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This isn’t High School any more: Study strategies and
tips for college students
Mary Lee JensenAcademic Advisor
Academic Advising CenterFall 2014
More material to cover – 4 or 5 classes minimum – lack of coordination between faculty
Increased expectation that you will read on your own
Application vs. memorization – deeper knowledge
May have fewer projects/exams – each one counts more
College vs. high school studying
Not enough time Lack of motivation Not knowing how to study Too much material -- overwhelmed Not understanding the material Anxiety about the exam
What are the barriers to studying?
Motivation – Academic success only occurs when there is a desire to do well and a purposeful commitment to devote the time needed to succeed.
Academics have to be first and not last in a list of priorities – entertainment, co-curricular activities become the reward for time spent on academics. Lift the weight off your shoulders. Decrease the snowball effect.
Components of studying
The Snowball Effect…..
Course Work
Personal Stuff
Co-curricular,
work, volunteer,
sports
Overwhelming Stress
Cultural
Anthro exam
Academic
Writing Paper
Mom’s 50th
birthday
Seminar
Group Projec
t
Find sub for dining hall shift
Roommate
issues
Lacrosse
club
Lots of reading
!
Reverse the Snowball Effect…..
Course Work
Personal Stuff
Co-curricular,
work, volunteer,
sports
Reduced
Stress
Cultural
Anthro exam
Academic
Writing Paper
Mom’s 50th
birthday
Seminar
Group Projec
t
Find sub for dining hall shift
Roommate
issues
Lacrosse
club
Lots of reading
!
Recognizing what you don’t know – It is important to identify terms, formulas, concepts that are troublesome for you and to seek the necessary assistance to increase understanding.
Faculty office hours – USE THEM Teaching assistants – help sessions Tutoring – www.ithaca.edu/tutoring Peers – Study Groups
Components of studying
Understand how the brain works – short term vs. long term memory
Frequent studying in short bits of time over a few weeks vs. cramming the night before
Components of studying
Piece of blank paper and a pen
Put your pen down
Look at the next slide for ten seconds
An activity
Draw the objects that you just
saw in the same pattern as they
appeared on the screen.
Draw the objects that you just
saw in the same pattern as they
appeared on the screen.
Why was it easier to draw the second set of figures?
Chunking
You can better remember information if it is organized into patterns.
Short Term Memory
7 items plus or minus 2
Frequent and brief review of notes and Power Points – review notes briefly after class
Breaking down reading into smaller segments -- checking your comprehension. It is not about just doing the reading it is about absorbing it.
Look for purposeful connection between assignments/readings and course content – change from abstract to concrete – think about the goal of the assignment.
Components of studying
Understanding that different disciplines require different ways of studying
Science/math/computer science = formulas, concepts, connections, problem sets, practice, practice, practice
Humanities/social sciences = concepts, theories, trends, analyzing, more large amount of reading, focus on papers
Components of studying
Not every student learns the same way; not every student should study the same way
Know your learning style preference and look for techniques that match it –visual, auditory, read/write, kinesthetic
www.vark-learn.com
Components of studying
Visual – highlight, colors, mapping, charts
Auditory – read out loud, quiz yourself
Read/Write – copy notes, lists, quiz yourself by writing answers
Kinesthetic – move around while you are studying, white boards in classrooms
Learning Styles – VARK (mnemonic)
Expanded flash cards – The matrixShort term memory The stage where
information is stored for up to 30 secs. Before being forgotten or transferred to long term memory.
Looking up the number for Rogan’s and typing it into my cell phone.
Intrinsic motivation The motivation or desire to do something based on the enjoyment of the behavior itself.
I enjoy learning new things.
Association Connecting new knowledge to familiar concepts or pictures so you can better remember it.
The phone number for Rogan’s is only one digit off from my mother’s phone number.
Retrieval The process of bringing material out of long term memory and into consciousness.
Correctly answering questions on a test because I have the knowledge stored.
Expanded flash cards -- matrix
Short term memory
I enjoy learning new things.
Connecting new knowledge to familiar concepts or pictures so you can better remember it.
Correctly answering questions on a test because I have the knowledge stored and can remember it when I need it.
Timeline of Memory Research
Ebbinghaus
“On Memory”
Studied how long it took him to
memorize lists
George Miller
Short term memory
Magical Number Seven plus or
minus two
Shiffrin
“Modal model”
Information goes from short term
to long term memory
Baddeley & Hitch
Concept of working memory.
Three components: Central executivePhonological loop
Visuo-spatial sketchpad
1885 1956 1960s 1974
Economic Consequences Industrial Revolution – Loud Tim
Labor organizations Overproduction Underemployment Division of labor Trade increases Inequality wealth Mass production
Write notes – bulleted lists – use white space -- colors
Test Preparation Identify concepts that you don’t
understand and focus on these – ask your professor to clarify
Keep track of when you have exams and plan accordingly – weeks ¾, midterms, weeks 10/11, final exams.
Don’t cram – review notes consistently for short periods – use textbook or supplemental readings or Web sites for clarification (.edu or .gov)
Know the type of exam and plan accordingly.
Multiple choice – concepts are important – college vs. high school – know how to apply concepts
Anatomy & Physiology – memorize – mnemonics
Chemistry/Math – problem solving
Short answer or essays – compare and contrast, describe processes
Learn from your first exam/quiz and apply to the next one
Test Preparation continued….
Additional tips – Academic Success Strategieswww.ithaca.edu/advising/
What tips for studying can you share with your peers?
What works for you?