learning styles

and… thinking about thinking …

Melanie KnierCollege and Career ReadinessDavidson County Community CollegeJanuary 2012

Learning vs. Studying

• Are they the same?• What is the difference?

• I have to !!• Fun• difficult• I want to !!• short term• long term• enjoyable• hard work• what?• why, how?

Learn the material

• by STUDYING !!!

• The Study Cycle -- preview, attend, review• PREVIEW: Look at the headings, bold words, italicized

words, questions at the end of the chapter• ATTEND CLASS: -- do I really need to remind you?• REVIEW: Immediately after class (within the next hour

or so), look over the notes you took, summarize

LET’S PLAY A GAMECount the vowels

Now you are thinking about thinking….

• METACOGNITION –

START THINKING ABOUT

HOW YOU THINK SO THAT

IT WILL HELP YOU LEARN

THE MATERIAL

WHAT IS YOUR LEARNING STYLE?

IT IS ALSO CALLED A LEARNING PREFERENCEHOW DO YOU PREFER TO LEARN?

VISUAL AURAL KINESTHETIC COMBO

Study Groups

• One of the best ways PROVEN to help increase grades !!• Cohort of familiar students to support each other• Can get a complete set of notes because everyone has probably

written down different “important” information from lectures• When you teach someone else, you reinforce what you have just

learned

Move from Short Term Memory to Long Term Memory• Work out your brain, just like you work out your muscles• Repetition• Short repeating sessions• Not just one long night before the test cram session• make CONNECTIONS with what you already know • (what does metacognition really mean anyway?) Can you connect it

with something you already know?

Effective Strategies

• Spacing Effect• short periods of practice daily are better than

cramming• sustained practice• regular, ongoing practice• practice BEYOND one perfect recitation• useful for developing automaticity

When to review notes:

• 1st review: immediately after class• 2nd review: within 24 hours• 3rd review: within the week• 4th review: within the month (before a

test)• 5th review: within the semester (before

the final exam)

High School vs. College

• Attendance is not mandatory but IMPORTANT

– A. HIGH SCHOOL

– B. COLLEGE

High School vs. College

• Most work is done in class

– A. HIGH SCHOOL

– B. COLLEGE

High School vs. College

• Teachers motivate you.

– A. HIGH SCHOOL

– B. COLLEGE

High School vs. College

• Study a night or two before a test.

– A. HIGH SCHOOL

– B. COLLEGE

High School vs. College

• Must consistently study in small increments.

– A. HIGH SCHOOL

– B. COLLEGE

High School vs. College

• Material is covered quickly and reinforced with homework that is not always collected.

– A. HIGH SCHOOL

– B. COLLEGE

High School vs. College

• Assignments are structured with complete directions.

– A. HIGH SCHOOL

– B. COLLEGE

High School vs. College

• You must purchase your own materials.

– A. HIGH SCHOOL

– B. COLLEGE

RESOURCES: BAIARDO, RICHARD, HELPING STUDENTS WITH THEIR STUDY SKILLS IN THE SCIENCES, 2007, POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, RSS GROUP, EVERGREEN VALLEY COLLEGEMCGUIRE, SAUNDRA, USING METACOGNITION TO EFFECT AN EXTREME ACADEMIC MAKEOVER. 2008, VIDEO AND POWERPOINT, HTTP://SERC.CARLETON.EDU/NAGTWORKSHOPS/METACOGNITION/MCGUIRE.HTML