Academic Success Strategies

1. SWTJC STEM – ENGR 1201 Academic Success Strategies • “Approach” is a key factor in any professional career preparation. • A good approach is to work “hard” and “smart”. • Working ”smart” involves: • Structuring your life situation • Seeking help when you need it • Making good use of educational opportunities • Making good use of your professors • Avoiding certain behaviors • Demonstrating certain “winning” behaviors • Utilizing student services • Developing good study habits • Using good test taking skills • Managing you time wisely cg - 7

2. SWTJC STEM – ENGR 1201 Academic Success Strategies • Structure you life situation: • Living arrangements - On or near campus is best. • Balance work and school - both can’t be full time! • Typical lecture course is 3 credits (3 hrs/wk) • Lab course is 4 credits (lecture plus 1 sch lab) • 10 hrs/wk - Full Load, 15-18 sch, 5-6 courses • 20 hrs/wk - Min. Full Load, 12 sch, 4 courses • 40 hrs/wk - Part-Time, 6 - 8 sch, 2 courses • Obviously, fewer courses, more years of study! • Influence of family and friends • Family and friends can provide a support structure • The more stable, the better cg - 7

3. SWTJC STEM – ENGR 1201 Academic Success Strategies • Don’t hesitate to seek help. • Your peers - friends and study groups • Your professors • Find out how to get in touch - phone & email • Office hours • SWTJC Ace Lab • Help with math, science, English, etc. • Plato Learning System • SWTJC library - information and research • Most successful students participate in a variety of activities with peers and professors. • You must learn to communicate and interact effectively, both now and when you go to work. cg - 7

4. SWTJC STEM – ENGR 1201 Academic Success Strategies • Make good use of your educational opportunities. • Teaching modes: • Large lecture - 300+ students • Small lecture - 25 to 30 students • Recitations - Teaching assistant and 8-10 students • One-on-one tutoring • Subject expert “teaches” a neophyte • Learning with these modes is limited! • Teaching modes don’t matter if learning modes are not engaged cg - 7

5. SWTJC STEM – ENGR 1201 Academic Success Strategies • Make good use of your educational opportunities. • Learning modes • Solitary, the “lone wolf” approach • Collaborative - Most effective! • Come early to class and talk to other students. • Hang around the sub and library, talk to students you recognize. • Organize a study group. • Include a “brain” in the group. • Ask the prof to attend a study session. cg - 7

6. SWTJC STEM – ENGR 1201 Academic Success Strategies • Make good use of your professors. • Provide one-on-one instruction - office hours. • Provide academic and career advising. • Monitor your progress and hold you accountable. • Help you find a summer job. • Serve as a reference when you look for a job. • Nominate you for a scholarship or award. • It pays to win over you professor! How? • Show respect. • Show interest and pay attention in class. • Be responsible. • Don’t make excuses! cg - 7

7. SWTJC STEM – ENGR 1201 Academic Success Strategies • Behaviors to avoid: • Coming in late to class. • Sleeping in class. • Not paying attention - surfing the Internet. • Doing homework in class. • Leaving class early. • Failing to do homework or preparing for exams. • Asking “Did I miss anything?” • Correcting his/her mistakes in an antagonistic manner. • General complaining...grades, exams, homework. • Sending non-verbal messages. cg - 7

8. SWTJC STEM – ENGR 1201 Academic Success Strategies • Winning behaviors: • Be on time to class. • Pay attention and show interest. • Ask meaningful questions. • Apply yourself to the job at hand. • Offer compliments and constructive criticism. • Show an interest in things the prof is interested in. cg - 7

9. SWTJC STEM – ENGR 1201 Academic Success Strategies • Utilize other student services. • Tutoring services. • ACE labs • Student Support Services • Career center • Financial aid office. • Health office • Library • Counseling advising cg - 7

10. SWTJC STEM – ENGR 1201 Academic Success Strategies • Develop good study habits. • Study ahead. Getting behind is the “Kiss of death”. • Master the material from a previous class before the next class. • Begin doing the reading and homework assignments immediately. Don’t cram! • Problem solutions always look “easy” when the prof does it in class. • Recopy your notes. Keep all your work! • Rework all examples. • Rework exam problems you miss. • Sit up front in lecture and “focus” your attention. • Ask questions. Don’t ever gloss over things you don’t understand. cg - 7

11. SWTJC STEM – ENGR 1201 Academic Success Strategies • Develop test taking strategies. • The harder you work as you go, the less cramming will be needed. • On a test, go through it and work the easy problems first. Then go back and work the ones you are unsure of. • If you get stuck, go on and come back to it. • Check you answers!!! • Apply the “reasonableness” test. In the first two year of college, there are no stupid questions, but I’ve seen lots of stupid answers on tests and homework! • Never leave a question blank, you might get lucky! cg - 7

12. SWTJC STEM – ENGR 1201 Academic Success Strategies • Manage your time. • Study at least two hours outside of class for every hour in class. (Example: ENGR 1201 - 4 hrs/wk) • Make up a weekly schedule and stick to it. • Make a serious commitment to study time. Study first and play last! • Use a long term planner. Don’t let exams and major assignments slip up on you. cg - 7

13. SWTJC STEM – ENGR 1201 Academic Success Strategies • Again, plan to work “hard” and “smart”. • There are no guarantees in life, but you can increase the odds in your favor! cg - 7