ATB Orientation

1. ATB Orientation Welcome to Meridian Career Institute

2. Strategies for Success • Attend every class: attendance is half of your battle. Going to class allows you to engage yourself in the material. • Be an active participant: be on time, sit in the front, participate, ask questions, be alert • Go to class prepared: preview all reading assignments, highlight key ideas and concepts, question things you don’t understand.

3. Strategies for Success • Write a summary: after reading & after class, summarize what you learned that day. • Know your instructors: call them by their proper title, email them, call them, or visit during school hours to ask questions. • Know expectations: read your syllabus and know your deadlines • Join a study team: Studying in a group allows you to test each other

4. Strategies for Success • Organize your study space: create a place just for school. • Map out your day, week, & term: Don’t wait ‘til the last minute for assignments – write down all of your deadlines in a planner (see downloads on the LRC’s blog) • Get help early: Know what resources are available to you • Stay Healthy: proper nutrition, rest, work & play

5. Strategies for Success • Review often: after class and within 24 hours again. • Ask questions: no question is ever a dumb question. If you don’t know or don’t understand - ask. • Make school a top priority: don’t overload yourself with work/activities. This is about you – put YOU first!

6. Strategies for Success • Take responsibility for your education: • Even if your instructor is not “your cup of tea” you can succeed. Be flexible and adapt to each instructor. Know your material and be ready for each class. This is your education and don’t let someone else stand in your way.

7. Learning Styles Left brain verses right brain:

8. Learning Styles • A person who learns better by reading is: Visual • A person who learns better by listening is: Auditory • A person who learns better by touch and activity is: Kinesthetic

9. Visual Learners • Tend to: • Picture this • See what I mean • Be right brain dominant • Remember what they see better than what they hear • Like charts and pictures • Try to sit close to the instructor

10. Visual Learners • Prefer written directions • Learns better when someone shows them • Likes to read, highlight, and take notes • Keeps a “to do” list for the week • Fast thinkers and gesture frequently when talking • Communicate clearly, concisely, and watch facial expressions • Like to read for pleasure and to learn

11. Auditory Learners • Rely on hearing • Good listeners, but are easily distracted • Study breaks = listen to music • Tend to: • Be left brained • Remember what they hear better than what they see

12. Auditory Learners • Like organized lectures in a logical sequence • Like to listen to music and talk on the telephone • Plan the week by talking it through • Rhyming words • Learn best when they hear an assignment as well as see it.

13. Kinesthetic Learners • Well-coordinated • Touch things • Learn best by doing • Like being outside • Relate to material they are doing • “ I have a gut feeling”

14. Kinesthetic Learners • Tend to: • Be right brained • Create an experience • Hands on activities • Build & put things together • Use models & physical activity • Apply information to real life • Draw, doodle, use games & puzzles, play computer games

15. Time Management Skills • Committed Time: • School, studying, working, commuting • Maintenance Time: • Eating, sleeping, grooming • Discretionary Time: • Time that is yours to use as you please

16. Time Management Skills • Set Priorities • Urgent Priorities: pressing, deadline-driven • Important Priorities: essential activities that support long term goals and create results • Ongoing Activities: require continual attention and may be urgent but may not be important • Trivial Activities: daily stuff of life

17. Time Management • Keep a calendar • Create a daily to-do list • Do the tough tasks first • Break projects down into smaller tasks • Consolidate similar tasks • Study at high energy terms • Study everywhere & anywhere • Study in short segments • Organization • Be flexible, patient & persistent

18. Time Management • Why was there a picture of a frog on the last slide? • Eat the frog first – get the tasks done that you don’t want to do.

19. Time Management & Learning Styles • Left brain people like: • Routine, structure & deadlines • Convergent thinkers: good at several unrelated items & bring order • Right brain people like: • Variety, flexibility, creativity, innovation • Divergent thinkers: one idea to many

20. Overcoming Obstacles • Stop procrastinating • Set daily priorities • Break the project down • Gather everything you need • Focus for short spurts • Supportive people • Difficult tasks during high energy • Positive attitude • Reward yourself • Don’t expect perfection

21. Control Interruptions • Create an organized place to study • Determine your optimal time to study • Create quiet time • Study in the Learning Resource Center • Do first things first • Just say no • Communication is the key to juggling: work, home, & school

22. Listen & Take Effective Notes • Prepare to listen: • Be willing to listen • Be open to new ideas • Position yourself to listen • Reduce distractions • Show that you are listening

23. Listen & Take Effective Notes • Stay Attentive: • Be quiet • Stay focused • Show empathy, respect, and interest • Observe the speaker • Predict & ask questions • Integrate your learning styles • Postpone judgment • Don’t get caught up in drama

24. Listen & Take Effective Notes • Review what you have heard • Cornell System of note taking: • Largest portion of notes on right hand side • Clues on left • Bottom left open for review/summary

25. Listen & Take Effective Notes • Mind Maps • Start with one concept • Map starts with main idea in center of page • Branches out with subtopics

26. Listen & Take Effective Notes Choose the option that is best for you: • Copy what is on the board • Take notes in the textbook or on paper • Highlight areas in your book that are covered in class • Flash cards • Take notes on syllabus when instructor changes information

27. Listen & Take Effective Notes • Preview the material • Go to every class & pay attention • Be on time • Sit up front • Use all your senses • Make note-taking active and physical • Link information

28. Listen & Take Effective Notes • Use creative shorthand and focus on key words • Organize your notes • Use note cards • Expand on notes from others • Use your laptop

29. Listen & Take Effective Notes • Access and review your notes: • Summarize in your own words • Edit & revise your notes • Create a sample test • Use visual cues • Review your notes • Monitor and evaluate – try different techniques

30. Test Taking Skills • Before the test • Start on day one • Know expectations • Ask questions in class • Keep up • Review early • Review weekly • Do a final review

31. Test Taking Skills • Before the test • Use memory techniques • Create sample tests • Summarize • Study team • Available resources • Assemble what you need

32. Test Taking Skills • During the test • Write down key information • Read & listen to all instructions • Determine which questions are worth the most • Answer objective questions • Easy ones first, then go back • Answer essay questions • Answer remaining questions • Review • Don’t change your answers unless you know for certain you have made a mistake • Don’t second guess yourself

33. Test Taking Skills • After the Test • Reward yourself • Analyze & Assess • Confirm grade • Determine common types of mistakes • Learn what to do next time • Review with your instructor • Review with study team

34. True/False • Listen & read carefully • Pay attention to detail • Watch for qualifiers (always, never, all) • Watch for faulty cause & effect • Because this happens, then this occurs • Always answer every question • Trust your instincts

35. Multiple Choice • Read the question carefully • Rephrase the question • Cover the potential answers • Eliminate choices • Complete easy, then move to difficult • Watch for combinations (all of the above, none of the above) • Use critical thinking

36. Matching & Fill in the Blank • Matching • Read carefully • Eliminate • Fill in the blank • Watch for clues • Count the number of blanks • Watch for the length of the blank • Answer the ones you know first • Answer all questions

37. Open Book Test • Prepare • Study • You have to know where the material is coming from in order to make concept work • Requires critical thinking, not just recall • Don’t copy right from the book; use your own words • Make sure you have all of your notes • Answering quickly is the key!

38. Essay • Prepare • Understand concepts and relationships, not just facts • Budget your writing time • Read the question completely & answer ALL parts of the question • Create an outline • Focus on main points

39. Essay • Write concisely & correctly • Use key terms & phrases • Answer completely • Write neatly • Use all the available time

40. Research Papers • APA Format • Handout provided • LRC’s Website • Plagiarism • Don’t wait for the last minute • Prepare early • First, second & third drafts

41. Routine advising • Each module • Meeting with advisor • How are you? • What do you need assistance with? • Grades • Life concerns

42. References • Peak Performance: Success in College & Beyond Sharon K. Ferrett (2010) McGraw Hill