Strategies for Learning
The Disability Services director can help with the following areas. Contact Disabilty Services for an appointment.
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Where do you learn best?
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the environment's lighting
- the sound(s)
- the surroundings
- When do you learn best?
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early morning
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late morning
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afternoon
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evening
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late evening
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How do you learn best?
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visual
- auditory
- kinesthetic (hands-on)
- a combination of all
2. Goals
Having a goal helps motivate. Whether long-term or short-term or frequently changing, a clear goal gives direction, meaning, and immediacy for getting work done.
3. Good Physical and Mental Health
It is difficult to study if you do not feel well or are mentally distracted. Learning Services has several comfortable study rooms available on a first come, first serve. A massage therapist is also available weekly for chair massages.
Counseling Services can help if you need to discuss a personal issues such as improving communication and relationships, motivation, self-confidence as well as reducing homesickness, depression, stress, and anxiety.
4. Time Management
Use a semester calendar and know everything that needs to be done and when it is due.
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Work backwards from a due date when deciding when work must begin.
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Divide and conquer. Chunk large tasks into smaller tasks.
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Schedule classes, work times, and tasks on a daily/weekly calendar.
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When there is not enough time to complete the tasks:
- Do you drop a course?
- Do you say "no" to a club or organization?
- Do you quit your job?
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Use time between classes effectively.
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Use a tutor BEFORE a test.
Use the SQ5R method for getting the most our of your reading:
6. Note Taking
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Your learning style may determine the way you like to take notes.
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Most students are familiar with the linear method
Formal InformalI. ///////////////////// * )))))))))))))))))
A. //////////// -)))))))))))))
1. ////////// -)))))))))
2. ///////// -)))))))))
B. //////////// -)))))))))))))
II. ///////////////////// * ))))))))))))))))) -
Explore new ways of relating information and taking notes:
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You might tape record your most difficult class and fill in blanks in your notes later.
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You might ask a friend who is a good note taker to share his/her notes.
7. Test Taking
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If the previous six strategies have been used effectively, test taking may be easier.
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Reviewing work frequently for only a few minutes will anchor information in long-term memory.
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When taking a multiple choice test, cover all the choices, read the stem or question, think of the answer, and then go looking for it.
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Before writing essay questions, take a few minutes to mind map all the essays. Mind mapping will allow you to create and organize material simultaneously and allow you to use your energy to write, organize, and edit.
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If you have an essay question, number the parts so that you do not overlook a question and lose points.
8. Writing
If writing a paper seems like a large task, you need to divide and conquer. The following are steps in writing a research paper, but can also be used to write an essay:
- Choose and narrow a topic.
- Formulate a tentative thesis or hypothesis.
- Locate books and periodicals (magazines, journals, newspapers).
- Collect information on note cards (3"x5" or 4"x6").
- Formulate a focused thesis: a statement containing a topic and an attitude (opinion) about the topic.
- Draft a preliminary outline or working plan.
- Continue to gather information.
- Group note cards and put in order.
- Draft a detailed outline.
- List sources.
- Draft and redraft and redraft.
- Proofread the paper.
