2. LaSalle High School Science Department Study Skills S t u d y S k i l l s

3. Different note taking styles are needed for different courses.  Necessary study skills vary with course content.

4. It is difficult for many students to outline a class discussion as they listen to it.  Probably the student has no background with the course content, so may not know what points are important and how to organize them.  Write down as much as possible during the class; listen carefully to examples.  Later, reorganize your notes, correlating them with information from the textbook.  Re-copy your notes so they are clear and easy to understand.

5. n 3-ring notebooks are the best way to organize class material. –Handouts can be inserted with the proper notes. n Leave blank spots in the notes for later addition of graphs or information from the textbook.

6. When reading the textbook, always look at graphs, charts, diagrams, and examples. It is often easier to comprehend information if it is visualized.

7. There are ends for which you study: ¶ Studying to gather information · Studying to learn information ¸ Studying to check for learning ¹ Studying to refresh your understanding º Studying to improve learning skills

8.  Studying to gather information n Identify what information is to be learned; pay attention in class; the teacher usually emphasizes the most important topics to be learned! n Organize the information in an easy to learn format like an outline n Verify that your notes are complete and correct

9.  Studying to learn information n Requires repeated recitation

10.  Studying to check for learning n Your notes should cover the details and the main points of the topic n Try to recite out loud the covered details n If you can do this correctly on the first try, you have learned the material. n If not, go back and review! .

11.  Studying to refresh your understanding n Review learned material two or three times a week to prevent forgetting

12.  Studying to improve learning skills n Analyze returned tests to determine what study skills work for you n Modify those that don’t work for you

13. Study groups are very beneficial  Students gain greater understanding of course material by discussing it with their peers.  Peers tend to put the information into terms easier to understand.  Quiz each other; compare notes; do sample tests.  Review tests to see why mistakes were made; this helps determine the kinds of questions the instructor puts on exams.

14. n Make up questions and answers from both the class notes and textbook. n Put them on note cards; this is more efficient than re-reading the textbook. n For math or chemistry put a problem on one side of the card and its step- by-step solution on the other.

15. Cramming enables short-term memory of facts, but limits long-term memory and the ability to apply and analyze the material.