How to Improve Study Habits and Get Better Grades.

How to Improve Study Habits and Get Better Grades. & Exam-Taking Tips

This only works if you “DO IT”Overview: • Why Study? • Maintaining Motivation. • Being Organized. • In Class. • Before/After Class. • But, I have lousy memory! • Exam-Taking Tips

Why Study? • The Future • plan to become a hermit? • Jobs • Self-Respect • Grades

Maintaining Motivation • Focus on the Goals • Study Groups • Self-Rewards • Creating Routines • EXCEPT--no reading the text in bed!!

Getting Organized • buy the books • prepare a timetable--work, sleep, & play • set a specific time for studying each course • benefits of spaced/distributed practice versus massed practice • physical activity as part of routine

In Class • 80% of success in life is “showing up” • Confused??? • Ask--10 other people will thank you • Asking Questions • Taking Notes • record concepts and key terms • not verbatim notes--LISTEN to Learn

Before/After Class • Read the text--systematically & actively • including the headings, tables, focus issues • Take notes--avoid the highlighter • Review your lecture notes • Check for the overlap between text notes and lecture notes--hint, hint, hint • Read the text--again.

Memory Tips • Encoding • understand first, then easier to remember • focus--reduce distractions • ask questions (either your own, or from Study Guide) • use mnemonic devices • chunking • use different encoding techniques • self-referencing

Aids for Improving Retrieval • Number your points • Visualize the material • Use other information to jog retrieval • Free-associate • Link to the things you do know • State-Dependent Learning • Use a system, e.g.: SQ3R

Exam-Taking TipsIn part based on: Pfeifer & Ogloff, 1991) • Study/Come with the tools needed. • Have a strategy. • look at the weight of the different sections--apportion time appropriately. • read any essay questions early, the rest of the test might have retrieval cues. • Don’t Rush--you will usually be given ample time to complete an exam.

Recall Questions • Use an OUTLINE to organize your thoughts. • Answer the question being asked. ( Read the question carefully, answer all aspects/parts of the question.) • Do not provide information not requested. (Do not waste time and space repeating the question or “padding.”) • Resist the temptation to “guess.” (Including your confusing material will likely confuse your “marker!”) • Keep track of time.

Essay-Style Questions--DO! • Answer the question being asked. • Complete all components of the question. • Whenever possible, do an outline first!

Essay-Style Question--Marking • Correct Content--All relevant points. • Correct use of terms and concepts. • Relevant examples. • Integration with related content. • Clear and concise writing--grammatical!

Exam-taking Tips • Have a plan • check that you have all the pages • put your name on everything! • read all instructions--CAREFULLY • Plan your time (allocate by value of questions). GOOD LUCK

How to Improve Study Habits and Get Better Grades.