AMERICAN CLASSROOM LEARNING

BEFORE CLASS:  Do your homework! Read critically; form your own opinions  Review your notes from the previous lecture and reading for the day  Communicate immediately with professors about any study problems  Focus on the task at hand before class: take a moment of silence to gather your thoughts and mentally prepare yourself to the topic  Write any objectives that come to mind at the head of your notepaper: o preparing for an up-coming test, o understanding a particular concept, o gaining a good foundation on a topic o understanding or reviewing the readings

IN CLASS:  Arrive on time for class. Professors do not take lateness lightly  Position yourself in the classroom to focus on the subject matter; consider the best location for: o listening o asking questions o seeing visual materials o discussing--not only with the teacher but also your classmates  Avoid distractions that may interfere with your concentration (daydreaming, looking around the room, talking to a friend, passing notes, dozing)concentration

IN CLASS:  Evaluate as you listen: o Decide what is important and should be placed in your notes and what can be left out;notes o Listen long enough to be sure you understand what was said before writing. o Ask clarifying questions (but wait for "breaks" in the instructor's stream).  Review your class objective(s) throughout the class period o Did your objective(s) mesh with the instructor's introductory remarks? o Has the class digressed from stated objectives, yours or the instructor's?

IN CLASS:  Make a to do list includingto do list o assignments; o reviewing difficult concepts; o joining study groups; o making appointments with a study pal, tutor, or the instructor. One resource often overlooked is a classmate who seems to have a good grasp of the material. If it seem appropriate, seek the individual out for help. Periodically ask yourself if the course is meeting your objectives. If you find yourself dissatisfied with a particular class or the course in general, make an appointment with the instructor to discuss your expectations. The earlier the better. Material adapted from: Gail M. Zimmerman, Assistant Dean of First-Year Students and Academic Counselor, Dartmouth College and Bob Nelson, et al, Learning Resource Centers, Rutgers University

PAYING ATTENTION IN THE CLASSROOM o Try to anticipate the main ideas of the coming lecture: Look over your notes of the previous lecture and read the course material. If you have questions about material from the previous class or text, ask the instructor before class about them Prepare a few questions you expect to be answered on new material if possible o Resist distractions by sitting in front of the room away from disruptive classmates and by focusing on the instructor through active listening and note takingactive listeningnote taking

PAYING ATTENTION IN THE CLASSROOM o Put yourself in the "mood" with attentive expression and posture; do not sprawl o Shift position in your seat every so often Don't sit frozen in one position Shifting on occasion will help keep the blood circulating, send more oxygen to your brain, and help you remain alert o When appropriate: ask a question, ask for more clarity, or engage an instructor and the class in dialogue o Train yourself not to give in to distractions

THE SPIDER TECHNIQUE Hold a vibrating tuning fork next to a spider web. The spider will react and come looking for what is vibrating the web. Do it several times and the spider "wises up" and knows there's no bug and doesn't come looking. You can learn that. When someone enters the room, or when a door slams, do not allow yourself to participate. Rather, keep your concentration on what's in front of you.

FORM A TUNNEL BETWEEN YOU AND THE LECTURER o Practice letting people move or cough without having to look at them - just let them "be out there" as you focus on what is being taught o When talking with someone, keep your attention on that person, look at his face, and note what is being said. Let the rest of the world just be "out there." o Use the Be here now technique to help you regain concentration when you do become distracted momentarily.Be here now Adapted with permission from Help Yourself, University Counseling Services, Kansas State University, See also: J. R. Hayes, The Complete Problem Solver,Franklin Institute Press, 1981

TAKING NOTES IN CLASSROOM LECTURES You can develop your own note taking system and study strategy with the five "R's" of note-taking: Record * Reduce * Recite * Reflect * Review Get a good loose-leaf notebook: This will enable you to add, delete, and re-sequence pages and materials. Begin each session's notes with a cover page for later summaries and test preparation.

TAKING NOTES IN CLASSROOM LECTURES Heading Date Class/subject or title or number (e.g. 3/34) Heading, continued Guest speakers' names, including your fellow students' contributions 2. Reduce: After the class Summarize: key/cue words phrases questions Link to information from your textbook, Websites or other sources that helps you understand or study the material 1. Record/take notes in class here: identify the main points capture the main ideas Use outlines or concept mapsconcept maps Use words and pictures and graphs or whatever it takes to get the information down quickly. Avoid quoting unless it is very necessary. 3. Place notes in this section when reviewing/studying (see 5 below) A typical notes page:

TAKING NOTES IN CLASSROOM LECTURES 3. Recite: Talk aloud!Talk aloud! o Review from memory what you have learned o Using the left hand margin's key words and questions, talk through, or illustrate definitions, concepts, etc. o Create your own examples 4. Reflect: Think over! o How does this relate to what you knew before? o Note the essay terms and find the best ones that refer to your studies: Apply, Compare, Diagram, Evaluate, etc...essay terms

TAKING NOTES IN CLASSROOM LECTURES 5. Review the notes you took o At your next study session o Before reading new material o When studying for tests Make notes on your "notes page" Multiple pages of notes for one lecture: o summarize each page at its bottom, o summarize the lecture on a cover or end page Adapted from Walter Pauk (1989) and the Cornell Notetaking System (Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH)

CREDITS Information taken from: Study Guides and Strategies