Student Academic Success Center

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Student Academic Success Center

• Academic Major Evaluation
• Academic Achievement Plan
• Personalized tutoring.
• Test preparation in the HESI, THEA, ACCUPLACER,
  and GRE.
• Location
• J.B. Coleman Library, Suite 306. Phone (936)
  474-3176
• Hours
• Monday - Friday 800 a.m. to500 p.m.

www.pvamu.edu/compass email compass_at_pvamu.edu
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How to Get the Most Out of Studying

• Dionna Smith

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Active Learning
Note Taking
Memory Techniques
Reading
Critical Thinking
Information Processing
Learning Style
Participating
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How the Brain Retains Information
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How Memory Works

• You remember approx
• 10 of what you read
• 20 of what you hear
• 30 of what you see
• 50 of what you hear and see together
• 70 of what you say
• 90 of what you do

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Memory Quiz Question

• This in class workshop is sponsored
• by the
• Student Academic Success Center (SASC)

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Basic Study Guidelines

• 1. Designate a place for study and study only!
• 2. You must develop a habit of studying when you
  are in this place.
• 3. Eliminate distractions turn off cell phone
  and television
• 4. Break your work into small segments and create
  short goals for each section.
• a. Set specific goals Example I will study
  for one hour a day for each class.
• b. Specify what you will do Example I will
  read chapter 3 I will create an outline for my
  paper, etc.
• Set a goal that you can reach!

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Note-taking in Class

• Listen actively
• Raise questions if appropriate.
• Develop and use a standard method of note-taking
  including punctuation, abbreviations, margins,
  etc.
• Use a large notebook to take notes to
  adequately indent and use an outline form.
• Leave a few spaces between points so you can fill
  in additional points later if necessary.
• It is impossible to take down everything the
  lecturer says so spend time listening and take
  down the main points.

• Listen for CUES from the lecturer to know when to
  write down important points, transition from one
  point to the next, repetition of points for
  emphasis, changes in voice inflections,
  enumeration of a series of points, etc.
• Most lecturers present a few major points and
  several minor points in a lecture. The rest are
  examples to explain the material. Look for the
  main points so you dont waste time on minor
  points.
• Sit close to the front of the class to avoid
  distractions .
• FOCUS on understanding the material and ask
  questions if you're not sure.

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Why Is It Important to Edit Your Notes?

• There are many benefits to organizing and
  reviewing your notes as soon as possible after a
  lecture
• Because the information is still fresh in your
  mind, you can write down other things you
  remember that you did not have time to write
  during the lecture.
• You can discover what part of the lecture that
  was unclear so you can ask the instructor or a
  classmate.
• You will remember more sooner than later. Unless
  you review your notes within 24 hours your
  retention will decrease and you will be
  relearning rather than reviewing.

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Memory Question

• The acroynmn for
• Student Academic Success Center
• is
• SASC

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Retaining Information Utilize multiple parts of
the brain.
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Storage and Retrieval Utilize multiple parts of
the brain.
Information is easier to retrieve when it is
stored in multiple parts of the brain.
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Mnemonics

• Sentence
• Word
• Drawing
• Jingles/Rap

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Memory Question

• The acroynmn for
• Student Academic Success Center
• is
• SASC

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Facts for Auditory LearnersYou learn from
hearing information through audio tapes, your
own voice, or lectures.

• Use your own voice to assist in the learning
  process.
• Read your notes or your textbook aloud to help
  you.
• Try to sit near the front of the room. It will be
  easier for you to hear your instructor.
• When studying new information, create rhyming
  jingles.
• Read out loud and restate main ideas to yourself
  as you read material.
• When reading or studying difficult material,
  summarize in your own words what you have just
  read.
• When working with math, learn by saying the
  problems aloud. Then explain the concepts to
  yourself aloud.
• Read an essay or paragraph you have written into
  a tape recorder and then play it back. Then,
  revise your paper.

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Facts for Visual Learners You learn best by
seeing information through print, graphics,
videos, or charts.

• Make lists, write notes, and draw pictures.
• Read the textbook before attending your lecture
  class.
• Try to visualize how the information looks like
  on your page.
• Preview your chapters by reading the headings,
  subheadings, and outlines before reading the
  chapter. Underline and/or highlight them.
• Draw a diagram or picture. Make a list. Use
  mapping. Make a chart to help you retain
  information.
• For vocabulary, use sight words, flashcards, and
  other visual aides.
• In math, write the problem, visualize the
  problem, and make mind pictures or tally marks on
  scratch paper.
• Recopy notes.
• Use a computer so that you can see the words you
  are thinking.

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Facts for Kinesthetic Learners You learn best by
doing. The more you are involved with the
material, the easier it is for you to learn.  

• When possible, perform projects and experiments.
  
• Write information down on paper.
• Walk or ride a stationary bike as you learn or
  review material
• Take notes and go back over them. Make special
  marks for important material/s that you will need
  to review.
• When working on difficult or confusing material,
  answer practice questions in writing.
• Tap your finger or move your foot as you listen
  to a lecture.
• Draw a chart or diagram to help with difficult
  material.
• Make and use study cards
• In math, use objects, such as toothpicks or
  blocks, to solve problems.

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Review Questions

• What does SASC stand for?

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Review Questions

• What does SASC stand for?

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Ways to Retain Information and Place it into

• Attention
• Interest
• Selection
• Understanding
• Build background
• Organization

• Recitation
• Notetaking
• Review
• Overlearning
• Sleeping over it

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Connect Information

• Learn new information by making connections.
• Build upon what you already know.

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Tips on Retention
261-1040 261-1040 261-1040
Study with others
Repeat information
Tell or teach someone else
Relate info to what you already know
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Information ProcessingProblems

• Forgetting
• Disuse
• Dont Need or defensive forgetting
• Too much information to process
• Blocking
• Learning information incorrectly
• Changing Cues
• Interference Ex12

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Weekly Flow Chart for Studying
Pre-read Text And develop questions
Go to class
Take notes
Ask questions in class
Review and edit notes same day as lecture
Ask yourself questions
Outline major concepts
Read text selectively
Do homework
Ask questions of instructor
Review and integrate
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Review Questions

• What does SASC stand for?

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THE END
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Identify Key Words, Themes and Main Points

• Often these are the ideas that the instructor
  repeats, highlights, or illustrates with
  examples.
• Usually courses have their own set of unique and
  topic-specific terms.
• Be sure to listen for new words and phrases and
  learn their meaning in the context of the
  information being presented.
• Try to identify the broader picture or context to
  which the material relateseven if your
  instructor doesnt specifically present it to you.

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Listen for Clues

• Note when a topic comes up more than once.
• Transition speech signals the change of topics or
  emergence of new key points
• compare and contrast
• specific dates
• in addition
• this will be on the next exam
• Lists usually signify important material that is
  easy to test.
• Instructors are most likely to test on ideas they
  consider exciting, so listen for special
  enthusiasm.

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Connect Ideas

• Paraphrase what you hear
• Relate key ideas to what you already know
• Make a note of unknown words
• Get involved

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Develop Your Style

• Successful students take good notes.
• A successful note-taking strategy reflects
• the complexity of the course content
• the lecturers style
• your own learning preferences
• Use any strategy that will help the key ideas
  stand out for you.
• Dont take down every word in a lecture.

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Master Note-Taking Strategies

• Identify the Session Clearly
• Reduce to Key Ideas
• Take Notes from All Relevant Input
• Dont Erase Mistakes
• Use Abbreviations
• Review Your Notes Often

• Tape Lectures
• Organize Your Materials for Easy Retrieval
• Request Feedback About Your Notes
• Evaluate Your Note-Taking Strategy

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Other Note-Taking Tips

• Use shorthand.
• Write your notes in your own words.
• Put a star by things that you dont understand.
• Think and record information in pictures.
• Explain yourself later.
• Periodically evaluate the quality of your notes.

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Short-Term Memory Listening and Forgetting

• Most forgetting takes place 24 hours after you
  see or hear something!
• If you dont review after class, you can forget
  up to 70 of the material.

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Tips

• Read ahead in text before class.
• Take notes on text before class and write down
  questions.
• Re-read notes from previous class.
• Be ready for the message.
• Listen to main concepts.
• Listen for new ideas.
• Repeat mentally.
• Ask questions.
• Sort, organize and categorize as you take notes.

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Questions???