Study Skills Freshman Success

Hearing: Listening and Hearing The ability by the ear to perceive sound Strictly mechanical We hear even in our sleep

Listening: Listening and Hearing The absorption of the meanings of words and sentences by the brain. Listening leads to understanding Listening and understanding turns into the creation of ideas

Listening Listening takes: Attention – in spite of distractions Concentration – focusing of your thoughts on the central issue or problem and having ideas that are related to that issue

10 Bad Listening Habits Calling a subject dull Criticizing the speaker Overreacting Listening for facts only Outlining everything Faking attention Yielding to distractions Choosing only easy stuff Overreacting to emotional words Wasting thought speed

Reflection In one paragraph reflect on your current listening habits. What keeps your attention? Do you realize when you are listening and comprehending and when you are only hearing? What are some of your bad listening habits? In another paragraph write the ways you can change your listening habits. How can I improve my listening habits? How can I increase the knowledge I am retaining when listening?

Studying and Memory Using your memory Your brain never loses anything Forgetting is either the inability to recall stored info or the failure to store it in the first place. Most people can not remember 50% of the material they have just read, with in 24 hours, they can only remember 20%

Types of Memory Short Term Limited capacity Info disappears fast Type of memory you use to look up a phone # (that is if you do not use 411)

Types of Memory Long Term Memory Allows us to recall info from day to day, week to week, and year to year. Information is held indefinitely This is the type of memory when you LEARN information, understand and comprehend.

Memory Retrieval The more often we use info, the easier it is to recall it It is easier to retrieve thoughts that are grouped together Recall information you associate with similar info or story

Memory Techniques Organize It Use your body Learn from general to specific Skim assignment for the general idea Create associations Use your body Learn it actively – people remember 90% of what they do? 75% of what they see and 20% of what they hear. Relax – we absorb info quicker that way and recall with greater accuracy.

Memory Techniques Create pictures/diagrams – draw cartoons to illustrate info Visual info is stored separately from verbal info so you're storing it twice Recite and repeat – works best when you recite using your own words Write it down – writing helps you remember.

Memory Techniques Memorize or Master it Word for Word Still needed in some areas: Vocabulary History, people, places and dates Periodic table, scientific and mathematical formulas Break down the selection to be memorized Master each portion before working on the next.

Methods for Studying using Memorization SQ3R Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review Survey Read chapter title Look over headings Look at pictures, tables, graphs Read introduction and summary Glance at key words and questions

SQ3R Question Read Recite Review Go back and turn headings into questions Read Read to the end of the section to answer the question you have asked. Recite Look away from the book and briefly recite the answer to your question. Review Look over the notes you have taken on the chapter

Flash Cards Useful when learning facts 2 sided for Question and Answer or Word and Definition Practice until you get most of them right Place the ones you need more help with in a separate pile for further memorization.

Mnemonic Devices A play on words to help you remember Limitations Doesn’t help understanding – only assists with memorization Sometimes complicated to learn and time consuming to develop Can be easily forgotten May not work well for technical terms in math/science.

Mnemonic Devices Acronyms Abbreviations Words created by letters NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration You can make up your own words to recall facts Abbreviations formed from the initial components in a phrase or a word USA – United States of America

Mnemonic Devices Acrostics Creative sentences to trigger memory Every Good Boy Does Fine – music notes of the lines of the treble clef staff (EGBDF)

Mnemonic Devices Rhymes and Songs These mnemonic devices are for those Auditory learners that respond to rhythm In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. ABC’s

Reflection Group Name – Acronym I want your group to come up with a group name based on your first, last or nickname initials In your groups figure our what the following Abbreviation stands for in THIS classroom: MCI Acrostic Come up with one Acrostic you have used or made up to help you remember information taught throughout school Song or Rhyme Example

Study Skills on Note-taking Keep organized Use Dividers Write the subject and date in the margins Write notes in different colors Highlight important thoughts Leave room in your notes for editing

Symbols and Abbreviating when copying notes Using abbreviations can help when taking notes in class. Abbreviate commonly used words for writing in short hand. Symbols can also be used (ex. @)

Symbols and Abbreviating w/o – without w/ - with ex. – example X – times info – information ans. –answer Ch. – chapter voc. – vocabulary vs. verse Ea. – each incl. – including b/t – between b/c – because etc. – etcetera $ - money + - plus # number @ - at & - and ? - question

Homework Paragraph about a Freshman Success topic. Use 10 symbols or abbreviations.

How to take notes when READING SQ3R Survey, Read, Recite and Review Skim the selection first to get and overview Write down questions you have while reading Focus on the material, no distractions

How to take notes during LECTURE SQ3R Survey, Read, Recite and Review Skim the selection first to get and overview Write down questions you have while reading Focus on the material, no distractions

Writing Prompt On your birthday a strange looking lady comes up to you and hands you a present. You rattled it. It made a noise. Write a story about this present.

Test Taking Tests are performances – opportunities to demonstrate your mastery Test scores do not measure intelligence or creativity – they measure how well you do on tests

What to do before a Test… Review Daily Short daily review to prepare your for major reviews Scan notes, chapters, note cards Concentrate on material learned in class that day Review EVERYDAY

Reviews Review Weekly Keep review no longer than an hour per subject at a time Review reading and lecture