My job
as
an instructor is to help you learn. If you aren't learning, then your
time
and money is wasted, and I don't feel that I am accomplishing my job.
Sometimes
timely
advice or suggestions can improve a bleak situation for a student. This
page is a collection of tips and resources for becoming a better
student. If you have any other suggestions to offer, please e-mail
them.
Some of
my
own tips:
- Sit
toward
the front of class. You are less likely to be distracted than you would
in back of the class.
- If you
don't
understand material discussed in class, or you are not doing as well as
you
want, then please talk to me, the instructor. Getting discouraged,
avoiding
discussing a bad grade may only cause the problem to linger. By talking
to me immediately, you may fix the problem quickly and as a result may
enjoy
the class more.
- Study
every
day. If you read your textbook and review your notes, even for 15-30
minutes
a day, you will find that preparing for tests is much less painful, and
the
results are much better. Last minute studying or "cramming", even for
several
hours, just really isn't as effective as studying regularly, a little
bit
each day. The best time to study is within 2-4 hours after the class.
Reviewing
the day's material at this time helps you to remember more permanently
what
happened in class that day.
- Find
colleagues
to study with. Ask each other review questions, compare homework
answers,
and quiz each other on the material. Studying together will usually
help
you to focus more on the material (often when I study my mind is apt to
wander
on to other things), find alternative explanations, and discover if
you've
forgotten to study any material.
What to do
when
you study? Here are some things to do:
- Review
your
class notes
- Read
the
assigned text
- Recopy
class
notes, adding info you may have left out or that you picked up from
reading
the text
- Answer
review
questions
- Make up
your
own review questions, possibly for a study partner to answer
What makes
teachers
happy? Here are a few really easy things:
- Be
punctual. It's discouraging to watch students arrive late and leave
class early. It is a courtesy to warn your instructor advance of a late
arrival or early
departure.
- Make
eye
contact. Looking somewhere else gives the impression you aren't
listening.
- Participate
in class. Even asking to repeat or clarify something is appreciated.
- Use the
instructor's
name. Everyone likes it when people know your name.
- Submit
work
on time.
- Follow
guidelines
exactly on assignments, and turn in neat, legible work.
- Request
explanations. Believe it or not, a lot of teachers like it when you ask
for help.
- Thank
the
teacher.
The following are websites with plenty of studying tips:
Brigham
Young University -- webpage describes notetaking, but has links to
several other study techniques
St.
Thomas University
Studyguides
Tips
for students with ADD diagnosis
Last
update 9/27/2006
Webpage designed by Hiram Jackson.
Contact Geology webmanager, Hiram Jackson, at
jacksoh@crc.losrios.edu
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