuck
• try to estimate the answer
After the test..learning from your
mistakes
• don’t just look at WHAT you missed, but look at
WHY you missed it!
– mastery of information: you didn’t study properly and
don’t know the material
– thinking gap: you misunderstood what you were being
asked
– method of test taking: you made some bad mistakes
like reading too quickly and missing key words
– reaction to situation: test anxiety got the better of you
Correcting “mastery of
information” mistakes
• Go back and look at how you studied. What do
you need to change? Did you give yourself
enough time? Are there other study strategies
that would work better?
Correcting “thinking gap” mistakes
• Next time, raise your hand and ask your professor
or t.a. to rephrase the question. Keep asking until
you feel that you fully understand the question.
Correcting “method of test taking”
mistakes
• Read/listen to the directions carefully
• Force yourself to slow down and read the
questions carefully
• Identify the key words in the questions
• Read all answers before you select one
Stress reduction and management
•
•
•
•
•
have a study plan
get some exercise
proper nutrition
keep a positive attitude
get enough rest
What can you do when you don’t
know the answer?
• look for wording in the question that may give
you an idea
• see if the answer appears somewhere else in the
exam
• try to eliminate some answers before guessing
• plug in numbers to see if they generate a possible
solution
Summary
• You should approach different kinds of tests in
different ways. Even if you don’t know the
answer, effective test-taking strategies can
increase your chances of guessing it.
• If you are not getting the grades that you
expected, check to see where you are making
mistakes.
Homework assignment: Apply what
you’ve learned
• get a copy of a test that you’ve already taken
• code your mistakes using the categories we’ve
discussed
• write a plan of how you plan to address these
mistakes in the future
Lesson 9: Internet Resources
• What we’ll be covering:
• how to conduct a search
• some of our favorite sites
How to conduct a search
Some of our favorite sites
Homework assignment: Apply what
you’ve learned
• Pick five course topics and find a related website
information for each. Make sure to write down
the web address for each.