Study Skills Strategies for Active Learners

Grades & Goal-Setting

Do not leave grades and GPA to chance. Set goals and identify specific actions you will take daily to help you be successful.

Student Learning Center 2009 3

GradesGrade Level of Accomplishment Quality

Points

A Highest Level of Work 4.00

A- 3.67

B+ 3.33

B Better than Average Work 3.00

B- 2.67

C+ 2.33

C Average Work 2.00

C- 1.67

D+ 1.33

D 1.00

D- Minimum Level of Passing Work 0.67

E Failing Work 0.00

Student Learning Center 2009 4

Semester Honors

Dean’s List= 3.40-3.69

Dean’s with Honors= 3.70-3.99

President’s List= 4.0

Student Learning Center 2009 5

Goal FormulaGoal: Dean’s ListTime Frame: 16 weeksStrategy: Attend all classes, do all

reading assignments, meet with professor regularly, schedule study time, work only 12 hours/week, make friends with at least one person from each class, take notes in class.

Outcome: Feel good about self. Parents proud. Get letters of rec. from faculty. Apply to be an RA. Get into Business Department.

Know What it Means to Study at the College Level

1. Reading textbooks actively

2. reviewing class lecture notes

3. turning notes and reading assignments into questions & answering those questions aloud or in writing

4. visiting with professors during office hours

5. creating study tools such as note cards or summary sheets

6. working with tutors

7. reviewing course syllabi daily

8. recording due dates of major projects and tests in your planner.

Schedule Study TimeCreate a weekly, master schedule identify the blank spaces in your calendar and

schedule study time for each class so that you do not leave studying to chance.

Commit to days, times, and study locations, such as the library or the Student Learning Center.

Weekly Master ScheduleMonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

8:00 – 8:50 8:00 – 9:15 8:00 – 8:50 8:00 – 9:15 8:00 – 8:50                                    

9:05-9:55   9:05 – 9:55   9:05 – 9:55           9:30 – 10:45   9:30 – 10:45           

   MTH 112   MTH 112   10:10 – 11:00   10:10 – 11:00   10:10 – 11:00

         

    PSH 110    PSH 110 PSH 110        

  11:00 – 12:15   11:00 – 12:15  11:15 – 12:05   11:15 – 12:05   11:15 – 12:05

         

THE 232    THE 232 THE 232                  

12:20 – 1:10   12:20 – 1:10   12:20 – 1:10

12:30 – 1:45   12:30 – 1:45  

       

       

  BIO 221    BIO 221  1:25 – 2:15   1:25 – 2:15   1:25 – 2:15

           2:00 – 3:15   2:00 – 3:15                    

2:30 – 3:20   2:30 – 3:20   2:30 – 3:20                             3:30 – 4:45   3:30 – 4:45  

3:35 – 4:50  HST 110 3:35 – 4:50 HST 110  

         

BIO 221 Lab                    5:00 - 6:15   5:00 - 6:15  

5:05 – 6:20   5:05 – 6:20                               

6:35 – 7:50 or 6:30 – 7:45 or 6:35 – 7:50 or 6:30 – 7:45 or  6:30 – 9:15 6:30 – 9:15 6:30 – 9:15 6:30 – 9:15  

                  

8:05 – 9:20 8:00 – 9:15 8:05 – 9:20 8:00 – 9:15                             

Textbook Reading

Preview the assignment by reading the title, the subheadings throughout the chapter, and most importantly, the material that comes at the end of the chapter, such as Discussion Questions, Chapter Summary, Testing Your Knowledge, etc. Then use the questions and main ideas from the back of the chapter to guide your reading. Read like a detective seeking answers to the questions. If your chapters do not provide study questions, then make your own by turning each bold faced subheading into a question. Be sure to take notes in the margins while you read!

Class Time1. Attend all classes

2. Eat and sleep prior to class.

3. Have a notebook for each class and bring it along with the syllabus and textbooks to each class.

4. Sit in the first few rows, and review class notes while you wait for the class to begin.

5. Take notes in classes, even if the professor provides the notes for you.

6. Stay actively engaged in classroom discussions and ask thoughtful questions

Taking Notes

1. Taking notes during classes and while you read helps you process new information, connect it to previous knowledge, sort it, store it, and retrieve it when needed.

2. abbreviate, paraphrase, notice patterns of organization, and leave blank space on the page.

3. After class review your class notes and turn each page of notes into a list of questions

4. Now you have a study guide!

12

10/2/11Progressivism

What specific issues did Progressives wish to reform?

What are common themes among the various examples of Progressive reforms?

Who were the Progressives?How did they hope to affect change?

What obstacles did the Progressives encounter?

Progressivism=reforms increased gov. control organized change vs. revolt.Early 1900’s Ex. Socialists human need vs./ profitDistribute wealth more evenly collective ownership of a nation’s wealthEx. Suffrage—get women right to vote Ex. social welfare basic standard of living unemployment, accident, health insur. social sec. Progressives=educated, wealthy. Didn’t want change to happen by revolt—systematically look at data and human testimony—then careful programming.3 main progressives:Henry George—single taxEd Bellamy—book Loooking BackwardFlorence Kelly—child labor working cond. And hours for women and kids—some families were against kid labor reforms b/c they needed the money.

Progressivists wanted to make changes through government that would improve the quality of life of specific populations who were being oppressed.

Questions

Answers

Get to Know Your Professors!

Names Office Location & Office Hours Best way to Communicate with themVisit your professor during office hours with specific class topics to discuss or a specific question about the material, the test, or the writing assignment. Make sure you introduce yourself!

Regroup at the Midterm

Use the GPA calculator (http://www.brockport.edu/firstyear/gpa.html) to help you determine where you stand now and what you need to do in each class to earn the GPA you hope to achieve. Then make a list of the specific things you are going to do to finish the semester successfully. Examine all aspects of your life to determine where the obstacles to academic success lie. Visit with advisors and professors, determine if tutoring is appropriate, and re-examine your calendar. Make choices and changes to affect the outcome you hope to achieve.

Study Groups, Peer Learning, and Tutoring

Studying with peers allows you to examine course material, problem-solve, ask questions outside of the classroom, and practice using terminology relevant to the class.

Test TakingTest taking success depends upon what you do every day of the semester, not just the night before the test. It is also dependent upon two types of knowledge: 1. the content on which you will be tested 2. test taking strategies.

Ask your professors about discipline-specific ways to study for each class.

Test Taking1. Determine the scope of the subject matter

2. Identify the gaps in your knowledge.

3. Seek help to bridge those gaps.

4. Visit your textbooks’ companion websites which may have practice tests.

5. Make lists of topics you believe will be on each test.

6. Write and talk about those topics.

7. Watch test-taking DVD’s at the SLC

8. Visit the Counseling Center to learn strategies for reducing test anxiety.

Learning from Tests

Use corrected tests as study tools for future tests and examinations.

College-Level Writing

1. critically examine writing assignment sheets

2. break the assignment down into steps & schedule each step in your planner.

3. understand terms like thesis, argument, development, evidence, transitions, citation of sources.

Active Learners

1. Set goals2. Attend classes regularly3. Sit in the first three rows4. Use professors’ office hours and know professors’

names5. Review notes, readings, and syllabus before and after

each class6. Plan and schedule study time7. Do extra credit work if it is offered8. Make Healthy Choices