Mary Lee Jensen Academic Advisor Academic Advising Center Fall 2014.

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?