STUDY SKILLS

1. STUDY SKILLS Victoria Williams Anna Urbanski Academic Learning Center

2. Objectives: • Explain the basic steps in brain-based learning • Discuss a variety of strategies for completing each step in the learning process • Describe how to take better notes • Discuss Test Preparation • Discuss Test-taking tips • Review and answer any questions

3. Where does learning happen? In your brain!! Your brain was born to learn, loves to learn and knows how to learn!

4. The Basic Steps in Learning ATTENTION!

5. How can you maintain attention? When Reading… • Have Intent • Ask Questions • Test yourself • Build Interest • Take Notes • Highlight • Underline • Few Distractions In Class… • Participate • Relate the subject to your own life • Ask questions • Take Notes • Clear your mind • Relax • React

6. Building Interest • Set smaller, short-term goals • Reward yourself for reaching your goals • As you achieve your goals, you may notice that you feel proud, satisfied, triumphant, etc. • Remember, it is not an activity itself, but how we react to it that makes it interesting. • Challenge yourself academically, and have confidence in your ability

7. Memory Test… List One - alligator - apple • arrow • Baby • bird • Book • butterfly • car - corn • flower • hammer - house - money • microscope ocean • pencil • rock =Shoes • table • window In one minute this list will disappear…..

8. The Basic Steps in Learning Connection In this step you interpret the information in a way that is meaningful to you. • Connect the information to what you already know • Personalize the information by applying it to your life • The more connections to the new information you make, the easier it will be to remember it.

9. Connection… • As you learn, the neurons in your brain begin to make connections…..

10. As dendrites grow they begin to connect with each other at synapses Chemical and electrical signals are transmitted between cells at the synapse • Neurons have fibers called dendrites that grow as you learn

11. More connections and stronger signals allow for greater memory

12. Memory Test… List Two • Food • Carrot • Orange • Banana • Cauliflower • Animal • Cat • Rabbit • Zebra • Tiger • Tool • Screwdriver • Ax • Hammer • Knife • Place • Mountain • Lake • Forest • Plains This List Will Disappear in One Minute!

13. The Basic Steps in Learning: Review Practice… including making mistakes is an important component of learning When you review, don’t just look over information, but test yourself to get feedback “do you really know the information?” As you rehearse, review, or practice what you have learned the synapses in your brain become stronger

14. Review by Self-testing • Cornell notes • Note cards (on-line and cell phone note cards) • On-line practice tests • End of chapter or section questions • Creating a map, chart or outline of the main ideas • Try to explain what you have learned to another person • Join a focused study group and test each other

15. Note-Taking • General Tips: • Do not try to copy down what the professor says word for word. Use your own words when possible • Develop a system for organizing your notes • Listen for cues in the lecture that let you know the organization/importance of material

16. Strategies for controlling test anxiety • Regularly review materials so that you do not have to cram • Use the “five-day study plan” to prepare • Eat and sleep well • Use positive self-talk • Visualize yourself doing well • Try deep breathing techniques to relax when you get to the test • Focus on doing well in on other assignments

17. Review…. • What are three basic steps in learning? • What is one strategy that you think might help you maintain attention in one of your classes? • What is one strategy that you think might help you connect information in meaningful ways? • What is one review strategy that you think might be helpful?

18. QUESTIONS????