Student Academic Success Center

1. 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 8:00 a.m. to5:00 p.m. www.pvamu.edu/compass email compass@pvamu.edu

2. How to Get the Most Out of Studying Dionna Smith

3. Active Learning Note Taking Memory Techniques Reading Critical Thinking Information Processing Learning Style Participating

4. How the Brain Retains Information

5. 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

6. Memory Quiz Question This in class workshop is sponsored by the Student Academic Success Center (SASC)

7. 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!

8. Note-taking in Class 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 don’t 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. 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.

9. 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.

10. Memory Question The acroynmn for Student Academic Success Center is SASC

11. Retaining InformationUtilize multiple parts of the brain.

12. Storage and RetrievalUtilize multiple parts of the brain. Information is easier to retrieve when it is stored in multiple parts of the brain.

13. Mnemonics • Sentence • Word • Drawing • Jingles/Rap

14. Memory Question The acroynmn for Student Academic Success Center is SASC

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. Facts for Kinesthetic LearnersYou 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.

18. Review Questions What does SASC stand for?

19. Review Questions What does SASC stand for?

20. Attention Interest Selection Understanding Build background Organization Recitation Notetaking Review Overlearning Sleeping over it Ways to Retain Information and Place it into

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

22. 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

23. Information ProcessingProblems • Forgetting • Disuse • Don’t Need or defensive forgetting • Too much information to process • Blocking • Learning information incorrectly • Changing Cues • Interference: Ex12

24. Weekly Flow Chart for Studying Pre-read Text And develop questions Take notes Go to class 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

25. Review Questions What does SASC stand for?

26. THE END

27. 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 relates—even if your instructor doesn’t specifically present it to you.

28. 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.

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

30. Develop Your Style • Successful students take good notes. • A successful note-taking strategy reflects: • the complexity of the course content • the lecturer’s style • your own learning preferences • Use any strategy that will help the key ideas stand out for you. • Don’t take down every word in a lecture.

31. Identify the Session Clearly Reduce to Key Ideas Take Notes from All Relevant Input Don’t 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 Master Note-Taking Strategies

32. Other Note-Taking Tips • Use shorthand. • Write your notes in your own words. • Put a star by things that you don’t understand. • Think and record information in pictures. • Explain yourself later. • Periodically evaluate the quality of your notes.

33. Short-Term Memory: Listening and Forgetting • Most forgetting takes place 24 hours after you see or hear something! • If you don’t review after class, you can forget up to 70% of the material.

34. 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.

35. Questions???