TEST PREP PART 1Carrie Gaxiola

part 2 presented by Christina Park

Studying ≠ homework■ Homework is to reinforce classroom knowledge or to build upon it; to master the

techniques taught

■ Studying is going over the material; reinforcing the knowledge

■ Don’t just memorize – learn it so you KNOW the material

■ Make a habit to review your class notes after class or every evening (you will see why on the next slide about human memory)

■ Don’t get behind, if you do not understand something, please ask!

Pre Planning- some things to know: Human memory

The concept is when you read

something, your memory of what you

read or heard is almost alive. If we

represent this with graph it is

horizontally at 100%, and it slowly

declines over time.

When you review it after one day,

memory connections are strengthened.

Now its declination is very slow as

compared to without review.

This speed decreases with every review

of the thing you want to remember.

http://themathspack.com/index.php/2015/08/15/best-study-methods/

http://www.wired.com/2008/04/ff-wozniak/

What does these graphs mean?

■ Human attention span is at 30% after 45 minutes.

■ You can improve your attention span by increasing the time slowly,but it is better to take a short break(~5 minutes) after about an hour of focused study. The short break will allow you to regain about 90% of your attention span.

■ Another important consideration is the productive hours. It may be different for few people but mostly early morning is the most productive time.

■ Remember to keep the room temperature a little warm. It will help in focusing.

http://themathspack.com/index.php/2015/08/15/best-study-methods/

Some tips…■ Don’t listen to love music or such type of songs. Listen to some good motivational

music if anything.

■ Don’t be distracted! Don’t have a facebook tab open! Don’t have your cell phone next to you on!

■ Do take some time for spirituality or loneliness, for many reasons it’s important.

■ Play some sports or exercise, not too much.

■ Eat different things in daily life and especially in break times.

■ Play with children, they are also learning, observe them and their interest.

■ Do spend some time with family and share your status.

■ If possible, do have some time to teach someone. It will be best, if you can teach what you are learning yourself.

■ For your tasks apart from study, make a to-do list. It’s very important to lessen the distraction and burden from your mind.

■ Understanding the problem, half solves it.

■ Imagine your success every day, imagine the future. You are investing on your future.

■ Spread knowledge.

http://themathspack.com/index.php/2015/08/15/best-study-methods/

Construct a PLAN

■ When are productive hours? (usually in morning for most people)

– When can you not be interrupted?

■ NO DISTRACTIONS! Leave your cell phone out of reach, rid ALL distractions!

■ Have healthy snacks and drink with you.

■ PLACE is very important. Library? Coffee shop?

■ Determine REALISTIC study goals.

■ DO NOT CRAM! Make sure you have plenty of time!

■ Follow-through. This is your future!

■ If needed, use tools for study planning. (Apps, calendars, to-do lists, etc.)

■ Remember, human can concentrate for about 40 minutes on a subject, or max 1 hour. TAKE BREAKS, FRESH AIR IS BEST WITH A BRISK WALK.

Extra help ■ There are tools available to you, many of them for FREE!

– Apps

■ MyStudyLife.com

■ http://www.collegechoice.net/college-life/top-15-study-apps-for-college-students/

– Study Planners

■ Free downloads iTunesUniversity, MySQA My Study Plan

■ Studenthandouts.com (calendars as well as Venn diagrams, “who- what- where- why-when- how- “ worksheets…)

– HERE AT GBC!

■ Library

■ Academic Success Center

■ YOUR INSTRUCTOR!

Plan by subject. Study different for different objectives!

Here are a few examples… Mathematics: ■ Read the text, even if you find yourself understating the lecture, read the text! It might provide alternate

explanations that will help you deepen your understanding of the material. It also will usually have examples!

■ Reading a math text should not be a passive thing. You should work through the examples. If they skipped steps, you should provide the missing steps.

■ Ask why until you understand.

■ To gain mastery, you may have to work more problems than the instructor assigns. This means you will need to look for extra problems. If you are using a computerized learning system, the system may generate problems. In addition, don't forget about the book. Books will often contain chapter reviews and practice tests. Some learning systems come with study plans, Try checking that out for additional practice.

■ If you need help, get it as soon as possible. GBC instructors and faculty want you to succeed!!!

■ Budget your time so you do not fall behind. Getting behind in a math course can be deadly, especially if you are studying topics that build on one another.

■ Remember, you have not mastered the material until you can do problems without referring to the book or your notes.

These tips are from a math instructor at GBC! I asked for guidance, and voila – here it is. USE IT!

Liberal Arts… English Literature and/ or History ■ Re-read short selections of text. If you took notes while discussing the texts, review the

notes first, then re-read the text.

■ Be sure to consult your syllabus to remind yourself about all of the texts that you read.

■ Reviewing the chapter titles and the first and last sentences of each chapter of novels can help refresh your memory about the specifics of the novel.

■ Read introductory material and side notes in your textbook. This that can be very helpful for essay questions.

■ Review course notes.

■ Identify “big picture” themes.

■ Review online study guides and summaries. Ask your instructor for a study guide.

■ Memorize details such as characters’ names.

■ Use flashcards (either paper or electronic cards) to memorize characters’ names and details about them.

■ Make thought map! Make connections! Compare and contrast and write notes on the side!

Ask your instructor or a tutor for help. Don’t hesitate.

Methods proven to work ■ Techniques to build skill and build your learning base

– Flashcards

– Self Explanation (describe how new information related to known information”

– Detailing notes and/or making images of what you learned

– Outlines

– Practice Tests

– Reading and highlighting important concepts

– Use a study guide (ask your instructor for one, or hints on what will be on the exam) They want you to succeed.

– Study with a group from the class. Everyone picks up different things – quiz each other! Discussion builds knowledge. Discuss the concepts with each other.

■ Different methods will work better with you than others. The discipline studying will also help you determine what technique is best for you.

– KNOW THE FORMAT OF THE EXAM! Ask Your instructor !

Sankalpa Mudra

■ Sankalpa: Meaning Intention! Commitment to start an activity with a self promise that one will continue until the end of it

■ The challenge is SANKALPA –without committing to oneself, however small one cannot finish anything

■ Mudra is a gesture or seal made with the body(such with hands) that can be used along with resolve

Get the right mind set!

■ Having that in mind, the right attitude is vital and here are two psychologically proven study methods

– PQRST

– SQ3R

PQRST method of studying

■ Think about the MEANING

■ RELATE this concepts with things you know or similar topics

■ Check back against the test or study guide

http://www.lintech.org/study-skills/The_PQRST_method.htmlProfessor Ian McLoughlin; School of Computing The University of Kent, UK

■ Preview:

– Start at the beginning of the chapter, scan the chapter

– Pay attention to the headings and subsections; read the introductions and the summary at the end

– Get the point of the main topics

■ Question:

– Make questions out of the headings and subsections

– “What am I suppose to be learning in this section.”

■ Read:

– Read the study guide and look for the answers in the questions you formulated

– Underline or highlight keywords

– Don’t overdue it! Read it all first then summarize if you are using a lot of highlights and underlines

■ Self-Recite:

– Try to remember the main points of each section and that you say them out loud to yourself

– Check your answers against the text – note the ideas you have missed! Only then go onto the next section

■ Test:

– Test yourself of the chapter material. How much do you remember?

– Reread any chapters or sections you are lacking. Does it all make sense TOGETHER?

Researchers have tested this method, and found it really does work. Self-recitation is particularly effective if done properly, as is the questioning step.

PQRST

SQ3R■ SQ3R is a reading

comprehension method named for its five steps: survey, question, read, recite, and review.

■ The method was introduced by Francis Pleasant Robinson in his 1946 book Effective Study

■ The method was created for college students

SQR3 ■ Survey: Surveying is like skimming. It is to gain a quick overview of a chapter as a whole, it’s

orderly development, and the relationship of main ideas in relation to each other, before reading. To survey properly, spend 1 – 2 minutes surveying to get a background knowledge and organize the material as you read it. A kind of introduction to the material. Read chapter summaries and intros. Note important terms.

■ Question: As you skim, what questions can you make? If there are words that can and need to be defines, question these: e.g., What is parliamentary order? Then ask about relationships between particular ideals or components. Compare and contrast. Details always dictate the questions!

■ Read: Read with purpose – this increases concentration and reduces “Blank mind syndrome” so make up questions and READ FOR THE ANSWERS increases the memory for exams.

■ Recite: Now look away and try to recite – use your own words and formulate examples. If you cannot, go over the section again. Write down all the answers to your questions once you have them.

■ Review: Test your memory by asking questions you have identified. Review your notes –consider how it fits with what you know from the course. What is the material’s significance? What questions are you left with?