8 Preparing Tips and Strategies
5.1 Preparing for Classes
Everyone likes to earn an A; it feels good, and it’s validation for the work you put into a class. College students are often aware of the skills and habits required to achieve good grades, many do not know how to approach or execute these specific skills. This chapter will spend time reviewing the habits of successful students and strategies for approaching your academic tasks. Let’s jump straight into it and look at a variety of tips.
In this first section of the chapter, we will focus on tips and habits to implement in order to be successful in the classroom. We will divide these into three different approaches to promote better preparation; things to do before class, during class, and after class. As you read through this chapter, consider the following list of approaches. How many of them do you do regularly? How might you be able to incorporate them into your life this semester?
Before the Semester
Read and Retain Your Syllabus
In addition to acting as a contract between the instructor and you, the syllabus is also often the source of information for faculty contact information, textbook information, classroom behavior expectations, attendance policy, course objectives and most importantly required readings, assignments and key dates and deadlines. Some students make the mistake of stuffing the syllabus in their backpack when they receive it on the first day of class and never take a look at it again, instead relying on reminders from Blackboard or the instructor. Those who clearly read it, review it frequently, and keep it for reference find themselves more prepared for class. If there is something in the syllabus you don’t understand, ask your instructor about it before or after class or during their office hours.
Place Your Assignments on Your Master Calendar and Create Plans for Completing Them Before They Are Due
After reviewing your course syllabi, place all of your assignments for all of your classes with their due dates in your calendar, planner, smart-phone or whatever you use for organization at the beginning of the semester. Successful students will also schedule when to start those assignments and have an idea of how long it will take to complete them. This “set it and forget it” method will make it impossible for you to forget upcoming assignments, tests, or important events.
Below is an example calendar you can use, the Semester at a Glance. The document breaks down 16 weeks (the general length of a semester) so you can see it all on one page. You can use it to highlight the biggest or most time consuming assignments for the semester. Then, you can have a holistic view of your semester, determine weeks that will be the busiest, and plan accordingly.
Schedule Time for Studying
After you have entered all of your major assignments on your calendar, set aside specific times and days for studying each week. It’s easy to put off studying if it’s not something you schedule. The solution is simple, but not easy. Create your schedule and stick to it. Plan ahead for what you will be doing during your scheduled study time each day to ensure you are prepared (this is when having your syllabus handy is important). Treat your study times as fixed time where you are required to be present and focused on those tasks. This tactic helps limit procrastination and create structure in your routine.
Study In a Location and At a Time That Is Best for You
Some students study best in the morning and some at night. Some excel at a coffee shop, and others at the library. The place and time in which students often study is usually the most convenient for them, but that could be at a time when you are exhausted or a place full of distractions. Consider when and where you are most energized and focused, and distractions are limited.
Elements conducive to a more effective study experience include such things as good lighting, ample supplies, comfortable seating, adequate space, and personalizing the study area to add a touch of inspiration and motivation. If this is available in your home, that’s great! If not, consider where on campus or near your home you can find a good study space. While an “ideal” study space will be based on your individual preferences and what is available to you given your location and schedule. At a minimum, it can be helpful to mute the notifications on your cell phone, turn off the TV and close social media pages.
Complete All Assigned Reading at the Time It Is Assigned
College courses have much more assigned reading than what most high school students are accustomed to, and it can take a while to become comfortable with the workload. Some students see reading as optional, fall behind early with the reading requirements, or fail to read at all. You will be most prepared for your class and for learning if you complete the reading assigned before your class. It will also save you time and increase your retention to read throughout the semester instead of trying to catch up before an exam or big assignment.
Remember back in Chapter 3, when we talked about the process of learning. One strategy for retaining information is to connect new information with foundation information you already know. Pre-reading before lecture can help with this process because you will become familiar with new terms and concepts ahead of time, lectures can reinforce concepts that you are already familiar with and you have the opportunity to formulate questions in advance. If you are in a discussion based class, reading ahead of time is even more important because you are required to participate and give feedback on your reading.
Reviewing your syllabus and course calendar regularly will help you be aware of your reading assignment deadlines.
Take Notes When You Are Reading
For the same reason as above, it is helpful to take notes while you are reading to maximize memory. The goal of active notetaking during reading, is to help you stay focused on the material and to be able to refer back to notes made while reading to improve retention and study efficiency. Don’t make the mistake of expecting to remember everything you are reading. Reading takes a great deal of time. Taking notes when reading requires effort and energy, but saves you time in the long run. Be willing to do it and you’ll reap the benefits later.
Be Prepared for Each Class
Completing your assigned reading and taking notes ahead of class are great first steps to prepare for class. Follow the syllabus so that you’ll have familiarity with what the instructor is speaking about. Bring your course syllabus, notebook and any handouts or other important information for each particular class along with materials to take notes. Be eager to learn, even on days where it’s tough to be present. Sleep adequately the night before class and ensure you do not arrive to class on an empty stomach. Ensure you’re checking your email and Blackboard announcements regularly to be aware of last minute updates.
Making the Most of Your Time in Class
Attend Every Class
Missing class is a major factor in students dropping courses or receiving poor grades. In addition, students attempting to make up the work from missing class often find it overwhelming. It’s challenging to catch up if you get behind.
Attending each and every class requires a lot of self-discipline and motivation. Doing so will help you remain engaged and involved in course topics, provide insight into what your instructor deems most important, build relationships with peers and instructors, submit work and receive your graded assignments, take quizzes or exams that cannot be made up, and ask questions when you have them. There is no downside to being present in class. Sit Front and Center
Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to find “our seat” in each class where we feel most comfortable and return to that spot class after class. Where in the room does that seat tend to be for you? If you tend to sit in the back of the room, consider why. If you’re sitting in the back so that you can send text messages without being seen, work on something else or so that you can disengage, then you’re sitting in the back for the wrong reasons. Sitting in the front or center sections of the classroom forces you to be more engaged and pay more attention in class, minimizes distractions, and keeps your focus on the instructor and the material they are teaching you.
Take Appropriate Notes in Class
Taking notes throughout a lecture helps you stay engaged in what’s being taught and also have information to refer back to once class is over. Common issues students face is taking too many or too few notes, and knowing which note taking style will work best for them. Taking notes is not a one size fits all approach. It will take some trial and error to discover the right balance for each of your classes. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
Ask Questions
Asking questions is a good exercise during class to stay engaged and to recognize gaps in knowledge that you are trying to improve on. Many students feel like they are the only one that has a question or the only one that doesn’t understand something in class. If you have a question, ask! Many times there are multiple students in the class with the same question, so asking your question can help your peers, too. If you’re uncomfortable with asking questions in class, write down your questions when you have them so you do not forget them and make the effort to ask your questions before or after class or during your instructors’ office hours.
Following Up After Class
Complete All of Your Assignments
This may seem like a no-brainer, but earning a 0% on an assignment because it was not submitted can severely impact your grade in a course. Unexpected life events may arise that keep you from being able to complete assignments as planned. That’s why doing all assignments when you have the opportunity to do so is imperative to your success. If something comes up that limits your ability to turn something in on time, refer to the syllabus to check on the instructors late work policy. In most instances, there is a grace period to turn things in for fewer points. Earning some points is better than earning no points at all. It is always worth it to submit an assignment late for reduced points, both for the learning that comes from that assignment and for the points you can earn.
Form a Study Group
Study groups can allow for shared resources, new perspectives, answers for questions, faster learning, increased confidence, and increased motivation. Being able to verbally communicate your learning by teaching someone else is one of the best ways to confirm you have learned the material for a course. Students should study in the environment that works best for them, but it could be beneficial to try a study group, especially if you are taking a class in a subject in which you do not feel confident.
Review for Exams
Preparation for an exam should begin on the first day of class, not when the exam is announced nor the night before an exam. Review your notes frequently to keep material fresh in your head. Find creative ways to review material instead of relying on simply rereading notes over and over. Quiz yourself through flashcards or practice exams. Consider studying 1 hour for 5 days rather than 5 hours in one day. We will get to the science of it soon, but these approaches are more efficient and result in higher levels of learning.
Know Campus Resources and Use Them
There are many campus resources at Boise State, most of which are free and easily accessible to all students. There are many staff members across campus who’s full time job is to help students. Students typically think of tutoring as the most common resource on campus, but there is a wide variety of help available. If you are experiencing barriers to your success, such as an overloaded schedule, personal or family issues, or financial or health-related challenges, there are people here to help. Some students don’t know these resources exist. Others do, but are apprehensive about using them. There is no shame in asking for help and utilizing services across campus in order to reach your goals. These resources exist solely to help students so make sure you are getting the most out of them!
Don’t Do Anything Academically “Half-assed”
Half-assed is defined as doing things poorly or with little effort or care. Think of it this way: You’ve made the decision to come to college. You’re investing time, energy and money into your commitment. Why would you want to give it less than your full effort? Students who miss class, turn in work late or not at all, or procrastinate regularly are half-assing it. If you would describe your academic habits this way, it’s important to figure out why. With some self-reflection, you may be able to determine adjustments you can make to your life to get that motivation and follow through back.
Apply these basic principles and you will be giving yourself the best opportunity to achieve success, not just in school, but in life.
Getting the Important Stuff
Textbook chapters can be long and dense; classroom lectures can move quickly and be hard to follow, especially if students are asking questions or the instructor moves off topic. Developing reading and notetaking skills that allow you to discern key information takes practice and patience but there are some general guidelines to help you get started. Active Listening
In previous units, we covered ways that students can actively engage in the learning process in order to get the most out of their education. There are ways to actively listen as well, in order to get the most out of lectures and, more importantly, take all of the notes that might be required. The video in the next exercise covers several active listening strategies along with why we sometimes have difficulty listening.
Video: 5 Ways to Listen Better, Julian Treasure at TED Global 2011
Perhaps the most useful learning tools of all are notes taken from both lectures and course materials. By annotating for key information, then condensing it, students create personalized summaries helpful for studying.
