U100 Learning to Learn #5 Strategies for Success in College Self-Regulated Students: SR of Behavior SR of Cognitive Strategies SR of Motivation & Affect

7-Chairs – Another Metaphor In the room are a number of large cards with thoughts a student might have as they prepare for a test. With your group, identify the 7 thoughts you would want to be thinking about in the hour before taking that VERY important communications test next week. Pick ideas that would help you to prepare for the test as you study in the hour right before the test.

STM has 7 “Space” How should we use those 7 Spaces? STM is a small room inside a gigantic library (LTM). Since there is way too much information in the library to think about at once, we have the small room where we will consider the important ideas. In the room are 7 chairs. We can choose to put any ideas we want in the 7 chairs but we need to be careful in our choice of ideas. The key is that YOU CHOOSE what thoughts sit in the chairs !

Short Term Memory The problems we didn’t mention  Short term memory has a limitation of time (30 sec) and space (7+-2). But it also has a problem with what . . . What happens if we import a virus ? Grey Cards Yellow Cards Red Cards Green Cards Problems & distraction that interfere with learning Excuses & negative thoughts sabotage learning Metacognitive SRL which can help or overwhelm your STM Content of communications you need to focus on learning When you have practiced learning strategies they don’t take up space

Choice is KEY But how do we control Choice? Young college students often live in a world with changing priorities and values about life. How can they control those 7 chairs when there are so many new options and confusing challenges? Take time to reflect on priorities and goals Be clear about your priorities You manage time, NOT time manage you Protect priorities & goals from distractions Seek help to find your Identity This is YOUR education and no one else's. Manage YOUR chairs.

Review SR of Cognitive Strategies Rehearsal Distributed Practice – Flash Cards Elaboration Make it real for YOU - Examples Organization The most “challenging” way to study but the most effective. The key is to discover how concepts relate ?

College vs. High School How to study for compare & contrast In your group, discuss how you have studied (or how you would study) if you had a test that required that you compare and contrast concepts or events. For example, if you had to compare author’s style on an English class essay or contrast the American vs. French Revolution for a history class essay test. How can you prepare for these types of questions BEFORE you take the test? What strategies would you use?

Cognitive Organization Strategies Memorize these “words” FB IMT VU SAHB OC IA How about this list FBI MTV USA HBO CIA What makes the second list so much easier to remember?

Cognitive Organizational Strategies The 2nd list is easier to remember because it has meaning. You are “learning” something that already makes sense to you. How much of what you learn in school has personal meaning to you? Organize information into meaningful patterns TO YOU ! Research on “non-sense” words has demonstrated that humans learn by making sense of non-sense. Are you making sense of what you learn or learning non-sense? Do you believe that taking the extra time to organize information is taking too much time and effort? Organization is taking time early, to save time later.

Cognitive Organizational Strategies Giving information meaning and structure increases retention Memorize these words: Girl Purple Blue Hawk Eagle Heart Finger Organ Green Child Robin Flute Man Lung Piano Would it be easier to remember this list? Green Man Piano Heart Eagle Blue Girl Flute Lung Hawk Purple Child Organ Finger Robin What makes the second list easier? ? If it works, why not use it to learn material in college ? Is it because you think it takes too much time?

Organize Concepts into Patterns In your group take all your groups flash cards and all the words in bold (and maybe even italics) in the communication chapter and put them into categories or groups. If you have created a good concept map (remember that homework?) you have already started this. Would it be easier to remember them if they were in groups? Why? The BIG question is, “Is it worth the time to categorize them?”

Cognitive Organizational Strategies: Learning & Teaching Strategies Organizational strategies are effective and the more complicated the information the more effective they are in supporting learning. Outlines Graphic Organizers Concept Maps Hierarchies Ed Syke Games And very important for success on essay tests and other papers where analysis and synthesis is expected.

Comparing Learning Strategies: Rehearsal vs. Elaboration vs Comparing Learning Strategies: Rehearsal vs. Elaboration vs. Organization

Studying Communication using Elaboration and Organization Next week you have a test on Communication and SRL. Prepare for the test using rehearsal, elaboration, and organization. But don’t just start reading and re-reading the chapter … have a CLEAR PLAN In you study groups, plan how to study by: Make mnemonics (Acronyms & creative sentences) Concept maps Hierarchies Graphic Organizers Your homework for next class it to develop a plan with study aids like Flash cards, outlines, concept maps, and other material to use in class.

One more Challenge in SRL How to stay motivated and control emotions What happens when breaking-up with your boyfriend “sits down in your chairs”? In your group, discuss an example of losing chairs in STM? Test Anxiety – Give at least 2 examples of student behaviors that make test anxiety worse? How can students solve these problems?

Basic Assumptions & Principles A Quick Review Students are responsible for their learning. Take Responsibility. Expert students adjust their learning to the task. Change is essential. You can’t change if you don’t know you don’t know. Reflection is key. Where does motivation fit into this ?

Self-Regulation of Motivation and Emotion Will is Motivational Orientation Goals (Realistic goals) Values (Find value) Expectancies (Expect success and plan for it) Which influences us to use Skill is our use of the appropriate resources. Resource management Cognitive strategies Metacognitive strategies The Key is to BELIEVE that you can change

Strategies for Regulating Motivation This is THE most difficult step SR of Affect Anxiety – Test anxiety is controllable and the most important control is to be well prepared. Fear of Failure – This is probably the biggest academic killer: when worry about failure uses up your “7 Chairs” it leads to more failure. Create a plan that builds on success with little steps. SR of Motivation Beliefs – It is critical to believe in yourself and your strategies for learning Goals – It is important to have a goal that is more than just a grade. Interest & Value It is important to find what you are learning as important to your future The key is to know yourself and keep emotions in check !

We Believe in You We know that it sounds awful cheesy, but we believe you can be successful in college or we would never have let you into IUSB. BUT you have to believe in yourself and have a plan for how you will succeed. Next week you will have the test on SRL and then in week #10 you will have a 2nd test on the Communication chapter. How can you prepare to be successful?