Achieving Academic Excellence

1
Achieving Academic Excellence
If Asuccess, then the formula is A X Y
Z where X is work, Y is play, and Z is keep your
mouth shut,A. Einstein
2
Preparing for Class
Take a minute to write on a 3x5 card what you do
to prepare for class.
Also, if you have taken Physics 23 or its
equivalent (even in high school), you should
recall working force problems (using Newtons
Laws). Write down on your 3x5 card how many
different force problems there are. Im not
looking for an exact number, just a ballpark
estimate.
3
Preparing for Class
expected me, good class me, bad class you
study text read text skimmed assigned reading
do assigned homework did assigned homework, maybe more well, I tried
think about what youve learned sometimes discussed with friends no extra effort
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Do You Actually Go To Class?
5
Preparing for a Test
Take a minute to write on a 3x5 card what you do
to prepare for a test.
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Preparing for a Test
expected me, good class me, bad class you
review text reviewed text skimmed text
study assigned homework studied homework well, I tried
study prior tests studied prior tests when available sometimes studied prior tests
think about what will be tested figured out what would be tested figured out what would be tested
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Taking a Test
expected me, good class me, bad class you
study beforehand, feel confident studied beforehand, felt confident crammed, felt anxious
know where/when test is knew where/when test was knew where/when test was
get rest rested! rested!
overcome test anxiety no anxiety moderate anxiety
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Designing a TestIdeal World
(1) List the Big Ideas.
(2) List the main topics covered in lecture
(should be almost same as (1)).
(3) Decide which Big Ideas and main topics to
test.
(4) Decide what kind of problem for each
idea/topic (multiple choice, fill in the blank,
work it out, essay).
(5) Look at prior tests to remind myself what
other course instructors thought was appropriate.
(6) Write problems/questions using homework,
lecture, text examples, and prior tests as a
guide.
(7) It is a good idea to (a) actually work the
problems yourself to see that they are solvable
in the given time, (b) let others read the
problems to ensure that they make sense, (c) let
others work the problems.
(8) Repeat steps 5-7 at least once, if time
permits.
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We Live in the Real World
Sometimes there is only time to pull problems off
prior tests, and maybe re-phrase them a bit.
How Many Different Force Problems Are There?
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Do not study a solved prior test and assume you
have learned anything. You probably havent!
When you learn the secret of self-motivation, let
me know, and together well become famous and
extremely rich!