Chemistry: How can you Chemistry: How can you be successful?be successful?

Information is taken from Saundra Y. Information is taken from Saundra Y. Mcguire at LSU: Mcguire at LSU: Teaching Students How Teaching Students How to Learn Chemistry,to Learn Chemistry, Memory Magic,Memory Magic,

1999,1999, pgs 4-5 pgs 4-5

When you learn When you learn how to learn, how to learn,

learning learning chemistry is not chemistry is not

hard at all!hard at all!

RememberRemember

• Memorizing is not the same as learning!Memorizing is not the same as learning!

• Rote learning is verbatim memorization, Rote learning is verbatim memorization, and is not necessarily accompanied by any and is not necessarily accompanied by any understanding of the terms.understanding of the terms.

• Meaningful learning is tied to previous Meaningful learning is tied to previous knowledge and can be manipulated, knowledge and can be manipulated, paraphrased and applied to other situations.paraphrased and applied to other situations.

Four strategies for studying to Four strategies for studying to learnlearn

1.1. Preview or pre-read information Preview or pre-read information before it is covered in classbefore it is covered in class

- Concentrating on bold-faced print, Concentrating on bold-faced print, italicized writing, figures, graphs, and italicized writing, figures, graphs, and diagramsdiagrams• This prepares the mind to receive and This prepares the mind to receive and

comprehend material that will be discussed.comprehend material that will be discussed.

- Should take only 10-15 minutesShould take only 10-15 minutes

Four strategies for studying to Four strategies for studying to learnlearn

2. Go to class, and actively participate 2. Go to class, and actively participate in lecture.in lecture.– Absenteeism is one of the primary Absenteeism is one of the primary

reasons why students fail.reasons why students fail.

– Make the lecture a learning experience.Make the lecture a learning experience.•Active mental engagement with the material Active mental engagement with the material

makes the lecture time study time.makes the lecture time study time.

Four strategies for studying to Four strategies for studying to learnlearn

3. Review and process class notes soon 3. Review and process class notes soon after class.after class.- Information that is reviewed within hours Information that is reviewed within hours

of being heard is moved from short-term of being heard is moved from short-term memory into long-term memory.memory into long-term memory.

- Spending 10-15 minutes soon after Spending 10-15 minutes soon after lecture reviewing the notes can lecture reviewing the notes can substantially improve retention.substantially improve retention.

Four strategies for studying to Four strategies for studying to learnlearn

4. Use intense study sessions.4. Use intense study sessions.- 2-3 Concentrated study sessions of 2-3 Concentrated study sessions of

approximately 60 minutes in duration approximately 60 minutes in duration per day.per day.

- Break the session into 4 partsBreak the session into 4 partsa.a. Set goals for the session (2-5 min)Set goals for the session (2-5 min)b.b. Work to accomplish goals. (35-38 min)Work to accomplish goals. (35-38 min)c.c. Take a break (10 min)Take a break (10 min)d.d. Review what was studied (10 min)Review what was studied (10 min)

Why are the exams so difficult Why are the exams so difficult if I have done all of the if I have done all of the

homework?homework?• Successful completion of homework Successful completion of homework

assignments does not necessarily assignments does not necessarily translate into good grades on translate into good grades on examinations.examinations.

• Many students read the problem, flip Many students read the problem, flip back through the pages to find an back through the pages to find an example similar to the problem, and then example similar to the problem, and then do the problem based on the example.do the problem based on the example.

Strategies for Homework Strategies for Homework AssignmentsAssignments

1.1. When you start the homework, When you start the homework, study the information relevant to study the information relevant to the problems as if you will be the problems as if you will be quizzed on it.quizzed on it.

2.2. Treat the examples in the text and Treat the examples in the text and notes as homework problems notes as homework problems without looking at the answers.without looking at the answers.

Strategies for Homework Strategies for Homework AssignmentsAssignments

3. Work the example problem by using 3. Work the example problem by using information learned from studying information learned from studying the concepts.the concepts.

4. Solve the homework problems 4. Solve the homework problems without looking at the examples. without looking at the examples. Pretending that it is a quiz may be Pretending that it is a quiz may be helpful.helpful.

How can you be successful in How can you be successful in chemistry?chemistry?

When you learn how to When you learn how to learn, learning learn, learning

chemistry is not hard chemistry is not hard at all!at all!

““Unless you attempt to do Unless you attempt to do something beyond what you something beyond what you have already mastered, you have already mastered, you

will never grow”will never grow”Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson