Past and Upcoming Due Dates Fri, Apr 21: Navigator appointment #2 due Mon, Apr 24: 1-page paper (submitted online) All of these are due as listed in our schedule and on our web site

FYE 1001 Freshmen Success Strategies Studying and Taking Tests In almost all classes, there is a lot of opportunity at the end of the semester. Assignments may be due late in the semester, and you probably have a final exam. In some classes there is an opportunity to make up missed work, or even to replace a low test grade. Make sure you know what your opportunities are in each of your classes, then prepare, prepare, prepare. Talk some about being prepared vs unprepared. Maybe some of your own examples?

Test-Taking Challenges Don’t understand the material in general Don’t know HOW to study Don’t know how long to study Don’t have a plan for study Feeling stressed and anxious during the test If you don’t understand the material, what resources do you have available? Teacher, SI, Learning Center tutoring, fellow students If you don’t know HOW to study, same resources, plus your Navigator. If you don’t know how long to study, rarely more than two hours at a time. Take breaks, switch to another subject, do something else for a while. But continue your focus on being as prepared as possible, so when you are refreshed, start another study session. If you don’t have a plan for study, look at all your resources. If SI is available, definitely make that part of your plan. Find out when and where the sessions are. If tutoring is available at the Learning Center, make an appointment. Now. Plan to prepare for SI, or prepare for tutoring. That could be the beginning of your plan. Another part of your plan is making sure you know how your final grade will be calculated. Determine what you need to do – what grade you need to make, for instance – to achieve your goal in that class. If you’re feeling stressed and anxious, talk with classmates. Talk with your Navigator. Consider talking with professionals at the Counseling Center. Having a plan will help relieve some of the stress. With your plan, you have a goal, you know what you are working toward. It removes some of the uncertainty.

What to do before the test Maintenance Studying Outside reading Class notes Staying organized This is what we need to do throughout the semester. If your class uses a textbook, read the book as the semester progresses, not the night before exams. Cramming does not equal retention. Go to class, listen, take notes, even re-write and organize your notes. Keep all old assignments and tests. Keep all of your course materials organized in a notebook so you can find them easily when you need them.

What do to before the test: Collect all relevant information. Go to class. Gather slides, notes, homeworks, quizzes, tests and any other materials. Determine type of test (multiple choice, problems, essays?) Utilize outside resources (SI, tutoring, study groups) Collecting the materials that you need starts with your syllabus. Keep it! Keep any and all handouts throughout the semester. As class approaches test time, as your teacher for any guidance on the type of test you will have. The way you prepare for a test varies with the type of test that you will have. Will you be writing paragraphs? Fill-in-the-blank? Working problems? Multiple choice.

What to do before the test: Organize your study materials Outlines Diagrams Notecards Organize all the types of materials that you have, including exercises that you have done in class. The more engaged you can be in your learning, the better. Talk with your fellow students (about the class material). Explain things to each other. As the pyramid shows (it goes from top to bottom, and your learning goes from narrow to broad), the more involved and engaged you can be, the better. Learn the material so well that you could teach it to others.

What to do before the test: Rehearse Reading and short-term memory do not equal learning. Rehearsal: re-writing, self-tests, practice tests, discussion, teaching others Plan: make a plan for how you will learn the material, what you will do when Create memory aids. Our goal is deep learning. Not memorization, but true understanding. Either by yourself or with others, pose questions and answer them. Go over old quizzes. Re-organize your notes so they make better and better sense. Use note cards. Draw pictures. Use mnemonics, anything to jog your memory (and when the test starts, write down these notes to yourself immediately).

What to do before the test: Evaluate to confirm understanding. Self-tests, explain material to someone else Discuss with teacher Identify weaknesses, and loop back to overcome them What to do before the test: College Organize Rehearse Evaluate Loop, over and over.

What to do on test day Get adequate rest. Stop studying an hour before the test. Bring everything you will need for the test. Arrive early. Be prepared. Try to remain calm.

What to do at test time Listen to instructions. Ask for clarifications. Jot down memory aids. Read and follow instructions carefully. Skim entire test before starting. Try to remain calm. What are some things that will make this difficult? Being under-prepared Pre-test chatter and noise Really quick finishers What if I get stuck on a question? Move on to the next question. Mark this one so you can come back to it. Always use a reasonableness test. Does this answer make sense? Read the questions to yourself, mouthing the words to yourself. Don’t overly rush.

Types of Test Questions Multiple Choice Answer the question in your head first. Then read all of the possible answers. If you don’t see your answer, start eliminating. Always choose something. Most computerized tests are multiple choice. If at all possible, practice using the exact computer software. If allowed, write things down on paper. Draw pictures, especially on math problems. Make yourself notes.

Types of Test Questions True/False Divide the statement into its parts. Test each part. If any part is false, the entire statement is false. Look for “qualifiers” – some, rarely, most, always, never… Watch out for negatives!

Types of Test Questions Short answer/Fill in the blank Concentrate on key words and facts. Know definitions in your own words. Be brief.

Types of Test Questions Essay Manage your time carefully. Determine what question is being asked. Make a short outline, even if only mental. Get to the point. Write a strong first sentence. Put your most solid evidence first. Highlight key words. Write legibly. Proofread and revise.

Types of Test Questions Problem Solving Start with problems you know how to solve. Manage your time carefully. Show all steps, especially if partial credit is possible. Write legibly.

What to do after the test Move on! Check grading for accuracy. Review your answers. Develop a plan for the future.

After-Class Activity (course packet page 14) We have an online activity after each class. Follow the instructions on page 14 to complete tonight’s activity. The activities are due at 11:59pm each Tuesday night. Finally, every Tuesday, we will have an online activity. These are always quite short, and you can even do them on your phone. You can do it immediately after class, before you even leave the room, so you’re sure that you completed it. This is one point each week, so 15 total points of your grade.

If you did not scan your id card… Be sure to come talk to the designated Navigator after class. Attendance is part of the grade in this class. Be sure to bring your id card, and be sure to scan successfully every week.