Working Smarter to Working Smarter to Maximize AchievementMaximize Achievement

Adapted from MIT’s Study Adapted from MIT’s Study Skills Workshops.Skills Workshops.

If it works for MIT If it works for MIT students…. Could it work students…. Could it work

for you??for you??

What Study and Time What Study and Time Management Strategies Management Strategies Have Worked for You?Have Worked for You?

TopicsTopics

Working SmarterWorking Smarter Harnessing TimeHarnessing Time

By SemesterBy Semester By WeekBy Week By DayBy Day

Preparing for ExamsPreparing for Exams

This Story- could be yours!This Story- could be yours!

Learning Learning from from LecturesLectures

Managing Managing HomeworkHomework

StandardizeStandardized Test Prepd Test Prep

Writing Writing Research Research PapersPapers

Math Science

Communication

College Preparedness

Problem Solving

From A

Raggedy(A procrastinating,

unorganized, unprepared,

accomplishing below my ability level

student) to…… Preparing for & Preparing for & Performing on Performing on ExamsExams

GoalGoal MasteryMastery (Proficiency): A level of (Proficiency): A level of

solid academic performance that solid academic performance that demonstrates competency indemonstrates competency in Subject matter knowledgeSubject matter knowledge The application of that knowledge to The application of that knowledge to

real-world or novel situationsreal-world or novel situations Reasoning, analytical skills, and/or Reasoning, analytical skills, and/or

demonstration of the capacity to synthesize demonstration of the capacity to synthesize (construct/deconstruct) and evaluate(construct/deconstruct) and evaluate

* Adapted from The Efficacy Institute

What Are Your Greatest What Are Your Greatest Challenges to Mastery?Challenges to Mastery?

Working Smarter - ResearchWorking Smarter - Research

Uri Treisman, UC BerkeleyUri Treisman, UC Berkeley The Problem: Minority students were failing The Problem: Minority students were failing

Calculus disproportionatelyCalculus disproportionately Many dropped out of science and engineering Many dropped out of science and engineering

trackstracks

ApproachApproach Followed 20 Black and 20 Chinese students Followed 20 Black and 20 Chinese students

for 10 weeksfor 10 weeks Chinese were chosen as control groupChinese were chosen as control group

Captured their academic and social activities Captured their academic and social activities on videotapeon videotape

Treisman’s FindingsTreisman’s Findings

Black StudentsBlack Students 6-8 hours 6-8 hours

studying per wkstudying per wk 18 of 20 18 of 20

students studied students studied alonealone

Same pattern for Same pattern for blue collar White blue collar White and rural and rural studentsstudents

Treisman’s FindingsTreisman’s Findings Chinese StudentsChinese Students

8-10 hrs per wk working 8-10 hrs per wk working alonealone

4-6 4-6 additionaladditional hrs in hrs in groupsgroups

In evenings, over mealsIn evenings, over meals Discussed HW assignmentsDiscussed HW assignments Checked each other’s workChecked each other’s work Older student would test themOlder student would test them Regularly worked problems Regularly worked problems

from old examsfrom old exams Knew exactly where they stood Knew exactly where they stood

in classin class

Treisman’s FindingsTreisman’s Findings(Black Students)(Black Students)

Academic Realm Social Realm

Is This Your Experience?

Treisman’s FindingsTreisman’s Findings(Asian Students)(Asian Students)

Academic

Realm

Social

Realm

STATE OF BALANCE : In all aspects of life a state of balance should existSTATE OF BALANCE : In all aspects of life a state of balance should exist

between the opposing forces of Ying(Academic Realm) and Yang (Social Realm).between the opposing forces of Ying(Academic Realm) and Yang (Social Realm).

Working SmarterWorking Smarter

Solution: Calculus WorkshopsSolution: Calculus Workshops Intensive, anti-remedial workshop course as Intensive, anti-remedial workshop course as

adjunct to regular coursesadjunct to regular courses Problems harderProblems harder than in class than in class

Emphasis on Emphasis on group learninggroup learning and and community-basedcommunity-based life life

Based on shared interest in mathematicsBased on shared interest in mathematics Challenging with Challenging with HIGH EXPECTATIONSHIGH EXPECTATIONS, yet , yet

emotionally supportiveemotionally supportive environment environment

Sound Familiar????Sound Familiar????

Working Smarter: Working Smarter: Harnessing TimeHarnessing Time

1.1. Get a Planner with a Calendar and To Do List Get a Planner with a Calendar and To Do List

2.2. First Things First: Set goals and priorities First Things First: Set goals and priorities Steven Covey: To Live, To Love, To Learn, To Leave a Steven Covey: To Live, To Love, To Learn, To Leave a

LegacyLegacy

3.3. Get appropriate amount of sleep Get appropriate amount of sleep 6-8 hours keeps you at optimal mental capacity6-8 hours keeps you at optimal mental capacity

4.4. Eat balanced meals Eat balanced meals Carbohydrate overloads makes you “loopy”Carbohydrate overloads makes you “loopy” Go easy on caffeine, sugar and other mood-swinging Go easy on caffeine, sugar and other mood-swinging

foodsfoods

5.5. Keep room and belongings organized Keep room and belongings organized

6.6. Maximize your periods of peak efficiency Maximize your periods of peak efficiency

Harnessing TimeHarnessing Time

By SemesterBy Semester By WeekBy Week By DayBy Day Preparing for ExamsPreparing for Exams

Harnessing Time: By SemesterHarnessing Time: By Semester

1.1. Collect all syllabiCollect all syllabi

2.2. Record all key dates in your plannerRecord all key dates in your planner Problem setsProblem sets ProjectsProjects PapersPapers ExamsExams

3. 3. Identify and anticipate crunch weeksIdentify and anticipate crunch weeks

4.4. Gather reading materialGather reading material

Harnessing Time: By SemesterHarnessing Time: By Semester

5.5. Understand course learning Understand course learning objectives and curriculum planobjectives and curriculum plan May require having an audience with May require having an audience with

instructorinstructor Be Be ReflectiveReflective not not ReflexiveReflexive

6.6. Form study groupsForm study groups Set meeting times and locationsSet meeting times and locations

Same time and placeSame time and place No more than 4-5 per study groupNo more than 4-5 per study group

Harnessing Time: By WeekHarnessing Time: By Week1.1. Define weekly goals ( Define weekly goals (First Things FirstFirst Things First-LLLL)-LLLL)

““Live”:Live”: Get 6 hours sleep per night; run 3 miles 3 Get 6 hours sleep per night; run 3 miles 3 times this weektimes this week

““Love”:Love”: Meet three new people Meet three new people ““Learn”:Learn”: Problem sets, papers, exams Problem sets, papers, exams ““Legacy”:Legacy”: Go to church/prayers - develop your inner Go to church/prayers - develop your inner

self in whatever manner is appropriate to you.self in whatever manner is appropriate to you.

2.2. Place deadlines and Study Group schedule on Place deadlines and Study Group schedule on calendarcalendar Problem sets, exams, papers, projectsProblem sets, exams, papers, projects

3.3. Prepare your To-Do list Prepare your To-Do list by dayby day Be realistic about amount of effort; consider commute Be realistic about amount of effort; consider commute

timetime Prioritize your down time (exercise, rest, social, Prioritize your down time (exercise, rest, social,

family)family)

4.4. Go see your Instructor with questions!! Go see your Instructor with questions!!

Harnessing Time: By DayHarnessing Time: By Day

1.1. Spend 5-10 minutes per day to plan your Spend 5-10 minutes per day to plan your scheduleschedule At end (or start) of dayAt end (or start) of day Review Review First Things FirstFirst Things First goals for the day goals for the day Review and adjust scheduleReview and adjust schedule See “Daily Schedule”See “Daily Schedule”

2.2. Before classBefore class Do the reading (if applicable)Do the reading (if applicable)

Take notes while you readTake notes while you read Review notes of last classReview notes of last class

Harnessing Time: By DayHarnessing Time: By Day

3.3. During classDuring class Show up every dayShow up every day

Ask questions of previous class Ask questions of previous class (and/or reading mat’l)(and/or reading mat’l)

Sit front and centerSit front and center Perception equals reality (you can use all the help you Perception equals reality (you can use all the help you

can get!!!)can get!!!) Stay alert!!! Ask and answer questions.Stay alert!!! Ask and answer questions. Take effective notesTake effective notes

Refer back to notes taken during readingRefer back to notes taken during reading Stay alert as you’re copying notes (why, how?)Stay alert as you’re copying notes (why, how?) Use the margins to document questions, commentsUse the margins to document questions, comments

Harnessing Time: By DayHarnessing Time: By Day

4.4. After ClassAfter Class Ask questions of instructor Ask questions of instructor Review class notes immediately to fill in the gapsReview class notes immediately to fill in the gaps

Over lunch or immediately after classOver lunch or immediately after class Work with others (remember Treisman research)Work with others (remember Treisman research) Use Libraries or Media CenterUse Libraries or Media Center Use FIRE period!!Use FIRE period!!

Start homework on the day it’s givenStart homework on the day it’s given First alone, then in Study GroupFirst alone, then in Study Group Prepares you for work aheadPrepares you for work ahead Keeps you engaged in classKeeps you engaged in class

Turn in all HW on time (if not early)Turn in all HW on time (if not early) Review solutions when you get them (Ask WHY?)Review solutions when you get them (Ask WHY?)

Harnessing Time:Harnessing Time: Preparing for Preparing for ExamsExams

Give yourself a Give yourself a MINIMUM of 5 daysMINIMUM of 5 days Synthesize materialSynthesize material Deepens understandingDeepens understanding Avoids crammingAvoids cramming Get questions answeredGet questions answered

Seven Days BeforeSeven Days Before Gather supporting Gather supporting

mat’lsmat’ls Class notes, texts, Class notes, texts,

dedicated notebookdedicated notebook, , colored pens/pencils/ colored pens/pencils/ and markersand markers

Harnessing Time: Preparing for Harnessing Time: Preparing for ExamsExams

FiveFive Days Before Days Before Comb through readings and notesComb through readings and notes In dedicated notebook:In dedicated notebook:

Capture main points 3-5 words at a timeCapture main points 3-5 words at a time Hard to understand conceptsHard to understand concepts Jot down questionsJot down questions Work problems as they appear in notes and textWork problems as they appear in notes and text

Make sure you understand the WHY of every step.Make sure you understand the WHY of every step. Two-ThreeTwo-Three Days Before Days Before

Get questions answeredGet questions answered Gather sample problemsGather sample problems

Problem sets and solutions, old exams, Problem sets and solutions, old exams, scrap paper and mechanical pencilscrap paper and mechanical pencil

Harnessing Time: Preparing for Harnessing Time: Preparing for ExamsExams

One Day Before One Day Before Model the test environmentModel the test environment

No distractions or extraneous noisesNo distractions or extraneous noises Reduces anxiety. Can you handle silence?Reduces anxiety. Can you handle silence?

Work problems!!!!Work problems!!!! Problem setsProblem sets Recitation and lecture problemsRecitation and lecture problems

Get with others and test each otherGet with others and test each other

In Summary . . .In Summary . . .

Small academic communities most effective for Small academic communities most effective for maximizing achievementmaximizing achievement Blend academic and social worldsBlend academic and social worlds

Work SmarterWork Smarter Set Set First Things FirstFirst Things First goals (Live, Love, Learn, Legacy) goals (Live, Love, Learn, Legacy) By SemesterBy Semester WeeklyWeekly Daily (before, during, and after class)Daily (before, during, and after class) Exam PreparationExam Preparation

Plan for two days preparationPlan for two days preparation Work problemsWork problems Model the test environmentModel the test environment

Reflection...Reflection...

Jot Down Jot Down What you’ve learnedWhat you’ve learned Immediate steps to Immediate steps to

applying itapplying it