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

How to Get the Most Out of Studying

Dionna Smith

Active Learning

MemoryTechniques

Note Taking

Reading

Critical Thinking

ParticipatingLearning

Style

InformationProcessing

How the Brain Retains Information

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

Memory Quiz Question

This in class workshop is sponsored

by the

Student Academic Success Center (SASC)

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!

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.

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.

Memory Question

The acroynmn for

Student Academic Success Center

is

SASC

Retaining Information Utilize multiple parts of the brain.

Storage and Retrieval Utilize multiple parts of the brain.

Information is easier to retrieve when it is stored in multiple parts of the brain.

Mnemonics

Sentence Word Drawing Jingles/Rap

Memory Question

The acroynmn for

Student Academic Success Center

is

SASC

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.

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.

Facts for Kinesthetic Learners You 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.

Review Questions

What does SASC stand for?

Review Questions

What does SASC stand for?

Ways to Retain Information and Place it into

Attention Interest Selection Understanding Build background Organization

Recitation Notetaking Review Overlearning Sleeping over it

Connect Information

Learn new information by making connections. Build upon what you already know.

Tips on Retention

Study with others

Tell or teach someone else

261-1040261-1040261-1040

Repeat information *

Relate info to what you already know

Information ProcessingProblems

Forgetting Disuse Don’t Need or defensive forgetting Too much information to process Blocking

Learning information incorrectly Changing Cues Interference: Ex1

2

Weekly Flow Chart for Studying

Pre-read TextAnd develop questions

Go to class

Review and edit notes same day as lecture

Read text selectively

Take notes

Ask yourselfquestions

Ask questions of instructor

Do homework

Outline major concepts

Ask questions in class

Review and integrate

Review Questions

What does SASC stand for?

THE END

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.

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.

Connect Ideas

Paraphrase what you hear Relate key ideas to what you

already know Make a note of unknown words Get involved

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.

Master Note-Taking Strategies

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

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.

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.

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.

Questions???