1. How to Improve Study Habits and Get Better Grades. & Exam-Taking Tips

2. This only works if you “DO IT” Overview: Why Study? Maintaining Motivation. Being Organized. In Class. Before/After Class. But, I have lousy memory! Exam-Taking Tips

3. Why Study? The Future –plan to become a hermit? Jobs Self-Respect Grades

4. Maintaining Motivation Focus on the Goals Study Groups Self-Rewards Creating Routines –EXCEPT--no reading the text in bed!!

5. Getting Organized buy the books prepare a timetable--work, sleep, & play set a specific time for studying each course benefits of spaced/distributed practice versus massed practice physical activity as part of routine

6. In Class 80% of success in life is “showing up” Confused??? –Ask--10 other people will thank you Asking Questions Taking Notes –record concepts and key terms not verbatim notes--LISTEN to Learn

7. Before/After Class Read the text--systematically & actively –including the headings, tables, focus issues Take notes--avoid the highlighter Review your lecture notes Check for the overlap between text notes and lecture notes--hint, hint, hint Read the text--again.

8. Memory Tips Encoding –understand first, then easier to remember –focus--reduce distractions –ask questions (either your own, or from Study Guide) –use mnemonic devices –chunking –use different encoding techniques self-referencing

9. Aids for Improving Retrieval Number your points Visualize the material Use other information to jog retrieval Free-associate Link to the things you do know State-Dependent Learning Use a system, e.g.: SQ3R

10. Exam-Taking Tips In part based on: Pfeifer & Ogloff, 1991) Study/Come with the tools needed. Have a strategy. –look at the weight of the different sections-- apportion time appropriately. –read any essay questions early, the rest of the test might have retrieval cues. –Don’t Rush--you will usually be given ample time to complete an exam.

11. Recall Questions Use an OUTLINE to organize your thoughts. Answer the question being asked. ( Read the question carefully, answer all aspects/parts of the question.) Do not provide information not requested. (Do not waste time and space repeating the question or “padding.”) Resist the temptation to “guess.” (Including your confusing material will likely confuse your “marker!”) Keep track of time.

12. Essay-Style Questions--DO! Answer the question being asked. Complete all components of the question. Whenever possible, do an outline first!

13. Essay-Style Question--Marking Correct Content--All relevant points. Correct use of terms and concepts. Relevant examples. Integration with related content. Clear and concise writing--grammatical!

14. Exam-taking Tips Have a plan –check that you have all the pages –put your name on everything! –read all instructions--CAREFULLY Plan your time (allocate by value of questions). GOOD LUCK