Problem-solving series: PUTTING A STUDY PLAN IN PLACE

1. Problem-solving series: PUTTING A STUDY PLAN IN PLACE Problem-Solving Series University Life Cafe

2. The challenge • Students often end up creating an academic schedule based on the available courses offered at the times that fit in their schedules. Sometimes, they choose courses based on serendipity. The courses taken each term may not complement each other. • Given student work loads, the study load may seem unmanageable. Problem-Solving Series

3. To do well academically… • It helps to meet all deadlines. • It helps to be prepared with the necessary readings. • It helps to develop the necessary study skills such as note-taking, research, academic writing, public presentations, intercommunications, high-technology fluency, and teaming. • It helps to understand the academic environment and the values that guide those in this community. • It helps to understand yourself as a learner and the importance of skill and self-motivation. Problem-Solving Series

4. What is a study plan? • A study plan is a general strategic approach for how to approach the different types of study that will be required each term. It may help to strategize further beyond the term as well, particularly if you have a major field chosen. • Strategies in a study plan may include scheduling, study habits, joining study groups, acquiring necessary skills, honing note-taking and annotation skills, using technology to enhance learning, test-taking strategies, and other endeavors. Problem-Solving Series

5. Three Types of learners Professor and author Dr. Ken Kiewra describes three types of learners: • Non-performers: People “who are going nowhere slowly” • Performers: People who are learning at an average clip, “making gains, nice gains” but are just going by the rules set by the instructors • Learners: People who are “learning exponentially” and are highly motivated and know how to learn Problem-Solving Series

6. Helpful attitudes and approaches • Learners take responsibility for their own learning. • They are present and active in their courses. They engage with the instructor, the learning, and their peers. • They are prepared for their courses. • They sign up for the appropriate amount of courses given their schedule. • They do not make excuses for not doing their work. They do not blame-shift to their professors or to their roommates or others. Problem-Solving Series

7. Helpful attitudes and approaches (cont.) • They respect their instructors and peers, and they interact with others civilly. • They approach their studies with enthusiasm, passion and focus. They apply a strategic discipline to their work. • They are self-aware about how they learn and what types of learning work for them. • They take good notes, and they review these notes. Problem-Solving Series

8. Using time well and calendaring • Strong learners use time effectively, without wasting it by indulging in excessive partying, television watching, entertainment, or other non-study pursuits. • Strong learners invest time well by using it regularly to acquire skills and deeper knowledge. • Different calendaring tools allow users to stretch what they can do within a particular time frame. Planning specifically for how each day will be spent as well as planning for the entire term (in terms of broader deadlines) may be helpful. Problem-Solving Series

9. Designing an effective study environment • Students have different learning environments in which they can concentrate, thrive, and learn. For some, this may be a noisy café. For others, it may be a quiet room in an apartment. For still others, the public library may be a comfortable place. • Finding or creating such comfort zones for study would be helpful. Problem-Solving Series

10. Showing up and actively participating • Learners attend classes regularly. • They show up prepared to ask and answer questions, to support group projects, to gain the most from the learning experience, and to interact constructively with others. Problem-Solving Series

11. The macro and the micro • Learners need to work to understand the larger truths of a field. They also need to understand relevant specific data. • They need to relate new information to existing understandings. • They need to be flexible in reorganizing their ideas based on new knowledge. Problem-Solving Series

12. Quality note-taking for study • Note-taking occurs in experiential events like lectures, labs, field trips, movies, and online experiences. • Annotations occur with readings—from books, websites, articles, and other texts. • Notes have to be comprehensive, detailed, and accurate. In the heat of a note-taking moment, a student may think he / she has captured what is relevant, but the true test of note-taking is the coherence and comprehensiveness days later…weeks later. • Note-taking may be shared among a study group for more comprehensiveness. Problem-Solving Series

13. Test taking strategies • Cramming the night before an exam is not an effective way to prepare for test-taking. It helps to grow knowledge incrementally and over time during the course. • Disciplined study and effective acquisition of knowledge will enhance the information retention. • It helps to anticipate what may be on a test by pre-writing all possible tests for an exam. Over-preparing may be helpful. Problem-Solving Series

14. Study breaks • It would help to take study breaks between stints of studying. Short relaxation breaks may help a person maintain concentration and study longer and more effectively. Problem-Solving Series

15. Learning disabilities • If there are any concerns about possible learning disabilities, it’ll be important to get professionally tested. • Once official results are back, students have many on-campus resources to support their studies. Problem-Solving Series

16. Campus learning resources Universities have many learning resources for students. To support their study plan, students would benefit from accessing the resources they have. Finding relevant learning resources (both human and material) would also be helpful for study: • Tutoring centers • Libraries with online services and data repositories • Computer labs • A counseling center • Academic advising • Career advising, and others Problem-Solving Series

17. Connection to counseling services • Counseling ServicesKansas State University232 English/Counseling Services BldgManhattan, KS 66506-6503785-532-6927counsel@k-state.edu Problem-Solving Series