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!

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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.