How I Survived Statistics

When I was taking courses for my doctorate, the hardest classes for me were Probability and Statistics I and II.  Both classes were required, so I had no choice but to take them and pass!  Here is what I did:

• I pretended it was a war - Statistics vs. me - and I was going to be the winner!  I was determined!
• I outlined the textbook chapters in addition to my lecture notes.
• I made study cards for everything in the course.
• I went to the graduate assistant for help - A LOT!
• I did extra practice problems.
• I used Distributed Practice.  Besides all of the above, I studied my note cards about 20 - 30 minutes almost EVERY day of the week.  Either I got up early or found some time during the day, but I hardly missed a day during the entire semester.
• I even took my work with me and studied on vacation.

One problem I had was that, due to the times the classes were offered, I had to change professors for the second class and the new professor was foreign with a heavy accent.  It took me awhile to get used to what he was saying, but reading the textbook BEFORE class helped me know what words to look for.


So - my message is that if I can pass these two courses (with an A minus and a B plus!), you can do anything you want to do!  If you are determined and use all of the learning strategies you can, you will be successful!  Go for it - and good luck!

 

First Semester Success: Study Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com, amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

 

Successful and Unsuccessful Study Strategies

This semester two sections of my Critical Reading/Thinking class are paired with a History course studying the Holocaust.  After their first History exam I asked my students to evaluate their preparation.  Here are the results from 47 students:

 

NOTE: The number beside each strategy is the number of students who gave that response.

Learning Strategies That Worked

Exam Preparation That Did NOT Work

Reviewed notes often - 7 Rewrote notes - 6 Formed a study group - 4 Read textbook chapter - 3 Made note cards - 3 Followed professor's study guide - 3 Started early - 2 Emailed professor with a question - 2 Reread primary sources - 1 Highlighted textbook - 1 Quiet time in Library - 1 Paid attention in class - 1 Read material out loud - 1 Took good lecture notes - 1 Paid attention to vocabulary - 1

Procrastinated - 10 Didn't pay attention in class - 5 Didn't read textbook thoroughly - 4 Did not read primary sources - 3 Tried to memorize everything - 2 Didn't even open textbook - 2 Didn't review professor's guiding questions - 1 Did not ask professor questions when confused - 1 Poor note-taking skills - 1 Didn't spend enough time studying - 1

 

My challenge to the students was this:

• If you earned an A on the exam, do the same things.
• If you earned a B, do one or two more strategies and aim for an A.
• If you earned a C, D or F, do A LOT more to improve your grade. 

You can apply this information to your own academic success in any course.  Work hard and you will be pleased with your results! 

 

First Semester Success:  Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester)of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com and amazon.com.

 

College is Hard Work!

"Of course it is hard.  It is supposed to be hard.  If it was easy, everyone would do it.  Hard is what makes it great!"

 

This is one of my favorite quotes.  It is from the 1992 movie, A League of Their Own, about a female baseball league during WW II.  It is true for any accomplishment including earning a college degree.  You want your degree to be well respected when you graduate, so you want everyone, including yourself, to have to work hard to earn it!

 

So, what are some of the "hard" choices you may have to make in order to be successful at college?  Here are some decisions or choices you can make to be successful:

• Go to EVERY class.
• Study after class instead of taking a nap.
• Review your class notes after each class.
• Use multiple learning strategies.
• Get a good night's sleep before a big exam.  (Really every night!)
• Start working an a paper early - the longer the paper the earlier you should start.
• Take advantage of any extra help and support available.
• Surround yourself with friends who will help you be successful.
• Do not party or socialize at the expense of your studies.
• Read your textbooks, make study guides and be active in your studying.

 It is the day-to-day choices you make that will determine your success.  Always keep your goal in mind and make choices that will lead you to success.

*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer is available at wordassociation.com and amazon.com.

Back to the Basics - How to Study

It is the beginning of the semester, so let's review the basics about how to study.  There are three aspects that are important:


VARIETY
You need to use many different study strategies when learning material - don't just do the same thing over and over.  Some strategies are:
*Rewrite your notes
*Outline the textbook chapter
*Consolidate the lecture notes and textbook information into one outline
*Put the information onto study cards
*Reorganize the information into concept maps or review charts
*Use recitation - after reading or writing the information, cover it and try to restate it in your own words from memory.
*Quiz yourself.
*Form a study group and explain the information to each other and/or quiz each other
*Make use of any on-line study help or practice quizzes available


REPETITION
It is important to work with the material repeatedly, not just once and not just the night before the exam.  It is the multiple exposures to the material that get it firmly into your long-term memory.


SPACED OUT OVER TIME
This is similar to repetition.  It takes time for the information to become consolidated in your memory, so there needs to be some time after each study session for this to happen.
Than - work with the material again and in a different way!


As you can see, learning takes time and effort.  But the results are worth it!
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com and amazon.com.

Positive Habits for the New Semester

It is the start of a new semester and the perfect time to establish habits that will lead you to success.  Here are some:

Take care of you body and brain

*Get enough sleep

*Make healthy food choices


*Exercise

Develop good learning habits

*Attend all classes!

*Review your notes after each class, and then start to learn them

*Use a variety of learning strategies

*Read your textbook – give yourself plenty of time to complete the reading before class

*Attend any extra help sessions such as Supplemental Instruction

Develop good social habits

*Put your studies first but also make time to relax

*Look for friends who will help you be successful

*Do not fall into the party crowd

*Join an organization on campus that you are interested in – this is a good place to make friends with values similar to yours

*Remember to keep in touch with family at home who are interested in your success

 

The semester moves very quickly after the first week or so.  This is the perfect time to be sure you are spending you time wisely so that you enjoy your college experience AND are successful!

First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) or College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com and amazon.com.