Chapter 5 Making the Learning Process Work for You

Chapter Overview Reading for comprehension The Forgetting Curve Organizing your learning process Making effective use of your peers Priority Management

Reading for Comprehension What to do before you read? What to do while you read? What to do after you read?

Before You Read Establish a purpose for the reading Survey/skim/preview Make a list of questions to be answered

While You Read Read actively Focus on understanding concepts thoroughly Take your time; don’t try to read too fast Write down questions that need to be answered about anything you don’t understand Periodically, stop and recite (ideally aloud) what you have read

After You Read Recite answers to the questions you prepared before you started reading. Reread where needed. Review within a day; again in a week; when you prepare for an exam; and when you prepare for the final exam Solve problems

Approximate review times per hour of lecture In 1885 German philosopher Hermann Ebbinghaus conducted one of the first studies on memory, using himself as a subject. He was the first to describe the shape of the forgetting curve. The Forgetting Curve Without reviews you will need to spend 1 hour to relearn the material!

Organizing Your Learning Process “Take it as it comes” Procrastination Learn to manage your time

Take It As It Comes Don’t allow the next class session in a course to come without having mastered the material presented in the previous class session.

Procrastination – “Choosing to put off something we know we should be doing and instead do something we know we shouldn’t be doing.” Reasons for procrastination Fear of failure Fear of success Low tolerance for unpleasant tasks Disorganized Student’s Enemy Number One

Learn to Manage Your Time Place a high value on your time Schedule your time Make a serious commitment to your study time

Benefits of Scheduling Your Study Time See if you are overextended More likely to keep up in your classes Provide feedback as to how much you are studying You’ll learn what you can do and can’t do You’ll feel that you have more time You’ll feel much less stressed-out over school

Time Management How to Balance Workload and Life Make a schedule – long term goals – short term goals – daily goals Make clear contracts with yourself regarding time, place and study task  you will work best with a clear sense of purpose Strategically determine how you use your time in order to succeed – Schedule non-negotiable time  no distractions (phone, internet etc.) – Do your most demanding work during hours when you feel best – Save pleasant tasks for less productive times of the day

Time Management How to Balance Workload and Life For every lecture schedule enough time for homework plus time for studying (times may vary based on lecture and yourself!) Stay healthy and happy – Sleep hrs/week (sleeping during lecture doesn’t count!)  students who are sleep-deprived have lower marks than students who are getting enough sleep – Schedule recreation/fun time: hrs a week – Socialize Find the balance that works best for YOU

Making Effective Use of Your Peers Overview of collaborative learning Benefits of group study Frequently asked questions

Learning Modes Solitary – You learn by yourself Collaborative – You learn with others “My anecdotal research indicates that about 90 percent of first-year engineering students do virtually 100 percent of their studying alone.” R. Landis

Class Poll on Collaborative Learning How many of you spend some fraction of your study time on a regular basis studying with at least one other student? How many of you spend virtually 100 percent of your study time studying alone? For those who study alone – “Why don’t you study with other students?” For those who study with other students – “How is it working for you?”

Why Do Students Study Alone? I learn more studying by myself. I don’t have anyone to study with. It’s not right. You’re supposed to do your own work.

Benefits of Group Study You’ll be better prepared for the engineering “work-world ” You’ll learn more You’ll enjoy it more

Frequently Asked Questions What percentage of my studying should be done in groups? What is the ideal size of a study group? What can be done to keep the group from getting off task?

III IIIIV Organize and execute around priorities Two dimensions – Urgent and Important Priority Management urgent Important urgent Important Not urgent Not Important

Stay out of quadrants III and IV  it is not important! Quadrant I is crisis management. We can’t ignore urgent and important activities. Quadrant II is were we want to operate but it requires to give up activities from III and IV. III IIIIV Important urgent Important Not urgent Not Important urgent

III IIIIV Choosing Quadrant II activities will reduce the need to always operate in the crisis management mode of Quadrant I urgent Important urgent Important Not urgent Not Important

Assignments due by Monday 10/22 Last chance: Take the library audio tour by Monday, October 22nd – The Library audio tour can be retrieved from the Circulation Desk at the Consortium Library during all open hours. – When starting the tour, make sure your receive a worksheet which you need to complete based on information in the tour. – Turn in your completed worksheet at the circulation desk and make sure it will be put in the folder marked Engr 115. Homework #6: – Make a list of at least 20 items/activities you need to do (project related!). Place each item into the priority matrix. Analyze your matrix, i.e. how many items are in quadrant I, II etc. Write a 1-2 page(s) reflection what you learned and how you can move items/activities into quadrant II. Homework #6 needs to submitted as doc(x) or pdf file through blackboard ( submissions will not be accepted) Hand in your journal and attendance form!