Do you have successful learning strategies?
In order to succeed in any endeavor, one must want to succeed (desire), commit to a level of effort that will ensure success (dedication), and adopt a strategy to carry out that plan (discipline). Your pyschological approach to learning strongly affects the outcome of any study strategy.
- Successful attitudes
- Motivating yourself
- Influencing the instructor
Learning how to work through the course
Studying science is different than other fields. It has a lot of specialized vocabulary terms which are best mastered in small, frequent doses. Cramming does not allow information to be absorbed well. An organized study session is short but intense.
Studying is much more then reading! Effective study activities will promote superior understanding and more "concretely" reinforce the course material.
- Learning to learn
- Better study techniques
- Relate your study and testing behaviours to expected grades
- Using flash cards for effective studying
- Studying by using your learning style
- Reading for science courses
Studying with others has been shown to maximize your learning.
Studying for laboratory courses requires more time with physical material.This type of studying is designed to help students better visualize structures.
Lab studying
Testing is more then just knowing stuff- you can improve your testing abilities.
If you feel that you are studying and testing effectively and yet still not doing as well, then you might need to alleviate your stress and anxiety.
SUMMARY:
Having a positive attitude to learning is important. Persistent curiosity, and a sense of discovery, provides the motivation to achieve greater understanding, despite challenging topics. Relating to the instructor as a "guide" to your discovery of new information creates an easier and more enjoyable learning environment. Best learning practices involve using several, varied, effective study techniques in a timely manner. Managing time, stress and test anxiety will allow your potential to be achieved.
Test questions will examine more than your ability to memorize. Strive to understand how to actually use or apply the newly learned information, rather then simple recall. This requires a different (higher) level of thinking. Some memorization will be required, of course, but memorization alone will not assure you of good examination grades. Work to understand the meaning of each concept AND how it relates to other related concepts. Consider that your goal is to understand how information is related, NOT just facts.