Becoming a Better Learner Gillian Orr Community and Continuing Education

Most success for adult learners is due to motivation and time management. Anyone who tells you that they can get through school or college without studying, or that they make great grades without studying is pulling your leg. Success takes effort. Supposing is good, but finding out is better. Mark Twain

Take Action! Roles of Teacher To provide an opportunity for learning To be a “learning leader” Roles of student To be an “active learner” To participate fully in the learning process To be a critical thinker Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. Will Rogers

If you want to do well, you must be willing to set aside time to study. You may have to sacrifice at times, however, effective time management will allow adequate time for school as well as a social life or free time to do the activities that you most enjoy. We have ideas and tools that will help you manage your time more wisely, as well as suggestions to improve your memory, hints for more effective studying, and ideas for getting more out of the classes you attend.

The Key to Success only you know what your goals are and how badly you want to achieve them If you don’t know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else. L.J. Peter & R. Hill

When the going gets tough, the tough get going

STUDY SKILLS FIVE MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR STUDENTS WHO STUDY not studying enough wasting time when studying having trouble getting started finding a good place to study using a good learning strategy

SUGGESTIONS Set up a schedule Study for minutes at a time to start Take short breaks Reward yourself when you have accomplished a task Find a good location Use the same place for studying Focus as you would in a test Have all your materials ready

Being a good reader is essential for your success in school. Many people find they can read novels and materials about some things easily and remember what they have read, but have a more difficult time with texts and materials that they are assigned. The following are two effective methods for increasing your reading effectiveness. Choose the one that works best for you.

SQ4R METHOD Survey –survey the chapter. –read headings –read summary Question –ask questions as you read to keep yourself focused Read –read actively with involvement –stop when you become tired or distracted. –silent reading is faster than reading aloud –read for understanding Write –write down the answers to your questions –summarize the information in your own words Recite –to yourself, recall main headings and ideas. –if you cannot remember your questions and the answers, re- read the material Review –immediately after reading the material and again before a test. –summarize the major points in the chapter

PQ4R METHOD Preview –survey the chapter –identify the sections to be read as units Questions –make up questions about the section Read –carefully read again trying to answer your questions Reflect –think about what you are reading and try to understand it –think of examples and relate the material to prior knowledge Recite –recall the information you have finished –re-read any portions you had trouble remembering Review –go through the chapter mentally and recall the main points –try again to answer the questions you had

IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY Some students find that using particular memorization tactics can improve their memory Acrostics phrases or poems where the first letter of each line is a cue to help recall words you are trying to remember every good boy does fine (musical notes on a scale ) Acronyms words formed from the first letters of a series of words Roy G. Biv (colors of the spectrum ) Narrative making up a story with the lists of words Rhymes phrases that are easy to remember I before e except after c

CLASS ACTIONS GENERAL HINTS FOR BEING A SUCCESSFUL LEARNER GO TO CLASS The true art of memory is the art of attention Samuel Johnson PARTICIPATE IN CLASS He who asks questions risks being a fool for 15 minutes. He who does not ask, risks remaining a fool forever. TAKE GOOD NOTES BE ON TIME PAY ATTENTION KEEP UP WITH THE WORK TAKE AN INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT

Above all, remember your teacher is your leader and will do all in his/her power to help you through. When you feel overwhelmed, there are many who may be able to help-- don’t be afraid to ask--it is your future that is at stake. Keep reaching for that star YOU CAN DO IT !