Dr. Saundra Y. McGuire Director, Center for Academic Success Adjunct Professor of Chemistry Louisiana State University How to Ace First Year Chemistry (or at least make a high B)

Requirements for Acing Chemistry 101/102 Mastery of Chem Concepts (not rote memorization!) Realistic Study Schedule Effective Use of Resources (office hours, Help Desk, etc.) Managing Anxiety

Why 101/102 is Harder Than HS Chemistry The course moves a lot faster The material is conceptually more difficult and cumulative The problems are more involved The tests are less straightforward and require you to apply concepts

Judgment: the ability to make decisions and support views; requires understanding of values Synthesis Analysis Identification of component parts; determination of arrangement, logic, semantics Application Use of information to solve problems; transfer of abstract or theoretical ideas to practical situations. Interpretation Identification of connections and relationships Translation Restatement in your own words; paraphrase; summary Recall Verbatim information; memorization with no evidence of understanding Evaluation Combination of information to form a unique product; requires creativity and originality

STUDENTS WITH GPA OF 3.7 OR HIGHER  Studied over 30 hours per week outside of class  Reviewed material prior to class  Stayed 1-2 chapters ahead in the text  Reviewed notes after class  Visited professor/instructor/tutor regularly  Studied in small groups (3-5 people) several times per week  Asked questions, asked questions, asked questions!!!

STUDENTS WITH A GPA OF 2.0 OR LESS  Studied 8-12 hours per week out of class  Did not review material prior to class  Stayed 1-2 chapters behind in reading  Rarely asked questions  Rarely discussed information with instructors/classmates/friends  In effect, were still in high school FOUR YEAR STUDY, R. B. LANDIS, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, 1995

So, What Can You Do Now? Spend more time studying chemistry (at least 9 hours per week) Aim for 100% understanding Use the Help Desk and office hours Use the Continuous Process of Learning and Intense Study Sessions Study Smarter for Chemistry

Use Efficient Study Strategies When You Study Chemistry ! Study SMARTER, not HARDER

Continuous Process of Learning Phase One: Read or preview chapters to be covered in class… before class (Create chapter maps) Phase Two: Go to Class. Listen actively, take notes, participate in class Phase Three:Review and process class notes as soon as possible after class Phase Four: Incorporate Intense Study Sessions Repeat

Intense Study Sessions  5 minutes: Set goals for next 40 min.  40 minutes: Read text more selectively/highlight Make doodles/notes in margins Create mnemonics, work examples Create maps  5 minutes Review what you have just studied  10 minutes Take a break  Repeat

Get the Most Out of Lecture Arrive early Actively participate Review notes soon after class Rework all example problems done in class

Average Retention for Learning Activities (Source: National Training Laboratories, Bethel, ME) 20% Audio-Visual 30% Demonstration 50% Discussion Group 75% Practice by Doing 90% Teach Others/Immediate Use of Learning 5% Lecture 10% Reading

Get the Most Out of Homework Start the problems early--the day they are assigned Do not flip back to see example problems; work them yourself! Don’t give up too soon (<15 min.) Don’t spend too much time (>30 min.)

Get the Most from the Help Desk and Office Hours Try to understand the concept or work the problem by yourself first Come prepared to ask questions Explain the material to the tutor or professor or study group members

Some other important tips - Start homework problems ONLY after reviewing, notes, working class problems, reading text. -Work extra problems!!! -To prepare for tests, go over all problems, especially those problems you could not solve. -Review examples from class, and do chapter reviews. - Keep old quizzes/tests, and ALWAYS correct returned tests.

Special Problem Solving Tips -Work extra problems!!! -When working homework problems, DO NOT flip back to look at examples in the text. Spend at least 15 minutes, but no longer than 25 minutes trying a problem before you seek assistance. -Visualize the problem situation. Draw diagrams. -Use front end – back end problem solving: “What can I get from what I am given?” “What do I need to get what I am trying to find?” - Estimate the answer, if possible. Check you answer to make sure it is in the “ballpark”.

Chemistry 101/102 HELP DESK At TAMU Room 116 HELD Mon – Thurs: 8:30am – 4:30pm Fri: 8:30am – 12:30pm

ON-LINE STUDY STRATEGIES WORKSHOPS at LSU TTime Management TCollege Reading and NoteTaking TManaging Test Anxiety TTest Taking Strategies TConcept Mapping

FABULOUS WEB SITE AT Louisiana State University  Study Smarter Workshops On Line  Weekly and Semester Planners  GPA Calculator  Great Links  Web Page Development  Study Strategies Sites  Graduate Exam Links (GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT)