Top 10 Tips for Success in My Class

Successful students aren't just "smart;" they employ a variety of strategies to learn new information effectively. Using the following list of study tips will help you to succeed in this class (as well as in many other classes). You will probably not need to use all of these, but take your pick, be prepared to put in some time and effort, and happy studying!

  1. Attend class regularly: I spend a large amount of class time showing visual aids (slides, videos, overheads, demonstrations, and physical models). You must attend class to take advantage of this teaching technique. Make sure that you completely fill out the video worksheets and take notes on what you see in class because this information will be on the exams. We cover something important every single class meeting.
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  1. Daily preparation (even Friday!): make no mistake about it, school is hard work. To be successful, you need to prepare before class, and to analyze information soon afterward. Make sure that you come to class prepared.
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  1. Take detailed notes: try paraphrasing (taking notes in your own words). Don't just copy what is on the board -- take copious notes on what was discussed, what slides were seen, what you learned from a video, etc. Leave room to add information from other sources (such as the textbook) later.
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  1. Recopy your notes: many students are convinced that this is the most effective technique. At the very least, go over your notes nightly and use a magic marker to highlight the most important points.
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  1. Read the textbook: especially the parts that I emphasize. Mark in your book (this does not decrease the resale value of your book...only tearing out pages does!). I suggest reading the book 3 times (!):
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Scan it once briefly before the topic is discussed in class so that you know a little bit about the topic.
Read it in detail after the topic is discussed in class and highlight in marker pen all important parts (these portions can also be transferred to your notes).
Before the exam, re-read the highlighted portions of the text. This is easy now that they are highlighted.
  1. Use flash cards: these are cards which list a key work on the front and the definition, process, or concept explained on the back. They are great at test preparation time, and can even be studied in the car!
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  1. Allow ample time to study: this avoids having to cram lots of information the night before an exam. For each one hour in class, at least three hours outside of class is usually needed -- more if science is difficult for you.
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  1. Earn extra credit: take full advantage of opportunities do extra credit assignments. Extra credit points will be added onto your point total at the end of the semester, and may allow you to just get that next highest grade.
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  1. See a tutor: If available, seek out tutors from my past classes.  Base your choice on their academic performance and their ability to explain concepts to others.  
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  1. Here's the best one: join a study group. Recent educational studies document the effectiveness of study groups. They work because you have to explain concepts to someone else. If you don't know it, you can't explain it (it's as simple as that). I recommend meeting once a week to go over notes and to quiz each other. There is no doubt about it: THEY REALLY WORK!
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