You got your grades. Now what?

Once you have seen your semester grades you have some decisions to make before the start of the next semester.  Here are some different scenarios and things to think about:

Your grades are great!  Congratulations!  Take some time to enjoy your success!  Then think about:

• What went well this semester that helped you earn such good grades? 
• How did you manage your time? 
• Where did you study?
• What study strategies did you use that worked?
• Think about your schedule next semester.  What did you do this semester that you can repeat?
• What class do you think will be your biggest challenge next semester?  How will you handle that?

Your grades are disappointing.  Think about:

• Where were your problems areas?  Time management?  Study environment?  Knowledge of how learning happens?
• What happened in your hardest class?  How did you study?  Looking back, what strategies might have helped?
• Did you seek help by talking with your professors or going to tutoring? 
• Examine the classes you struggled with.  What made them difficult?  Are there any indications that you should change your major to focus on classes in which you did well?
• Look at your schedule for next semester and plan exactly when and where you will study. 
• Review previous blogs on this site to get information about study strategies you can use.
• See if you should retake some classes to erase low grades and bring up your grade point average.
• Look for a Learning Strategies class at your institution and enroll.

If things are really bad:

• If you are not returning, check with the financial aid office to see if there is anything you should do to put any type of aid or loan on hold.
• If you are going to take some classes at a local college, be sure they fit into your course of study.
• Take a class in learning so you do not repeat the same  mistakes.
• Examine your priorities.  Is college one of them?

Whatever your situation, be sure to set yourself  up to be successful.  Focus on what went well and change the roadblocks that held you back.
*****
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 Finals Week Strategies

Students tend to get stressed during Finals Week, but if you are prepared there is no need to do so.  Often students relieve their own stress by talking about it and giving it to someone else!  You are calm and prepared, so don’t let someone else share their stress with you!  Here are some things to keep in mind:

* Do NOT stay up all night!  That is the worst thing you can do.  A tired brain does not function well and the lack of sleep will not only affect your performance on the exam you studied for but the future exams as well.

* Shower, eat breakfast and scrub your teeth before going to the exam.  It is amazing how better you will do if you feel awake and alert!

* Get to the exam early so you are not feeling rushed.   If the exam is given in a different room than the class it is helpful to get there extra early in order to get a good seat and review the information in that particular setting. (If the exam is given to a large group in a lecture hall it is very helpful to go there a few days before the exam to be sure you know where you are going and also, if possible, to sit in the room and study.  We do better on tests if we take them in the environment in which we learned the material!)

* Continue to maintain your exercise schedule.  Only positive things happen with exercise!

* If you are feeling stressed, focus on a positive event that will happen after exams.  Or think about how great it will feel to look at your grades and see your hard work pay off!

* Maintain a positive attitude.  If you do not know the first answer move on until you find a question you do know.  That will activate that knowledge center in your brain and the information will start to come to you.

* If you do feel especially stressed when the exam is distributed, pause and take a few deep breaths.  This will help you relax and think.

In the next blog we will look at strategies to consider if you grades are great and if (unfortunately) they are not.  Work hard and enjoy your 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 amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Approaching the End of the Semester

At my institution we only have three weeks of classes and one week of finals left in the semester.  Here are some ideas to succeed in this busy time:

• Map out the final weeks day by day.  Include what assignments are due, regular exam and final exam dates.
• Plan ahead when you will start to work on projects and papers.
• Plan when you will start to study for each exam.
• Check to be sure you have all material – class notes if you have been absent – and handouts.  Rewrite the missing class notes in your style and include in your notebook.
• Realistically look at your grades so far and set a goal for each class.  Set your goal a little high but make it something you can achieve.  Post your goal grades where you can see them each day.
• If you are close to a higher grade in a class, put in extra effort to achieve the higher grade.
• Plan some time to relax.
• Take care of your health – eat well, exercise, sleep!
• Plan a pleasant treat for yourself after the semester ends.
• Imagine how sweet it will be to check you grades for the semester and see your hard work pay off.

The next blog will discuss how to keep your learning fresh over Thanksgiving Break.
*****
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.

 

Imply and Infer

One reading skill we work on in my class is making inferences.  This reading and thinking skill is heavily stressed on the Praxis and PAPA exams freshman students take to enter the College of Education curriculum.  When you make an inference you take the available information combined with what you already know to understand what is being implied but not directly stated.
Remember:

• The writer and speaker imply.
• The reader and listener infer.

You make inferences all the time.   For example, when you meet someone for the first time, you take what you see (their appearance, facial expression, demeanor) and what they say and form an impression of their personality.


Read the following three pairs of sentences and pay attention to your thought process as you read the second sentence in each pair.  You will be using context clues to make an inference about what the first sentence means.


Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow.


Mary had a little lamb.
She liked it served medium with mint jelly.


Mary had a little lamb.
The vet arrived just in time to help with the birth.


Usually textbooks directly state what they mean.  In persuasive essays, conversations and fiction writing implications are very common.  Be sure you are looking for any subtle meaning as well as what is directly stated.
*****
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.

EBook Reading Strategies

EBooks are probably the future of many textbooks, and, depending on who you talk to, that will be   fantastic or terrible!  A lot may depend on how the publishers adapt the material to the EBook format. 

Our grandson in 10^th grade has all of his textbooks as EBooks – there is only one paper copy in the classroom.   In his case it appears the AP History book was just copied as is, no adaptation for the different format.  His quiz scores were terrible until he started to print out the pages and read it on paper and mark up the pages.   Suddenly his quiz scores jumped to 90% - 100%! 

On the other hand I viewed a video about a McGraw Hill SmartBook.  They have added multiple strategies to help the reader including showing on overview of all the pages before the text starts and adding self-testing after reading with different colored highlighted text to indicate mastery or not.  The reader is then directed back to the pages where they need to review.

Here are some strategies you can adapt to an EBook (especially an unfriendly one that has just been copied online with no additional help) that will improve comprehension and retention:

*** Get an overview before starting to read.  You can look at the learning objectives, examine the individual pages as in the SmartBook above, or scroll through the entire text reading headings, bold print, or just sampling text here and there throughout.  I think this is an extremely important step that is much harder with an unfriendly EBook but it is necessary to see “The Big Picture” before starting to read the details!

*** Purposefully stop periodically and think about “The Big Picture” and how the information you are reading fits in.

*** After reading a section test yourself using recitation.  Stop and see if you can restate what you read in your own words.   If you can, move forward.  If you cannot, go back and reread until you can.

*** Take separate notes.

The future may be that we will be reading in many different formats.  I think this will place more demands on the reader to be effective and to have an arsenal of strategies that can be adapted to suit different needs and formats.

*****

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.

Signal words - whar are they and why are they important?

I suspect that my students get tired of hearing about signal words, but they are an important part of the collaboration between the writer and the reader.  The writer uses them to let the reader know where they are going in their writing and the reader's job is to be looking for them.  Here are some ways writers use signal words and some samples:
To signal the reader there is a list -

• There may be a number word telling the reader how many points, items, etc. to watch for.
• Examples: first, second, third, next, finally, including, examples, etc.

You can tell if the chronological order is important in several ways -

• By the context. For example, if it is something that has to be completed in a particular order such as changing a tire.
• Examples - in order, steps, following, beginning, previously, while
• You may also see dates when chronological order is important.

To signal compare and/or contrast -

• Examples for compare: similarly, likewise, also, too, alike
• Examples of contrast: but, on the other hand, however, whereas

To signal cause and effect -

• Examples: as a result, leads to, therefore, because, if...then

In my class this week students were evaluating two articles and discussing which one did the better job of getting the point across.  It was unanimous that the one with the signal words was easier to follow and understand and therefore was the one favored!


This information is also helpful when the tables are turned - when you are the writer and someone else is the reader.
*****
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.

Learning as a Process - Part 7 of 7

We  have made it to the end of this series!  To recap, let's look at the overall picture of learning for students:
Stage 1 - Comprehension
Before you even start to learn, you have to comprehend what you are reading, hearing, writing down, etc.  At this stage you should be able to restate what you are learning in about the same words used by the lecturer or textbook.
Stage 2 - Understanding
This is a higher level than simply comprehending.  At this stage you should be able to:

• Explain or restate in your own words.
• Work with the information in a variety of ways - take notes, convert into study guides, etc.
• See how various pieces of information fit together.
• Apply the information to a new situation.

Stage 3 - Storage
Now you have to get the information firmly implanted in your long-term memory.  This is what takes multiple exposures with a variety of strategies spaced out over time.  In many cases, stages 2 and 3 happen simultaneously and over time.
Stage 4 - Retrieval
At this final stage you should be able to remember the information with very little prompting.  It is important to practice retrieval through self-testing.  The more often you retrieve the information the easier you will be able to do so on the exam.

Learning is not simple, it takes time and effort.  But by understanding how it happens, you can make sure you are using your time and effort wisely to gain the best results.

Future blogs will include:

• Reading and learning using eBooks
• Signal words
• Book review of How we Learn, by Benedict Carey

*****
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.

Learning as a Process - Part 6 of 7

The end goal of your learning process is a good grade on an exam.  (Not to mention learning what you need to know to be a success in your career!)  Up to this point we have discussed how you are learning the information and getting it into your long-term memory.  Once you are in the testing situation, here are some tips to get the information successfully on to the paper.  (Just keep in mind that there are no "magic" test-taking tips - the only "magic" comes from hard work before the exam.)

• Spashdown - if there is a specific piece of information you are worried about remembering, jot it down somewhere on the exam paper as soon as you get it. That way you can quit thinking about that information and focus on the exam.
• If you are taking an essay exam, stop and think about your answer and jot down a brief outline before starting to write.  This will focus your ideas and help you clearly answer all of the question and not go off on a tangent.
• Look at the entire test before starting.  In many cases different questions have different point values and you want to focus your time and effort on the highest valued items.
• Start with the ones you know.  Don't panic if you don't know the first question.  As you access that information in your memory you will start to remember more.
• Use questions and answers later in the test to jog your memory for answers you did not know earlier in the test.
• Manage your time.  Don't spend so much time on one part that you cannot do a good job on another part of the test.
• Monitor your self-talk.  Don't be telling yourself negative things.  Just do your best.

Again - your exam success is directly related to your preparation.  So, study!


The final blog in this series will recap and look at the learning process in an overview.
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (of 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.

Learning as a Process - Part 5 of 7

The goal of the learning process is to get information from your short-term, working memory to your long-term memory.


Short-term/working memory - this is what you are using when you are studying (reading, taking notes, learning your notes, making study guides, etc.)


Long-term memory - This is where you store all that you know and where you get the information when taking an exam.


So the question is ...How does the information go from the short-term to the long-term memory?


And the answer is ...It gets there by using a variety of strategies including self-testing combined with repetition and spacing these strategies out over time.

• Variety means doing different things with the information - reading, taking notes, recitation (restating in your own words from memory), study guides, study cards, practice tests, the list is endless!
• Repetition - You have to revisit the information you want to learn multiple times before it becomes firmly fixed in your long-term memory.
• Spaced out over time - it does not work to go over and over the information in one study period, it needs to be spaced over time.   Sixty minutes of study is very effective in 20 minute increments spread over three days, while 60 minutes the night before the exam is not effective.

So as you can see, getting the knowledge firmly into your long-term memory is a process that takes time and effort!


In the next blog we will look at the end result of this process - successfully taking 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.

Learning as a Process - Part 4 of 7

While "review" is just the beginning of the learning process, it is important both when taking lecture notes and in academic reading. 

With your lecture notes, you should review them as soon as possible after the class, definitely before the next class.  When you review you can do the following:

* Make any corrections needed
* Make sure your notes are clear - add more information if necessary.
* Highlight or do what is needed to be able to easily see the major topics and subtopics.
* Rewrite if needed.  For example, if your professor is not organized, you may need to rewrite your notes into some organizational format, perhaps one that follows the book.

With textbook reading, when you are done and before you move on to something else, take a few minutes to review what you have read.  This is important because it gives the information time to start to settle into your long-term memory.  You can review by doing the following:

* Reread your annotations (margin notes), separate notes or what you highlighted.
* Look at the Learning Objectives and see if you can remember the information.
* Look back through the chapter and reread the bold print.
* If there are "Terms to Know" at the end of the chapter, see if you can define those.

At this point, with either lecture notes or textbook reading, you can then begin the learning process.  One easy step is to test yourself with recitation.  Reread a section and then restate the information in your own words from memory.  If you can do this, move on to another logical section. If you cannot, reread or review and try again.

The next blog will look at moving information from your short-term to your long-term memory.
*****
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.

Learning as a Process - Part 3 of 7

Just like being an effective note-taker, being an effective academic reader is a process.  You can do things before you start, while you are reading and after you are done that will enhance your comprehension and retention of the material.  Here are some ideas:

Before reading -

• Be sure you know your purpose - that will direct which strategies you use during and after reading.
• Be sure you have some background knowledge about what you are going to read.
• Preview the assignment - this will also help  you gain background knowledge.
• Look at the topic of the selection and how it is organized.
• Read the learning objectives, headings and subheadings.
• Look at any information in bold print.
• Look at the pictures.
• See how long it is.
• Make a reading plan - if the assignment is too long to read in one sitting, divide it into a manageable part and read that.  Do NOT just stop in the middle of the sentence when your time is up!  Use any extra time to review what you read.

While you are reading -

• Strive to understand (I know this sounds obvious, but your mindset is important!)
• Monitor your comprehension and reread if it breaks down.
• Look for the overall organization.
• Look for signals from the author - context clues, signal words, bold print, spacing, etc.
• Use recitation - after reading a section stop and see if you can restate the information in your own words.  If you cannot, reread.
• Highlight - combine with recitation and only 25% to 30% of the page.
• Annotate or take margin notes - four steps: read, think about what you read, put into your own words, write key terms or phrases in the margin.  This has you interacting with the information in fours ways and strengthens your learning.

The next blog will look at the importance of review, both after reading an assignment and after taking lecture notes.
*****
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.

Learning as a Process: Part 2 of 7

In the last post we looked at things you can do before a lecture to prepare yourself to take effective notes.  Here are some ideas for during and after the lecture:
During the lecture -

• Look for how the professor organizes the information.
• Write down anything he or she writes on the board.
• Watch for signals such as a number indicating how many points there will be, writing something on the board, saying the information is important, etc.
• If you were able to print out the power point slides, take notes directly on those.  You may need additional paper for unrelated notes.
• Leave some space between topics so you can easily see the organization when you are studying. 
• Ask questions if you do not understand something.

When you have left the lecture class, remember that you have only recorded the information.  The true learning happens after class when you start to learn the notes.
After the lecture -

• As soon as possible review your notes - make corrections, clarification, identify questions.
• Start to learn the information.  After reading, see if you can recite the information in your own words without looking.  Check yourself.  If correct, move on to the next topic.  If incorrect, review and try again.
• Use chunking - study the information in small, logical chunks.  Do no try to learn 5 pages of notes at once.
• Consider extending your learning by putting the information into a study guide such as study cards, review chart, concept map, etc.  Reworking the information into a different format helps you understand and learn.
• Be aware that one lecture leads into the next.  For the most part they are not stand-alone pieces of information but a part of a larger topic.  Keep the big picture in mind as you move through the course.

Next week we will look at effective academic reading strategies.
*****
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.

Learning as a Process, Part 1 of 7

For the next several postings we will examine learning as a process.  Learning does not happen instantaneously - it takes time, effort and planning.  The postings will address:

• Taking effective lecture notes - before the lecture
• Taking effective lecture notes - during and after the lecture
• Academic Reading Strategies - before and during
• The importance of review
• Successful test-taking
• Getting information from your short-term to your long-term memory
• The flow of the semester

One thing that college students do is take a lot of lecture notes.  What you are creating is in effect another text that you will need for the class.  To learn from your notes they have to be clear, organized and complete.  In order to take effective notes your brain needs to be prepared to comprehend and record the information.  Here are some ideas to achieve that:

Before the lecture:

• Know what the topic will be (this is hopefully in your syllabus).
• Read the textbook to gain background knowledge and vocabulary.
• If there are power point slides, print them before class and review.  Consider using the format with the slides down the left side of the page and lines on the right for notes.
• Review the previous lecture as it will lead into the next one.

The important thing is to have some understanding about what will be covered in class.  It is impossible to get up to speed if you are unprepared and have no idea about the information.

The next blog will discuss what to do while you are taking the notes in order to have a working document to learn from and then what to do after the 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.

Welcome to the Fall Semester

This is the first week of classes at my institution and we just finished a one-week Freshman Experience Program.  Here are some tips from my class for new and returning students:

• Develop positive study habits from Day One!  Review your notes after each class and then start to learn them.  Go to the Library to study instead of back to your room or apartment.
• Make sure you have the supplies you need.
• Buy the books you need.  If you cannot afford them, ask your professor for help.
• Carefully read the syllabus for each class.  Note the attendance policy, how your work will be evaluated, what is the workload and how is it spread out over the semester.
• Put all major exams, papers and assignments on a monthly calendar so that you can see the entire semester and when things are due.
• Find out what help is available if you need it - Supplemental Instruction, Peer Tutoring, etc.

The semester moves very quickly so it is important to start right away with positive, productive habits!  Enjoy!
*****
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, barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Maximizing Your Learning Efforts, Part 6 of 6

We have explored several components that go into successful learning:

• Seeing the overall organization
• Having a productive, positive attitude
• Using a variety of techniques and strategies
• Working with the material multiple times
• Spreading the learning over an extended period of time

In this last post of the series I want to reinforce two specific strategies:


1. Recitation - restating the information in your own words from memory.  This is an extremely powerful strategy.  In essence you are doing what you will be asked to do on an exam or on the job when your need the information.  Every time you recall the information you are strengthening that connection and making it easier to do so the next time. Plus, this is extremely easy and does not require extra materials.  After you review your lecture notes or a textbook reading, simply look away and recall what you have read.  If you cannot successfully do so, review or reread and try again.  To extend this strategy you can explain or teach the information to someone else.


2. Review the information as soon as possible after you receive it.  This particularly applies to lecture notes.  As soon as possible after class go over your notes and make them as clear as possible, make any corrections necessary and identify any questions or confusions.  The more time that passes before doing this the more you will forget and you will have to restart the learning process from the beginning.


Keep all of this information in mind as your semester begins and put them into action right away - during the first week of classes.  Enjoy the semester!
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (of Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com, barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Maximizing Your Learning Efforts, Part 5 of 6

There is one last piece to the learning puzzle and that is to space your learning out over time.  You can use a variety of strategies and repetition, but they need to be over an extended period of time - not just overnight before the exam.  This is because the information needs time to become well entrenched in your memory.
Some ways to do this are:

• Review your lecture notes as soon as possible after class while they are fresh in your mind.  Make any corrections or clarifications needed.  Be sure they are neat, clear and well organized.  If necessary, rewrite them.
• Get on a study schedule.  Go to the library after each class or, if you return to your room or home, get into the habit of going straight to your desk  and studying the day's information.
• Start to study about a week before an exam.  Divide the information into logical sections and do an in-depth review of each section (one per day) and review all the material every day.
• Take advantage of any learning opportunity - professor-led review sessions, Supplemental Instruction, tutoring, study groups, etc.  These are added sources of review with the benefit of interacting with the information in different ways.
• Be sure you are reading any assignments as the semester progresses.  Don't save them until right before the exam.
• Make study cards for vocabulary or important information and use them when you have a few empty minutes during the day.
• Review hard-to-learn or crucial information right before you go to sleep at night.

Variety, repetition and this last part, spacing your learning out over time, are all important and depend on each other to be successful!


The last blog in this series will pull out two strategies that are crucial to your learning 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, barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Maximizing Your Learning Efforts, Part 4 of 6

It is hard to separate the various aspects that go into successful learning because they all work together, but in this blog post we are going to concentrate on repetition.   It seems pretty obvious that you have to go over something many times before you learn it. We seem to accept this in other areas of life (practicing a new golf swing, catching the baseball, cheerleading or dance movements) but often expect ourselves to learn information the first time we are exposed to it. 

One key is to combine the previous post – variety – with repetition.  Do different things with the information when you are studying.  It will not work to reread your notes multiple times.  You may memorize them in those exact words and in that exact order, but you will not understand or be able to work with the information when presented in a different format.

The next blog will be the final piece – spacing your learning out over 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 wordassociation.com, barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com.   Click on the upper right link.

Maximizing Your Learning Efforts, Part 3 of 6

One thing I have noticed about many freshmen students is that they do not know exactly what to do when they are studying beyond rereading.  Many students on academic probation will tell me that they plan to"study more" or "study harder," but they don't know any concrete activities to implement.  The following study strategies involve concrete, hands-on activities that will help you retain and understand the material:

• Rewrite your notes.  I know this sounds boring, but it is very effective.  While you are doing this you can reorganize them, add more information and identify anything you do not understand.
• Turn your lecture notes and textbook material into a study guide.  Again, you are reorganizing and rethinking the information.  Types of study guides include study cards, outlines, questions and answers, concept maps, review charts, time lines and Venn Diagrams.
• When reading your textbooks take margin notes (annotation) and/or separate notes.
• Add sound such as reading your notes out loud or singing them to a beat.
• Form a study group and take turns explaining the information to each other.
• Use recitation - restating the information in our own words from memory.  This is a very important strategy as you are practicing what you will be expected to do on the exam.  If you try to do this and cannot, that means you do no know the information well enough.

All of these strategies involve concrete, hands-on interaction with the information.  The strategies are not limited to this list.  Be creative!
The next blog will discuss repetition and why it is also important to 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 wordassociation.com, barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com.  Click on the upper right link.

 

Maximize Your Learning Efforts, Part 2 of 6

One extremely important part of successful learning is your attitude - about the amount of effort and time required and about the material in general.

• When you sit down to study be sure you are mentally planning to learn as opposed to thinking about how soon your can be done.  The same idea goes for reading your assignments - be sure you intend to understand and remember as opposed to counting down the pages!
• If you are taking a class you are not interested in, don't constantly bemoan the fact of how much you do not like it or the professor.  Instead, focus on your goal and see the class as one step closer to reaching it.
• When you are struggling to learn a particular topic (and everyone struggles at some time during their academic career) be sure you see yourself as succeeding and talk to yourself about how your will persevere and succeed.  Of course, your learning actions have to match this positive attitude!
• When taking an exam, don't immediately think about how you will fail.  Focus on how well you prepared, what your know and how you will succeed.
• In general, see yourself as an educated, successful learner and then match your habits to that image.

Our mental self-talk is very powerful and can shape who we are, how we persevere and succeed.  Be positive and focus on what is working and your successes!
Next week Part 3 will look at the importance of using a variety of strategies and what some of those strategies are.
*****
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.

Maximize Your Learning Efforts - Part 1 or 6

Have you ever felt that you really "studied hard" but did not seem to know the information on the exam?  There are study strategies that are very effective and some that are a waste of your time.  For the next six weeks we will look at how to be the most effective when your are studying and learning.


Part 1 - See the Big Picture


Before you get to the details, you need to understand the overall organization of the material you are trying to learn and understand.  Some ways to do that are:
Textbooks

• Look at the Table of Contents to see what all will be covered and how it will be addressed.
• Look at a sample chapter to see how the author indicates the main and sub points and what extra help they provide.
• If the professor jumps around in the book, take a look at the unassigned chapters prior to what you are to read.  They may have some background knowledge you need.
• Before starting an assignment, look through the entire chapter to see what it is about and how the material is organized.

Lectures

• Read the syllabus to see the overview of the entire course.
• Read any assignments before class.
• Listen to signal words such as THREE points, FIVE causes, on the other hand, but, etc.
• Strive to understand how the current information fits with the previous lecture and professor's overall organization of the course.
• Make sure you can identify the main and sub points in your notes.  Highlight, underline, indent or use what ever strategy you chose, but make your notes clear.

Exams

• Quickly look through the entire exam to see the types of questions and the weight of each.  Don't spend too much time on a questions that is only worth a few points at the expense of a major question.

Next week we will consider the importance of your attitude to your learning 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 amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Why read?

Hopefully during these summer months you will be able to find some time for pleasure reading, whether it be fiction or non-fiction.  Both students and professors are incredibly busy during the semester. Anyone who has a job and/or is taking care of a family is incredibly busy.  Sustained or prolonged reading is often one of the first activities to be dropped from your schedule.  But reading is important for more than just pleasure and escape.  So why read?

• It gives your mind a rest from the day-to-day cares and worries.   This is a good stress reliever.
• Prolonged reading helps your brain retain or develop the ability to concentrate for an extended period of time.  The lack of prolonged attention is one concern people mention with all of the electronic devices that have us jumping from topic to topic with just a few second attention to each.
• Reading helps you develop empathy.  You are more able to understand the viewpoint of others and not just our own.
• You increase your vocabulary.
• You increase your general background knowledge about multiple topics.
• You practice seeing the "big picture" as you keep the story line and multiple characters straight in your mind.
• In general, reading keeps you brain active so that you are ready to go when the new semester starts.

All of these skills transfer to your academic work.  So grab a book, find a shady spot and enjoy!
*****
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.

Finding Time to Study

My grandson said he thought the biggest challenge facing a new college student would be finding time to study.  In fact, he reported that as a sophomore in high school that is a challenge he currently faces.  Here are some solutions that will work whether you are a high school or college student:

• Plan ahead.  Think about what you need to do for the entire week and what available time you have.  Then decide when you will complete the work that needs to be done.
• Write it down.  Don't just plan to do something in your head.  Make a to-do list and then cross things off as they are completed.  Use this for the daily or weekly things.
• Use a planner.  Use this to keep track of the big things that you need to do and upcoming events you need to plan around.
• Set your priorities.  If you are in a time crunch this will help you focus on what is really important.
• Plan time for rest and relaxation.  This is important to maintain your energy and motivation.

These strategies work no matter how old or how busy you are.  Everyone has the same number of hours.  The successful person/student is able to use the time to their advantage.
*****
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.

Succeeding in Compressed Summer Classes

Most classes in the summer are compressed into about one-third the length of a regular semester.  This has its good and bad points depending on what else you are doing and how much you like the class!  Whatever your reason for taking the class or where you are taking it, it is important to do well.  The following is information I share with my students about these classes:


Benefits of taking a summer course:

• If taken at your institution you can raise your cumulative grade point average which is especially important if you are on academic probation or need a higher average to get into a specific program.
• You can take required lower level classes (math in particular) so that you can move on to the higher level classes required by your major.
• You can take some General or Liberal Studies requirements and thus lighten your course load during the semester or graduate early.

Positives:

• You only have one or two courses to focus on so you are not as scattered as during the semester.
• If you do not like the subject it will be over quickly.
• If you are taking the course at an institution near your home you will meet students from a variety of other schools who also live in your area.  This can be a fun experience and help you gain different perspectives.

Negatives:

• You most likely will have the class four or five days a week for several hours a day.  If you do not like the course that can be a very long time.
• It is the same amount of material covered in a regular semester.  You will have to study every night, there is no time to let up on your preparation.

Strategies for Success:

• Make sure you understand your school's policies.  If you are taking the class at a different school, what grade do you need to transfer in the credits?  Does the grade transfer or just the credits?
• Have the mindset that this is for a short period of time and you will give it your all.
• Review the material every night after class. Save time on the weekends to do any major reading or projects.
• Schedule you life and other activities so that you have time for the work required.  If you know you are going away for a major trip in the middle of the course, don't take it.
• Go to every class!
• Be sure to focus on the positives of the experience and not the negatives.

Summer courses are a great experience and a great way to move your education forward.  Work hard and enjoy!
*****
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.

Looking Ahead to Your First Semester

This morning I met with freshmen and helped them plan their classes for the fall semester.  Given that the students really don't know what to expect, there were a few quick tips I suggested they keep in mind:

• Go to class!  When there is no one to tell you what to do, it is surprisingly easy to skip one class which can then quickly become a pattern.  Don't give yourself an option - you are going to all your classes!
• There is a lot more reading and it is much more in-depth than in high school.  For the most part your professors expect that you have read, understood and retained the information in the book, even though they may not announce this daily in class.
• You are the main person responsible for your learning.
• The learning will happen outside of class, not during class.
• Keep on top of things beginning with week one.  The first week seems pretty easy but the semester moves very quickly and it is easy to get behind.

The start of the fall semester is exciting, particularly for a freshman.  Whether this is your first semester or you are an experienced student, before you get into the semester think about what positive habits you will follow and resolve to do so!  Good luck and enjoy!
*****
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.

Build Background Knowledge Over the Summer

The past two blogs have dealt with ideas to keep your skills fresh over the summer.  Another thing you can consider doing is to gain or increase your background knowledge for your future courses.  We know that the more you know about a subject the easier it is to learn new knowledge.  Here are some things to consider:


Keep current in your major:

• Look for related news articles.
• Go to the library and borrow the current books in your field.
• Read books and articles to increase your knowledge of the important history in your field.
• Look for opportunities to talk to people employed in your field.  If appropriate, ask to visit them at work or shadow them.
• If possible, work or volunteer in an area related to your major.

Liberal Studies courses:

• Sometimes what makes these courses difficult is the lack of background knowledge in a field that is totally new to you.  Do some research in this area to increase your knowledge.

Build needed skills:

• If your major requires a high level of math, study that.  Even if you are not taking a formal course you can review and practice what you know.
• Read, read, read.
• Spend time doing whatever it is that is required of your major - math, drawing, reading - whatever you will need to be proficient at or know in the fall.
• If your major requires an entrance or proficiency exam, study ahead for that.

Once you are working in your career you will be expected to maintain your skills and continue to learn.  Develop these habits now while you are in college and it will be natural for you once you are employed.  Any extra activity you can add to your resume will also demonstrate you are a self-directed learner and make your more marketable.
*****
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.

The Importance of Words

In my classes and with students preparing for entrance exams into the College of Education I focus much of the time on reading strategies (previewing, organization, signal words, etc.).  But a very important part of reading comprehension is vocabulary.  If you do not know what the words mean it is almost impossible to understand what you are reading.  This applies to reading textbooks as well as exam questions and answers. 

 

There are several ways you can figure out the meaning of a word without stopping your reading and looking it up in a dictionary:

*Context clues – often the writer will either include the specific meaning of the word in the sentence if it is important to the knowledge of the overall subject.  If this is the case you, the reader, are expected to know the meaning of the word from that point on.  This is even more emphasized if the word and definition are noted in the margin!

*Often you can still get the meaning of the sentence without knowing the exact meaning of a word.  This is fine for general reading, but be careful with your classes.


*A general understanding of word parts is useful.  For example, “im, in, un, non” all have a negative meaning, “pre” means before and “re” means to do again.  In subject areas this is a crucial tool as there will be word parts specific to each subject.

Here is some more ideas:

*If you see an unknown word three times, look it up and write down the word and definition.   Keep a running list of words you are learning and review often.

*In your subjects, use study cards to learn the vocabulary important to that discipline.

*Go to www.freerice.com and play their vocabulary game.  They do not give the meaning of the words, but it is a fun way to gradually increase the words you recognize.

Words are interesting and can make a big difference in your understanding and learning.  Pay attention to them and your vocabulary will gradually increase.  Enjoy!

*****

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.

Keep reading over the summer!

For many students summer is a time to relax and/or work to earn money for the next school year.  One other thing you should do is READ.  Here is why:


The most important reason is that reading over the summer will keep your reading and thinking skills sharp.


But also:

• You will increase your vocabulary.
• You will learn new things.
• You will have interesting things to talk about.
• You will feel educated and academic which goes a long way toward success in future semesters.

What should you read?

• Newspapers and magazines
• Books, both fiction and nonfiction - check out your local library where you can borrow books for free.
• Nonfiction books that relate to your major, especially current topics - it is important to stay up-to-date in your field.
• Blogs or related websites related to your field.

It is important to not just "take the summer off" and totally suspend your academic activities.  Here is one of my favorite quotes by Aristotle:


"You are what you repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."


Make sure you maintain the habit of reading and thinking over the summer months!  Also take time to relax and enjoy a bit more freedom!
*****
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.

 

The semester is over - now what?

The spring semester is over and all that is left is waiting for your grades.  Here are some things to consider once you have them.


If you did well and your semester and cumulative grade averages are good:

• Congratulations on a job well done!
• Think about what went well.  What exactly did you do to earn high grades?  What will you do again next semester?

If your grades were disappointing:

• Can you pinpoint a specific area where you struggled, such as math or English?  If you can, consider some work over the summer to improve in that area.  For example, you could take a lower-level class at a local college but not have the credits transfer or purchase a workbook and study on your own.
• Look at the requirements for your major.  Did you do well in those classes but had trouble in others?  Or if you struggled in your major classes, perhaps you should consider changing your major to one with classes where you feel you would do well.
• Did you attend every class?
• Seriously examine your study habits.  Did you review your notes after every class?  Use a variety of active strategies to learn the material?  Start a week ahead to prepare for an exam?
• Did you take advantage of other resources such as tutoring or visiting your professor's office hours?

Worst case scenario - if you are on probation:

• Read the above five points.
• Examine your next semester.  Can you repeat any classes to eliminate a particularly low grade?
• Can you take any classes over the summer that will boost your grades?  (If you do this, be very sure you will do very well in the class!)
• Consider talking with your advisor to make a recovery plan.

Whatever your outcome, plan ahead for the successful, positive strategies you will use next semester.  Consider writing a note  about this to yourself and packing it away with the things you will be taking back to college with you.


Enjoy the summer and a break from classes, however long it will be.
This blog will not be taking the summer off!  Look for more learning strategies and ideas to enhance your 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 amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and wordassociation.com.  Click on the upper right link.

If you must cram, here are some tips!

At my university this week is finals.  If you have been regularly studying during the semester you will be fine.  If you have not, here are some tips.  (AND - please go back and review earlier blogs about studying and learning before you take another class!)


The initial tendency is to pull an all-nighter.  That is the WORST thing you can do.  Sleep is essential and the exams you have in the succeeding days will suffer for one night of no sleep.  Instead:


1. Look at all of the information that will be on the final and write down the main topics, one per page.
2. Take one topic at a time and fill in the next level of information.  The amount of time and information will determine how much in depth you can go.
3. Pause and review what you have written.  Use recitation (restating in your own words from memory) to strengthen your learning.
4. Continue on with each main topic until everything has been covered.
5.  Review all the notes you have written immediately before going to sleep.
6. Review again in the morning before the exam.
7. Review the blog on test-taking strategies.  While that will not make up for your lack of studying, it will give you confidence when approaching the exam.


Good luck!
*****
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

Survival Guide for Finals Week

Final's week is this week at our granddaughter's university and next week at mine.  Of course the main way to prepare for finals is to have been studying and preparing all along.  But there are a few more things to keep in mind:

• Know when and where the final will be held.  (At my university it will be on one of the regular meeting days and in the same classroom but at a slightly different time.  Some schools have block finals where the final is in a different building, time, etc.)
• If the exam is in a different location, find it a few days before the exam so you know exactly where you are going.  You might even consider taking some time and reviewing the information in that location.  (It is easier to recall information in the same location where you learned it!)
• Be sure to maintain proper sleep and nutrition.  You will do better if you feel better!  (What ever you do, do not pull an all-nighter before an exam. You will not recover before the week is over!)
• On that same thought, get up in time to shower, scrub your teeth and eat breakfast before a big exam.
• Before you go to sleep at night review important information you need to know for the next day's exam.  Then go right to sleep - do not turn on your computer or television!
• If you have several exams in a row, make quick review cards to go over as you travel from one exam to another.  That will start to get your brain into the next material.
• Finally, don't get caught up in other students' anxiety.  They are just releasing theirs and giving it to you!

If you missed it, go back and review my previous blog about test-taking strategies.  Good luck!
*****
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

Nothing can take the place of studying, but there are some strategies you can use to be a better test taker:

 

#1 - Watch your time!   It is surprising how many people just start the test and don't plan or monitor their time!  It is obvious - if you have an hour and four essay questions, each should take about 15 minutes.   If some classrooms don't have a clock and you don't usually wear a watch, invest in an inexpensive one to wear just for exams.

 #2 - Look over the whole test before you start.  This will help with #1 and get you mind active.

 #3 - Don't worry if people are done before you.  My experience has been that those done early often do not do as well as those who use all of the time available.

 #4 - Splash-down.  If there is particular information you are having trouble remembering, jot it in the margin of the exam as soon as you get it.  Then you can quit thinking about it and focus on the questions.

 #5 - Do the ones you know first.  This will help you access that knowledge in your memory and start to bring it to the front.

 

Here are some ideas for specific types of exams:
Multiple Choice -

• Use process of elimination to reduce your number of choices.
• Read the question carefully.  Be sure you are answering the question asked. 
• If you are unsure of an answer, see if a later prompt or answers might give you a clue to the earlier question.
• If it is a paper and pencil scantron, be sure you are on the correct number.
• Watch out for words like NOT and EXCEPT.  Read those questions carefully.

 True/False -

• If you are not sure, most statements with ultimate words like "always" or "never" are false and middle-of-the-road words like "often" and "usually" are true.

 Essay -

• If there are multiple parts to the question, answer each in turn.  Do not try to write a global answer unless you are very proficient in the subject.
• Take a minute to sketch out a brief outline.  This will prevent you from writing yourself into a corner and not answering the question.
• Think of the reader (in this case your professor).   Write so they can clearly follow your thoughts.  Don't worry that he or she knows all of the information.  You job is to demonstrate how well you know it!

 

Most colleges and universities are approaching finals week.  The next post will address surviving the week with minimal stress.  (Of course the best plan is to study ahead!)
*****
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.

How to Prepare for a Major Exam

Here is the "trick question" I always ask my classes: When should you start to study for an exam?   The answer is - as soon as you receive the information!  Your learning is a continuous process.  You need to review and learn the material you receive after each class, do not wait until a week or so before an exam to start to study.  Certainly do not wait until the night before an exam!  Besides this, here are some more strategies:

 

What you need to know:

• Find out the type of exam (essay, multiple choice, etc.)
• What information will be on the exam?  If it is a final exam, does it cover the entire semester or the last unit?
• Where and when will the exam be given if different from the regular class time?
• Do you have all of the material?  If you were sick, are you missing any class notes or handouts?

 

How to prepare:

• Look at the information as a whole.  Divide it into logical sections.
• Consider making a large review chart covering all of the main topics.
• About one week before the exam, on the first day study the first section again in depth.  The second day study the second section in depth and review the first.  The third day study the third section in depth and review the first and second.  (I am sure you get the idea here - continue on until you have completed all sections.)
• The day before do a general review of all material.
• Get a good night's sleep and eat breakfast!

 

Some other strategies:

• Predict exam questions and answers.
• If the professor has given you essay or short answer prompts, write out the answers!  Don't just "think about them!"
• Form a study group and either teach the information to each other or quiz each other.
• Review information you are struggling with right before you go to sleep the night before the exam.  (This helps consolidate the information in your long-term memory.)

 

Why do we have to have exams?
Besides testing how much you  have learned, the professor's other objective is to motivate you to review all of the material covered in the class before moving on to new material.  Your purpose is also to take some time to review and solidify what you have learned and then to demonstrate this mastery of the material.  Looking at an exam from this perspective (as opposed to just torture) changes how you think about studying.

 

The next post will be about strategies to use when taking the test.
*****
First Semester Strategies: 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.

 

 

Memory and Learning Strategies Part 2 of 2

Here are four more important factors for successful learning:

1. Distributed Practice - Successful learning requires varied repetition spaced out over time. Here are two ways to incorporate this into your studying:
1. Review difficult information 15 - 20 minutes a day almost every day of the week.  This is above and beyond your regular studying!
2. Plan to study for exams over an extended period leading up to the exam.  Start about one week in advance.  (See my next blog about specifics regarding studying for exams and when the learning actually starts!)
2. Organization - It is important to see how the information you are learning is organized.  You cannot learn a large jumble of unrelated information.  This is true for both lecture notes and textbook reading.  Be sure to keep the big picture in mind.
3. Association - Relate what you are learning to what you already know or to your future career.
4. Interest - It is easier to learn what you are interested in than information you do not care about.  Try to act as if you are interested and do what you would do in that situation.  My students report that sometimes they just make a decision to be more interested in their education as a whole and that makes a difference!

The next blog will address how to study for exams and the one after that test-taking strategies.  Stay strong and work hard!
*****
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.

Memory and Learning Strategies: Part 1 of 2

The past two weeks in my Learning Strategies clasess we have been working on Memory and Learning Strategies.  Here is the first part of the list.  Check back next week for the rest.


Get enough sleep.  We now know that getting adequate sleep is extremely important to all stages of learning - paying attention in class, studying and test-taking.  The average young adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep a night.  If you are not getting enough, consider going to bed earlier and keeping a regular sleep schedule.


Review and learn the information soon after you receive it.  This is one mistake many of my students on academic probation made in the past.  They did nothing with the lecture notes from their classes - not even reading them over - until the night before the exam.  Learning requires repetition, so study your notes frequently as the semester moves along.


Recitation (restating in your own words from memory) - What you are really doing is practicing recalling the information as you will be asked to do on the exam.  After you read a section of notes or your textbook, look away and try to restate what you just learned.  Repeat until you can do it!


Chunking - Your working memory can only handle so much information at a time, so don't try to learn an entire chapter or 10 pages of notes at once.  Break it down into logical, manageable parts and learn each one, then review the whole.


These four learning strategies will make a major change in your learning and, following that, in your grades.  Try them this week and then we will add more next week.
*****
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.

The Second Half of the Semester

My students are just returning from spring break and will soon be receiving their mid-term grades.  We have exactly one half of the semester left plus finals.  Here are some things I want them to consider:

• What has been going well?  What habits have they developed that they need to continue?
• What learning strategies have been working?  Are they using these in all of there classes?
• What needs to be improved?  What SHOULD they be doing that they are not doing?
• Where are they with their grades?  Are there any classes where a little more effort and time can move them up a letter grade?  Are there any classes where they are too far behind and need to consider withdrawing?

It is probably too late for any major life-saving strategies to save a course from a failing grade.  If they are in danger of failing, I suggest meeting with the professor and getting the correct information. From there, with the help of their advisor, they can decide on the best course of action.

Next week: Memory strategies to improve your retention of the class material.
*****'
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, amazon,com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Reviewing or Learning Lecture Notes

In my Learning Strategies class we are working on lecture note-taking skills.  One important part of the process is what you do with the notes after class, so we have been discussing the difference between reviewing your notes and learning your notes.  Here are the ideas we shared:

When reviewing lecture notes:	When learning lecture notes:
Read through notes Make corrections Add information to make clear Highlight the headings or topics Identify any questions or confusing information	Practice recitation (read notes, close notebook, restate in your own words from memory, check your accuracy) Put information into a study guide Take advantage of any on-line quizzes or help in the textbook Form a study group and either: Quiz each other Explain the information to each other Visit your professor or tutoring center to clear up any confusions or questions

As you can see, the learning process involves more in-depth thinking.  This is the step many students skip, and the results are evident in their exam scores.  The demands of college learning are at a much higher level than high school.   Learning your notes will make a major difference in your grades.
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies for Your First Semester (of Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com, amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.

Summer Classes and Transfer Credits

At my institution students are starting to register for summer and fall classes.  Many of them are thinking about taking some classes at schools nearer to their home over the summer.  Here are some things to consider:

• If you think you want to take classes elsewhere and transfer the credits, but sure to talk to your advisor so that you can plan ahead and "save" some classes that will transfer.
• Usually students who want to do this will take liberal studies or general education requirements elsewhere and their major classes at their home school.  Check to see if there are any regulations about this.
• Be sure you have approval BEFORE you register and pay.
• In most cases just the credits will transfer, not the grade, so this is not a good way to raise your grade point average. 
• Usually only classes where you earn a "C" or higher will transfer.
• If you failed a class, you probably have to retake it at your home school.
• Summer classes are a good way to stay on track if your major has a high math or other requirement and you have to take some lower level courses to catch up your skills.
• Keep in mind that these classes will more than likely be just as rigorous as the course at your own college, but you might have an easier time if you are only taking one course at a time.
• Sometimes there is a rule that you have to complete a certain number of your final credits at your home institution.  Check on this!

Many students enjoy summer classes where they get to meet other students from various institutions who are also home for the summer.  Just be sure to preplan so that you are taking the courses you need to meet your major requirements.


Next blog - what is the difference between "reviewing" and "learning" and what different strategies can you use?
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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 wordassociation.com, amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.