Study Smarter, Not Longer – Blog 7 of 7: Go to bed!

Getting enough sleep is a challenge for many people and particularly college students.  There are always things going on and multiple fun reasons to stay up.  Add to that the pressure of earning good grades which causes stress as well as the temptation to stay up all night studying before an exam.

Your brain needs sleep to give the information you are learning time to consolidate in your long-term memory.   What happens when you study all night before an exam is that the information stays in your short-term memory and then you cannot retrieve it during the exam.

Of course, the other problem with being tired is that you cannot concentrate in class and you do not record the information you need to learn in the first place!

Here are two tips:

1.       Try to keep on a regular schedule.  Go to bed and get up at about the same time – at least during the week.

2.       If there is something you are struggling with learning (after you have achieved understanding!) try reviewing it right before you go to sleep. 

3.       Naps are good, but the best length of time for a nap is about 20 minutes.   If you put on your PJs and get under the covers, you have gone back to bed!  You do not want to get into a deep sleep, then you just wake up groggy and feel worse.

One more blog this year – how to react to your semester grades, both good and bad grades!

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

Study Smarter, Not Longer: Blog 6 of 7 – Space Learning Out Over Time

While you do not necessarily have to put in hours and hours of extended study time in one sitting (unless of course you are writing a major paper or reading a complex textbook chapter) you do have to consistently study starting from the first day you receive information.  One of the prime keys to learning is that you need to spread the study strategies from the first five blogs over time.   If you just review for hours right before an exam using the same strategies, you are not giving the information time to get securely into your long-term memory.  On the other hand, if your studying is spread out, each time you work with the information you are getting it more and more securely stored.  Here are some easy ways to accomplish this:

·       Review your new lecture notes after each class with the addition of self-testing.  Do a quick review of the previous lecture so you see the big picture.

·       In addition to reading your assignments, either take separate notes or annotate the material.

·       At an additional study session make one or more study guides from the material.

·       Once a week review all of the material you need to learn.

·       One week or more before an exam (depending on the amount of material), do an overview of the material to be tested and break it into meaningful chunks.   Study the first part on the first day, the second part on the second with a review of the first, the third part on the third day with a review of one and two, and so on until all sections have been covered.  Then continue to review until the exam.

·       Attend all professor-led review sessions as well as any Supplemental Instruction sessions available.

The point is that studying needs to be constant, not condensed into the night prior to the exam!  That leads to the next, and final, part – the importance of sleep! 

*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation For Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and wordassociation.com.   Click on the upper right link.

Study Smarter, Not Longer: Blog 5 of 7 - Self-testing

Self-testing is one of the most important parts of learning, but one that is just now receiving more attention.  If you remember that your goal is to get information firmly into your long-term memory so that you can easily retrieve it when needed (like on the exam!) it makes sense that you should practice the retrieval!

This should be happening throughout the learning process, not just at the end when you feel you have mastered the material.  Here are some easy ways to add self-testing to your variety of strategies:

• When reading an assignment, stop after each section and, without looking, restate what you just read in your own words.   If you can, move on to the next section.  If you cannot, reread and repeat.
• Do the same when reviewing lecture notes – divide into logical sections (remember chunking?), read, test yourself, and either repeat or move ahead.
• Make study cards.   Read the front, remember what is on the back, then look and confirm.  Make two piles, the ones you got correct and the ones you missed.  Go through the ones you missed until you get them all.  Then tomorrow – repeat!!!
• When using concept maps or review charts, cover the information with a sheet of paper and restate in your own words.
• Make practice quizzes and share with a study group from the class.
• Get together with your study group and take turns asking each other questions.
• Make use of any practice quizzes provided by the textbook publisher.

Don’t be discouraged when you forget and have to relearn something.  That actually strengthens your recall in the end!

Self-testing is a very powerful learning strategy and will make a noticeable difference in your mastery of the material in your classes and thus – your grades!!!

*****

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

Study Smarter, Not Longer: Blog 4 of 7 – Repetition

This part of the learning process is quite simple - in order to learn new information, you need to work with it multiple times.  The only catch is that you need to doing different things with the information – not just rereading and rereading your notes.  (See Blog 2!!)

This starts the day you read the assignment or attend the lecture.  That is your first exposure.  Then you need to think about and work with the information frequently between that time and the exam.

Think about a time when you did something for the first time.  (This can be anything – driving, changing your sport swing or position, trying a new art form, etc.)   At first it was awkward, you were unsure what to do.  But as you repeated the action again and again was easier and eventually became automatic.  This is what happens with learning. You want to repeat the information over and over until the recall becomes automatic.  What you are doing is transferring the information from your short-term to your long-term memory.

While this seems very simple, too many students don’t understand this and try to just “review” their notes the night before the exam. 

The next part of learning takes a bit more effort but is one of the key factors and reinforces what you have to do on the exam – self-testing.  Check back shortly!

*****

First Semester Success: Learning Strategies for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com., wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.   Click on the upper right link.

Study Smarter, Not Longer: Blog 3 of 7 - Chunking

One of my students’ favorite learning strategies is chunking – breaking down the information you need to learn into manageable chunks.  Here is why it works:  when you are studying you are using your short-term or working memory and you have to keep working with the material to get it transferred to your long-term memory.   Two things are important to know about your working memory:

1.       Information does not permanently stay there.  Your goal is to work with it enough to get it into your long-term memory which you will access during an exam.

2.       You can only work with 7 plus or minus 2 items at a time (George A. Miller, 1956, Princeton University, Department of Psychology).

So, what does this mean to you, the learner?

·       You cannot learn multiple pages of lecture notes at a once.  You have to break them down into meaningful chunks and learn each of those.

·       When reading a long textbook chapter, stop after each section and review what you read before moving on.

·       When preparing for an exam covering half a semester’s information you have to see the overview picture and then work with meaningful chunks of the information.  

It is important to note that you are always going between the larger view and the smaller chunks.  You need to see how everything fits together, but also work with the small bits of information to learn.

The next blog will look at the multiple encounters that are needed to really learn something.  Stay tuned!

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

Study Smarter, Not Longer: Blog 2 of 7 - Use a Variety of Strategies

A common study strategy is to “review” or “reread” lecture notes over and over.  This does not work!  At best you will memorize the information in the exact words you wrote and in the exact order, but you will not understand the information or be able to work with it on an exam.  You need to work with the information is a variety of ways to fully learn.  Here are some ideas from my Learning Strategies classes:

Visually:

• Rework the information into study guides (concept maps, review charts, outlines, time lines, study cards) whatever format suits the information.
• Add visuals.  Many students draw pictures or paste computer print-outs on their notecards.
• If appropriate, look at videos related to the material.
• Go to Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org) and watch someone else explain the information.
• Color code your notes, or highlight different information with different colors.
• Create your own Power Point slides

 Aurally (hearing):

• Obviously go to class so that you hear the professor explain the material.
• Read your notes out loud.  I have had some students sing their notes to a song beat.
• Join a study group and talk about the information with others.  Perhaps take turns either explaining the information or quizzing each other.
• Go to peer tutoring sessions.
• Record yourself explaining the information or reading the notes and listen while driving or exercising (combines hearing and muscle movement)

 Muscle movement:

• Create study guides (see Visual – you are using small muscles)
• Reserve a Library study room or classroom and write the material on the white or chalk boards
• Study in a different location.
• After creating a portable study guide, review it while exercising.   Stationary bikes work better than treadmills!  On the treadmill listen to your recorded notes (see Aural).

You can see there is a lot of overlap.  Try a variety of strategies depending on what you like and the material you have to learn.  It makes learning easier and more enjoyable!

The next blog will look at one of my students’ favorite strategies: chunking!  Come back next week to see what that is!

*****

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

Study Smarter, Not Longer: First in a Series of 7

The following seven blogs will cover effective learning strategies that will help you use your study time more effectively.  You can study for hours and not make any progress if you do not know how to learn.  This series, which should take us to the end of the semester and final exams, will explore how learning happens and what you, the learner, can do to maximize your efforts.

In my classes I explain learning with this description:

Learning requires variety, repetition and self-testing spaced out over time.

Obviously, there is not one magic strategy, but many.

The first is to have an overview of the material and fill in any missing background knowledge.  I am always telling my students to look at “The Big Picture” whether they are reading a textbook chapter, taking lecture notes, or preparing for an exam.  Before mastering the details you need to understand the overall organization so that you see how everything fits together.

To see the Big Picture, do the following:

• When reading an assignment, look through the entire chapter or article first.  Read the headings, bold print, charts, graphs, pictures, extra material in side bars, etc.   If these aids are limited, which they often are in articles or higher-level textbooks you might consider skimming the assignment first and then rereading in depth.
• In a lecture class, read the syllabus to get a feel for how the professor has organized the course and the material.
• Before a lecture class, review the previous lecture notes as these will probably provide a foundation for the next lecture.
• Read the textbook before a lecture, even if it is confusing.  You can go back and reread after class but the initial reading will introduce you to the topic, people, vocabulary, etc.
• When studying your lecture notes after class be sure to see how that class fits in with the overall course.
• When you are preparing for an exam, first look at the organization of all the material to be covered.  Then break it down into logical smaller portions and learn each.

The next blog will explain how to incorporate a variety of strategies and some ideas of what those might be.

*****

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

Mid-term Exams and Grades

It is hard to believe, but the semester is about half over.  Here are some things to keep in mind at this time regarding mid-term exams and grades:

Before mid-term exams:

·       Make sure you are keeping your calendar up to date so you know ahead of time when the exams are scheduled.

·       Be sure you have all of the information that will be on the exams, particularly if you have missed a class.

·       Start early to study, NOT the night before.   This is good practice for finals.

·       If you have two or more in a row, make a small study guide to look at as you travel between locations.  This will help you get your brain into the information for the next exam.  (You might also talk to the professor and ask if there is another class period or time when you could take the exam.)

After the exams:

·       If you discover there is information you have learned incorrectly or don’ t know at all, make sure you get it before the class moves forward, especially if the final is cumulative or it is in your major.  You can see your professor or ask another student who you know earned a high grade.

·       Analyze your preparation and learning throughout the first half of the semester and see what improvements you can make.

Mid-term grades:

·       Examine your grades and analyze how you have been studying.  Will just a little more effort earn you a higher grade?    Consider asking the professor, a peer tutor or a successful student in the class about study tips.

·       If you find you are failing a class, ask the professor (in person is best) if there is a chance of passing.  If so, explain how you have been preparing and ask for suggestions.  If there is no chance to pass, talk to your advisor about the possibility of withdrawing.  You should also talk with the financial aid office to see if this will impact any grants or loans.  There are multiple ramifications to failing a class!

The next several blog postings will look at exactly how learning happens and how you can maximize your study efforts!

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

Successful Habit # 7 – We are what we repeatedly do…

One quote I use frequently in my classes, especially Learning Strategies, is by Aristotle.  I often get kidded about using quotes by dead people instead of someone from current pop culture (especially by the younger faculty members!), but you just can’t beat this idea! 

We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.

Think back on the last 24 hours.  How did you spend most of your time?  What do those choices say about who you are?

Admittedly I like routine and I don’t necessarily like change or variety, so it is easy for me to structure my time to work on the things that I want or need to do.  If you like flexibility and spontaneity, schedule in that time or change up where or how you study.   But if you put something important off and tell yourself you will do it “when you have the time” you will never get it done.

For the college student, one challenge is that each semester is a new class schedule and they have to develop new habits to accomplish their goals.   At the beginning of each semester decide when to study, exercise, relax, etc. and then start that schedule the first week of classes.  Some things that we have looked at in past blogs that should be built in are:

·       Attend EVERY class

·       Review notes after EVERY class

·       Attend any tutoring or Supplemental Instruction available

·       Read the textbook or assignment before class

·       Look at the syllabus every class

·       Write down all assignments

·       Be in the habit of ALWAYS doing your best.  That way you will be able to do your best when it counts.

The list does seem daunting, but once you are in the HABIT of doing this it will seem easy and natural!

Now that you have developed successful habits, the next several blogs will deal with the ingredients to successful learning and how they can be built into your study repertoire.  Keep learning!

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

Successful Habit #6 - Read Textbook BEFORE Clas!

This is a simple habit that will make a big difference in your learning.  Here’s why:

·       You will have an idea/preview of what the lecture will be about.

·       If the professor is unorganized, you will have an idea of the structure of the information.

·       If the professor has a heavy accent, you will have an idea of the words he or she may be using.

·       This initial reading starts the learning process.  Remember that learning takes repetition and this is your first exposure to the information.

It is okay if you do not completely understand the information.  Simply reread the assignment after class and coordinate with your lecture notes.

It goes without saying that reading your textbook for the first time the night before an exam is a waste of your time!

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

Successful Habit #5 - Studying Notes After Each Class

If there is one habit you can follow that will make a major difference in your grades, it is to review and start to learn your lecture notes after each class.  This might seem like a lot of work, but in fact this strategy will lessen the total amount of time you have to spend studying in the long run.   Rereading your notes is only the beginning, there are several more strategies you need to add that will help you actually learn and understand the information.

Here is what you need to do as soon as possible after each lecture class and definitely before the next class:

• Reread your lecture notes.  At this time make sure they make sense!  Correct spellings, add more words if needed so that they are very clear, identify any questions, reread sections of the textbook if that would clear up any confusion, etc.
• Make an effort while doing this to see the organization of the material and, if needed, highlight or somehow identify the main categories.  
• You can add information from the textbook if that will help your understanding.
• Of course, if your notes are a disaster (possibly through no fault of yours if the professor is very unorganized) you will have to rewrite them.  Many students always do this and find it very effective. 
• Then go back to the beginning and reread each logical section – not the entire set of notes at once.  At the end of each section, cover up the notes and try to restate the information in your own words from memory.  If you can, move on to the next section.  If you cannot, reread and try again.
• If appropriate, transfer the information onto to note cards.
• You can also make a study guide (concept map, review chart, time line, etc.) to help you understand the information.

The important thing is to do more with your notes than just reread.  You also will occasionally need to study ALL the notes that will be on the next exam.  You cannot just wait until the night before!

The idea here is to get into the HABIT of doing this after EVERY class.  If it is the norm for you to either go to the library after class or go somewhere else to study your notes, it will not seem like that much work at all. 

The next blog will look at another habit related to your classes – reading the textbook BEFORE class!

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

Successful Habit #4 - Taking Care of Your Health

Getting sick during the semester can be a real problem.  Not only can’t you always attend class but you do not feel like studying or doing anything at all!  Once a bug starts to go around it is nearly impossible to stay away from the germs.  There are some proactive things you can do to stay healthy:

·       WASH YOUR HANDS!!  Just imagine where the germs are lingering in the dorms and classrooms!

·       Get regular sleep.

·       Pay attention to your diet and eat foods that will keep you healthy.

·       Maintain a regular exercise schedule.

·       If your family agrees, get a flu shot.

Sometimes, even with the best prevention, you will get sick.   Hopefully if you are strong and healthy it will be brief and you will recover quickly.   If you do happen to get sick:

·       Contact someone in your class and either get the notes or find out what happened. (Of course, you have scouted the other students and made friends with a few that you think will earn ‘As!’)

·       If it is a smaller class where the professor takes attendance, send her a quick email so she knows why you are not there.

Your mental health is also important.  There are counseling centers on all campuses that are there for you if there are issues interfering with your studying.  It really helps to talk to someone impartial to the situation.  It is also important to socialize and take time off from studying, just be sure to do so in a safe and healthy way.   (You know I mean not partying – especially if you are under 21!  Nothing will hamper your future career like an underage drinking conviction.  You may not even be able to continue if your major is education or criminal justice!)

Next blog will look at the habit of reviewing and learning your notes after EACH class!  Why should you do this and what should you actually be doing???  Read next week to find out!

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

Successful Habit #3 - Stay Organized

Just like in high school, there are multiple professors giving you assignments, scheduling tests, assigning projects, etc.  It is vitally important that you stay organized so that nothing falls through the cracks.  Here are some ideas:

·       Keep your papers for each class separate and together.  Do not use just one notebook.  Either get multiple spiral notebooks or a loose-leaf binder with dividers.

·       Write down major assignments and tests on a master, monthly calendar and also in your planner.

·       Write down all assignments and quizzes in your daily planner.   Keep this with you and check it all the time.  Some students write these things down in their notes, but that only works if you are always looking at your notes.

·       Keep the syllabus for each class and look at it all the time.  (This assumes that you thoroughly read it at the beginning of the semester so you are familiar with the attendance policy, grading policy, flow of semester, etc.)  Not all professors will remind you that there is an exam coming up.

·       Keep all returned work until you have received your final grade.  If you think the professor made an error it helps if you can show the grades you received.

Where many students fall short is the day to day time and effort to stay organized.   Even though it does takes daily effort, it is well worth the pay-off of easily knowing where everything is and what is happening in each class.

Next blog will look at your personal habits that enable you to do your best work.

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

Successbul Habits #1 and #2 of 7

I have spent several weeks sharing negative habits and problems I have observed in my struggling college students, but what are the positive habits I have seen in successful students?  There are at least seven, and they are not that hard to do.  It is much easier if you practice these habits from the start of the semester.  If you not, remember that is may be uncomfortable at first but soon will become natural.

#1 – Attend all classes!

This seems obvious, but it is amazing how many students think this is an option or a daily decision!  You go to class, there is not an option or a daily decision to be made.  You just always go.

One problem with missing is that, the next time you go you do not necessarily know what is happening in class and you feel uncomfortable.  This leads to not attending again to avoid that feeling.  Get to know someone in the class who you can contact if you get sick so that you have an idea of what you have missed.

If attendance is a problem, it helps to add some external motivation.  One option is to print out your weekly schedule and then X off each class you attend.  You can also make yourself a hand-drawn weekly chart with the classes listed for each day and then cross off each one as you attend.  The concrete act of crossing each class off is very motivating.  You can treat yourself after each perfect week to something you would like, but hopefully the internal satisfaction of attending, knowing what is happening and learning will be motivation enough.

#2 – Appear interested in the class

Keep in mind that your professors are constantly looking at the students’ faces and forming opinions of their interest level, personality and potential to succeed.   (This is perfectly natural – you do it all the time when you meet someone new!)  Make an effort to look pleasant and interested.  This really goes a long way and, if you are not feeling particularly pleasant or interested, by faking it you may actually find that you are!

Next week accurately keeping track of your assignments and exams. 

*****

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

Freshman Pitfall #6 - Distractions at Home

When you are at college life does not stop around you.  I often have students who are distracted by problems at home – some unfortunately very serious.  I had one very promising student who had to withdraw because her family could not survive without her.  Some problems my students have encountered, and some coping strategies, are:

• Breaking up with boyfriends or girlfriends at home or at another institution (or even one at your own school) - This is quite traumatic at the time.  It does not help to say that you will survive and be happy again, and in fact that the break up could be a good thing.  Take some time to review your own personal goals and why you are in college.  Maybe talk to someone at your school’s counseling services or a good friend.  Don’t do anything stupid like recklessly going out and partying!   Take it easy for a few days and let your emotions cool down.
• Financial concerns – this is always a concern for students, and rightly so.  College is very expensive and paying for it now and later is an ongoing factor.  Consider a part-time job (one on campus is your best option if you are find one) or at least a job at home during breaks.  And keep track of your spending!  The cost of fruit smoothies and fancy coffees adds up.  Limit yourself to one a week as a reward for studying and/or attending all classes!
• Family illness, surgeries or a death in the family – It is a good idea to discuss this with your family before you start college.  What are their expectations and what are yours?  If you are the first in your family to attend college they may not understand the pressure you are under to stay on top of your work.  Again, if there is a problem at home consider talking to a professional at your institution.  In some cases there are grief support groups you can attend.  Unlike an illness, grief does not quickly lift and you may have difficulty getting back on track.

On a side note, if there is a death and you talk to your professor about missing class to go home, do not be insulted if they ask to see an obituary.  Unfortunately, some students seem to have multiple elderly grandparents and take advantage of the professor’s sympathy.

In all these situations it is important to always be on top of your studies so that you are best prepared to deal with any eventuality and to keep your professors informed.

Next blog we will switch to the positive things you can do to be successful!  Until then, keep studying!

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

Freshman Pitfall #5 – Getting Sick

Getting sick in the middle of the semester is not the end of your academic career, but it can make things very difficult and sometimes be the difference between a higher and lower grade.  The semester is so short and goes by so quickly that there is not time to take a week off to get better.  Some things you can do are:

• Stay healthy.  Don’t let yourself get run down.    Eat healthy food.  Get adequate rest.  Exercise. Wash your hands!  Once something starts to go through the dorms it travels quickly. 
• If you do get sick, try to catch it early and head off the worst part.  Missing one class early in an illness is better than missing an entire week of classes.
• The classes I teach are smaller (20 – 25 students) and I take attendance every day, so I notice if someone is missing   I prefer to know why a student is not there.  Just a quick email or a message passed on with a friend is sufficient.  You will have to read your professor to know if you should notify them, especially in a large lecture class, but I would err on the side of contacting the professor.
• Do NOT ask, “Did I miss anything?”   Of course you did!!!  It is insulting to ask because it implies that sometimes there was nothing important going on in class.   If you have to ask, be specific, such as, “Did you announce the next test date?”
• Early on in the semester make friends with a few people in the class (preferably those you think will earn an ‘A’) so that you can get missing notes or assignments from someone.
• While you are recovering do your best to keep up with assignments, reading and studying.

There is always the question about if you should push yourself and attend class.  If you are contagious I would prefer not so see you (and not to get sick myself!).  If it is manageable and you are not disrupting the rest of the class I say you should go!

Again – consciously work to stay healthy!

Next blog will discuss a more difficult subject – what to do when a family member at home gets sick and options to handle this.  Until then, go wash your hands!

*****

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

Freshman Pitfall #4 - One Difficult Class

In my spring Learning Strategies classes there are always students who are on academic probation because of failing just one class, otherwise their grades were all passing.  There are multiple reasons for this:

• Not enough background  knowledge about the subject
• A professor with an accent that is hard-to-understand
• 8:00 AM class that the student has trouble getting up to attend
• Lack of interest in the subject

Here are some suggestions to cope with each of these:

• For lack of background knowledge, you can go on the internet and get the basic information (for starters look at Wikipedia), get a lower-level book from the Library, go to tutoring, or go and talk with the professor.
• For a professor with a hard-to-understand accent I usually suggest going to see them during office hours with some random question and get a chance to talk with them one-on-one.   Often it is just a matter of getting used to how they talk.  You can also raise your hand in class and ask them to repeat what they said – if you do not understand there are other students who do not understand either.  Also, read your textbook before class so you anticipate what words they will be using and go to tutoring!
• I have limited sympathy for a student who complains they cannot get up for their 8:00 AM classes!  You could go to bed earlier, set multiple alarms, or have someone come to the room and get you.
• Regarding lack of interest, one off-the-wall idea is to act as if you are interested.  What would you do if this was your favorite class?  How much would you study, pay attention, etc.?

In all cases, a major motivation to just buckle down and get the work done is that if you fail the class one semester you are going to have to take it again – and pay for it again!!!

Not every class will be your favorite but, especially in the liberal studies courses, you are building a wide range of general knowledge that you will draw on throughout your life.  And you never know when you might learn something that will turn out to be vitally important or interesting as you progress in your career.

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

Freshman Pitfall #3 – Time Management in General

Besides surviving the first week of classes, how you manage your time is important throughout the semester.  Once the semester gets rolling things get very busy.  One skill that many people do not have is the ability to juggle multiple assignments and to look forward to see what is the best plan to get everything done.   This is a constant challenge which explains why organized students and people in general are always looking at their calendars and planners.   Some tools and strategies are:

Monthly calendar – At the beginning of every semester, go through all of your syllabi and write down major exams, projects, presentations, etc.   Also note any special event such as a trip or visit home.  I write these on a master monthly calendar as well as in my planner.

Weekly planner – In addition to the above information, use this to record any small assignment given in class, speakers or concerts, meetings, etc.   You will see the successful students pull out their planner (if they are not already out) as soon as the professor announces something. 

Daily to-do list – Either last thing at night or first thing in the morning look to see what is due and what is happening and then make a list of what you would like to accomplish that day.   It is very motivating to cross off what you have done.   If something does not get done, put it on tomorrow’s list.

What about keeping all of this information in your cell phone?   Many students prefer this method.  They set timers to go off to remind them that they need to do something.  Admittedly I am a “paper and pen” person so I do not like this method, but it seems to me that with all of the due dates your phone would constantly be reminding you of something.  Two other problems I would have is that it is hard to keep your phone open in front of you for an extended period of time and it is hard to see the overall picture of several weeks or the semester.

Being a good time manager takes time and patience but a major benefit is that you are not stressed about what you need to do or, even worse, stressed because you forgot something!

Next week one more entry dealing with time – staying on top of your assignments, grades and conflicting schedules.

*****

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

Freshman Pitfall #2 - Time Management the First Week

Semesters are very short – 14 to 15 weeks on average, but during the first week it seems like you have all the time in the world.  Some professors don’t do too much during the first class except go over the syllabus.  (Some schools have an “Add/Drop” week where you can easily change your schedule, so some professors don’t like to get too deep into their subject until the class roster is finalized.)  Keep in mind, though, that some will start lecturing the very first class and expect the students to be prepared to take notes and to study the syllabus on their own!

Even though it might seem that you don’t have a lot to do, it is important to get into good study habits right from the start. Look at your new schedule and decide when and where you will study.  It doesn’t have to be at the Library, but be sure it is a productive location.   Also, be willing to make changes if what you are doing is not working.

Some things you can do the first week:

·       Read all your syllabi.

·       Record all major exams, papers and projects on a monthly calendar.

·       Preview your textbooks.

·       Read the preface and Note to Students.  (I know this sounds unusual, but often authors give your information about how the book is organized or why they organized the book the way they did.

·       Start to read chapter one!

Keep in mind that it is easier to start your new study schedule from day one as opposed to making changes once a nonproductive schedule has become habit.

Next week we will continue on with more time management problems and solutions.

*****

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

Freshman Pitfalls #1 - Incidental Expenses

After some time off from posting, I am starting a summer series about pitfalls first-time freshmen need to prepare for and to avoid.    These have been gathered from my experiences with the students on academic probation who were in my Learning Strategies classes in the spring.

The first one is running out of money before the end of the semester.  This can cause several problems:

• There are still professors (like me!) who prefer papers be submitted on actual paper as opposed to being submitted electronically.  Many students run out of money and cannot pay for printing through the school or cannot afford to buy more ink for their own printer.
• Many professors use power point slides that they make available to students.  It is much efficient to print out the slides and take class notes directly on them if they are available before class or print them out after class and transfer class notes onto the slides as a study strategy.  In many classes, these slides are quite numerous and, again, we are back to the cost of printing.   It is much more difficult to learn from the slides when looking at them on the computer.
• Not being able to pay small fines for an overdue book or other bills which puts a hold on the student’s account and they cannot register for classes the next semester.

Some solutions can include:

• Limit the number of expensive drinks from the snack and coffee bars.  (You would be amazed at the number of students bringing large, expensive coffees and smoothies to class.)
• Budget your money.  Put some away for use at the end of the semester.
• Get a part time job, on campus if possible.  Having a job will actually make you use your time better and you will have more expendable income.

The next post (and a few others) will deal with time management – perhaps the number one adjustment a freshman has to make!

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

Studying "Harder"

In my Learning Strategies classes we talk a lot about setting goals.   I tell students an effective goal needs three characteristics:

·         It has to have a time limit – When do you plan to accomplish the goal?

·         It needs to be measurable – How will you know you did it?

·         It needs to be something you can accomplish – Meeting your goal helps build motivation for the next challenge.  (Some people suggest setting your goal extremely high, and then even if you don’t meet it you still have accomplished a lot.  You need to know yourself and think about which will motivate you more.)

When the sections of Learning Strategies ended this spring I have every student set a goal for the remainder of the semester, write it on an index card and then tape it to their bathroom mirror so that they read it each morning.  One student stated the following goal:

When things get hard, I will work harder.

While this does not meet any of the above characteristics, I love this statement!  It works great as a daily motto.  Imagine if you told yourself this every morning and then followed that thought throughout the day.  Nothing could hold you back!

Whatever your motivation, think about it every day and use that as your guiding principle.  Your potential is boundless!   Enjoy!

PS – Of course it is important to know exactly what you will do when you “work harder.”   The previous blogs (all 254 of them) give you this information.

*****

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

Test-taking Strategies

My Learning Strategies class is coming to an end.  One of the last topics we discussed is test-taking strategies.  Of course nothing will help a lack of preparation, but there are some things you can do to enhance your grade.

General strategies:

·         Look through entire test before starting to see how many questions, type and point value for each.

·         Watch your time.   Divide it up before starting depending on how the points are distributed.

·         Some students like to do the ones they know first.  This activates that knowledge area in their brain.

·         Splash-down strategy - if there is something you are struggling to remember or you created a mnemonic device, jot it down in the margin of the test as soon as you receive it. You can then quit thinking about that and concentrate on the test.

Essay:

·         Before starting to write make a quick outline of your answer.  This helps with organization and clarity.

·         Remember to think about the reader (your professor).  Write so that he or she can clearly follow your points.   Use signal words to help the reader follow along.

·         Read the prompt carefully.  Consider annotating if there are multiple sections.

·         Don’t try to write a global answer.  If there are several parts, answer each one in order.

Multiple Choice:

·         Eliminate the options you know are wrong.

·         Slow down when the question is tricky; for example, if there is NOT or EXCEPT in the question.

·         Use future questions to help you answer previous ones you do not know.  Sometimes the wrong answer will help you remember the correct answer to an earlier question.

·         Be careful you do not spend too much time on one question.  Make you best guess, fill in the answer, make a note to come back if time, and then move on.

Short Answer:

·         For this, either you know it or you don’t!

True/False:

·         If any part of the sentence is false the whole thing is false.

·         If guessing, an ultimate word such as “everyone” or “no one” is probably false and a middle-of-the-road word such as ‘frequently” is probably true.

Again, none of this matters if you have not studied!!  Preparation is the key!

*****

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