From Midterms to Final Exams:  Getting Back On (or Staying On) the Road to a 4.0 Semester!   Saundra McGuire, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Chemistry Past Director, Center for Academic Success

Desired Outcomes You will analyze your current learning habits You will understand the difference between studying and learning You will have concrete strategies to use during the remainder of the semester, and you will USE them! You will see positive changes in your performance, and your final grades will be better than your mid-term grades You will be on track to gain admission to the health professions school of your choice

Do your midterm grades reflect your intellectual ability? If not, why not? What changes can you make now so that your GPA WILL reflect your ability and keep your professional goals attainable? Changes made now will pay off at the end of the semester!

Performance in Chem 1201 Based on One Learning Strategies Session Fall 2010 Attended Absent Exam 1 Avg.: 72.35% 70.11% Exam 2 Avg.: 76.01% 68.74% Final course Avg*.: 82.48% 72.61% Final Course Grade: B C Even one presentation on study and learning strategies can result in an improvement of one full letter grade!

Intro Chem Results Spring 2007 Test 1*  Test 2*   Final**  Total (Gr)    Attended metacog 156 109 214 801 (B) lecture on 3/2***                       Did not attend 154       93      153       563 (D)         Class average  153 100 176 662 (C) *200 points max **300 points max ***Approximately 80 attendees out of 200 students because session was on a Friday afternoon. Exam 1 was Wednesday, March 7.                                                

Four Analytical Chemistry Students in 2005 Date of Final Exam: December 14, 2005 Meeting with Student No. 1: December 12, 2005 Meeting with Student Nos. 2 & 4: December 2, 2005 Meeting with Student No. 3: December 8, 2005 The final was worth 100 points with a 10 bonus question.

Emails from a Spring 2011 Chem 1201 student “…Personally, I am not so good at chemistry and unfortunately, at this point my grade for that class is reflecting exactly that. I am emailing you inquiring about a possibility of you tutoring me.” April 6, 2011 “I made a 68, 50, (50), 87, 87, and a 97 on my final. I ended up earning a 90 (A) in the course, but I started with a 60 (D). I think what I did different was make sidenotes in each chapter and as I progressed onto the next chapter I was able to refer to these notes. I would say that in chemistry everything builds from the previous topic. May 13, 2011 Semester GPA: 3.8

So what can you do now? Spend more time studying (at least 2 hrs/wk for each hour in class) Use Metacognition to Study Smarter!!! Think about your own thinking Monitor and control your thinking Stay in active problem solving mode

Some Effective Metacognitive Strategies (There are MANY more!) Always ask why, how, and what if questions Use SQ5R for reading assignments (survey, question, read, recite, review, wRite, reflect) Use the text book study guides Use the Study Cycle with Intense Study Sessions Test understanding by giving “mini lectures” on concepts Always solve problems or answer questions without looking at an example or the solution Use office hours and form study groups

Bloom’s Taxonomy Evaluation Synthesis Analysis Application This pyramid depicts the different levels of thinking we use when learning. Notice how each level builds on the foundation that precedes it. It is required that we learn the lower levels before we can effectively use the skills above. Bloom’s Taxonomy Evaluation Graduate School Making decisions and supporting views; requires understanding of values. Combining information to form a unique product; requires creativity and originality. Synthesis Identifying components; determining arrangement, logic, and semantics. Analysis Undergraduate Using information to solve problems; transferring abstract or theoretical ideas to practical situations. Identifying connections and relationships and how they apply. Application Restating in your own words; paraphrasing, summarizing, translating. Comprehension High School Memorizing verbatim information. Being able to remember, but not necessarily fully understanding the material. Knowledge Louisiana State University  Center for Academic Success  B-31 Coates Hall  225-578-2872  www.cas.lsu.edu

How do you move yourself higher on Bloom’s Taxonomy How do you move yourself higher on Bloom’s Taxonomy? Use the Study Cycle with Intense Study Sessions!

The Study Cycle Preview Attend Review Study Assess 4 Reflect 3 Review Preview before class – Skim the chapter, note headings and boldface words, review summaries and chapter objectives, and come up with questions you’d like the lecture to answer for you. Preview 4 Reflect Attend class – GO TO CLASS! Answer and ask questions and take meaningful notes. Attend Review after class – As soon after class as possible, read notes, fill in gaps and note any questions. Review Study – Repetition is the key. Ask questions such as ‘why’, ‘how’, and ‘what if’. Intense Study Sessions* - 3-5 short study sessions per day Weekend Review – Read notes and material from the week to make connections Study Assess your Learning – Periodically perform reality checks Am I using study methods that are effective? Do I understand the material enough to teach it to others? Assess *Intense Study Sessions 1 Set a Goal (1-2 min) Decide what you want to accomplish in your study session 2 Study with Focus (30-50 min) Interact with material- organize, concept map, summarize, process, re-read, fill-in notes, reflect, etc. 3 Reward Yourself (10-15 min) Take a break– call a friend, play a short game, get a snack 4 Review (5 min) Go over what you just studied Center for Academic Success B-31 Coates Hall ▪ 225.578.2872 ▪www.cas.lsu.edu

What did LSU students say about why they got the grade they got on the first test?

Top 5 Reasons Folks Did Not Make an A on First Chemistry Test 1. Didn’t spend enough time on the material 2. Started the homework too late 3. Didn’t memorize the information I needed to 4. Did not use the book 5. Assumed I understood information that I had read and re-read, but had not applied

Top 5 Reasons Folks Made an A on the first Chemistry Test: 1. Did preview-review for every class 2. Did a little of the homework at a time 3. Used the book and did the suggested problems 4. Made flashcards of the information to be memorized 5. Practiced explaining the information to others

Time Management is Life Management

Tools for organizing your life: Fixed Schedules “Semester-at-a-Peek” “Week-at-a-Peek” Planners To Do Lists Today This Week Sticky Notes As you examine each of these tools, think about those you want to implement in your personal time management strategy. The first tool is “fixed schedules”...

The Semester Schedule While referring to each syllabus from your classes, mark all major due dates, quizzes, exams, holidays, special events, and other deadlines on a calendar that shows the whole semester at a glance. (You can usually get one at the Learning Assistance Center--or at a local student book store or office supply store.) It is one of the best ways to keep mindful of the BIG PICTURE. You will start to notice certain weeks that will be very busy-- and those weeks that are not as crazy. This overview is extremely important as you to plan your study time. The semester schedule is an excellent tool. Most students find it helpful to complete one each semester. This overview of your entire semester is essential to good planning. Tests and other due dates will not sneak up on you when this is hanging on the front of your refrigerator, tacked over your desk, or taped to your front door for easy and frequent reference.

The “Week at a Peek” Schedule A fixed schedule includes those items that, for the most part, do not change--they are “fixed”. For example, most students complete a “Week-at-a-Peek” schedule (see example) at the beginning of the semester. It includes their classes and club or organizational meetings that are constant throughout the semester. Again, this type of schedule is particularly important at the beginning of the semester, but you won’t probably need it after a few weeks. By then you have memorized your “fixed” weekly schedule. Another fixed schedule we recommend you create at the beginning of the semester is the “Semester-at-a-Peek” schedule...

Tips to remember... Use daylight hours wisely! 1 day light hour = about 1 1/2 evening hours. It’s true for most people, so try to study during the day. Those small 15-30 minute “free moments” between meetings or classes are valuable for short, yet important review sessions.

ABC’s of Excellence Adopt the right ATTITUDE Begin appropriate BEHAVIOR Consistently make a COMMITMENT

Attitude “It’s your attitude, not your aptitude, that determines your altitude.” Zig Ziglar

Behavior It’s the difference between knowing and doing that determines success. Anonymous Don’t let other folks hijack your future!

Commitment It’s not over ‘til it’s over, and YOU determine when it’s over! Change strategies when necessary, but never give up your goals. If you can dream it, you can achieve it!

What behavior will you commit Writing Exercise What behavior will you commit to changing?

If you don’t start it within the next 48 hours... … you probably never will.

Regrouping After Midterms Workshop Attendee Challenge Average GPA of 3.8! No attendee with GPA less than 3.5 Commitment to Personal Excellence

Final Note Please visit out website at www.cas.lsu.edu. We have on-line workshops and information that will teach you more effective study strategies. Visit the IC to get more information about learning strategies and acing courses. I wish you a fantastically successful future! Dr. Saundra McGuire

Some Helpful Websites www.cas.lsu.edu has Chem 1201 and 1202 chapter review guides www.howtostudy.org has tips on how to study for different subjects www.khanacademy.org has YouTube videos on lots of topics in different courses www.google.com