© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill P.O.W.E.R. Learning: Becoming an Expert Student Chapter 1

© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Why Go To College? Train for a specific career Learn about things that interest you College graduates earn, on average, 75% more income than high school graduates over their lifetime

© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Why Go to College? Other reasons include: –Learn to think critically –Better able to adapt to advances in knowledge and technology –Better able to adapt to new situations –Be prepared to live in a world of diversity –Lead a life of community service –Make learning a lifelong habit –Be aware of your own contributions to the world

© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 5 Key Steps to Achieving Success P.O.W.E.R. Learning –Is a process –Requires personal investment –Use these strategies to help you in situations in college and beyond

© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 5 Key Steps to Achieving Success PREPARE –You need to know where you’re headed –Set long-term and short-term goals –Set goals that reflect what is important to YOU –Make goals realistic and attainable –Make goals measurable –Set goals that reflect changes over which you have control –Take ownership of your goals

© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 5 Key Steps to Achieving Success ORGANIZE –Organize the tools you need to accomplish your goals –Physical Organization Mechanical aspects of task completion Computer, printer, office supplies –Mental Organization Academic skills necessary for task completion Organize what you know to pave the way for subsequent learning of the material

© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 5 Key Steps to Achieving Success WORK –Finding the motivation to work –Tap into, harness and direct our motivation –Effort produces success –Take responsibility for your successes and failures –Think positively –You can’t control everything

© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 5 Key Steps to Achieving Success EVALUATE –Does your completed work match your goals for it? –Look at your work objectively, as if you were a former teacher assessing it –Look at your work as if your current instructor were assessing it –Be fair to yourself –Revise as needed

© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill 5 Key Steps to Achieving Success RETHINK –Bring a fresh eye to your completed work –Involves critical thinking Reanalyzing, questioning, and challenging underlying assumptions –Question the outcome –Consider previously rejected alternatives

© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Completing the Process Perfectionism gets in the way Don’t fall victim to self- defeating thoughts Know when to stop Use the strategies that already work for you

© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Are You Ready for College Success? College is not high school –It is up to you to read and understand assignments –You may be tested on material the professor never mentions in class –Attendance and homework is not as closely monitored, but just as important! –You must manage your own time –You must figure out what your responsibilities are

© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Are You Ready for College Success? College offers a fresh start with new instructors You must know your own strengths and weaknesses You must be open to a change in yourself