learning styles and… thinking about thinking … Melanie Knier College and Career Readiness Davidson County Community College January 2012

Learning vs. Studying Are they the same? What is the difference? I have to !! Fun difficult I want to !! short term long term enjoyable hard work what? why, how?

Learn the material by STUDYING !!! The Study Cycle -- preview, attend, review PREVIEW: Look at the headings, bold words, italicized words, questions at the end of the chapter ATTEND CLASS: -- do I really need to remind you? REVIEW: Immediately after class (within the next hour or so), look over the notes you took, summarize

LET’S PLAY A GAME Count the vowels

Now you are thinking about thinking…. METACOGNITION – START THINKING ABOUT HOW YOU THINK SO THAT IT WILL HELP YOU LEARN THE MATERIAL

WHAT IS YOUR LEARNING STYLE? IT IS ALSO CALLED A LEARNING PREFERENCE HOW DO YOU PREFER TO LEARN? VISUALAURALKINESTHETIC COMBO

Study Groups One of the best ways PROVEN to help increase grades !! Cohort of familiar students to support each other Can get a complete set of notes because everyone has probably written down different “important” information from lectures When you teach someone else, you reinforce what you have just learned

Move from Short Term Memory to Long Term Memory Work out your brain, just like you work out your muscles Repetition Short repeating sessions Not just one long night before the test cram session make CONNECTIONS with what you already know (what does metacognition really mean anyway?) Can you connect it with something you already know?

Effective Strategies Spacing Effect short periods of practice daily are better than cramming sustained practice regular, ongoing practice practice BEYOND one perfect recitation useful for developing automaticity

When to review notes: 1 st review: immediately after class 2 nd review: within 24 hours 3 rd review: within the week 4 th review: within the month (before a test) 5 th review: within the semester (before the final exam)

High School vs. College Attendance is not mandatory but IMPORTANT –A. HIGH SCHOOL –B. COLLEGE

High School vs. College Most work is done in class –A. HIGH SCHOOL –B. COLLEGE

High School vs. College Teachers motivate you. –A. HIGH SCHOOL –B. COLLEGE

High School vs. College Study a night or two before a test. –A. HIGH SCHOOL –B. COLLEGE

High School vs. College Must consistently study in small increments. –A. HIGH SCHOOL –B. COLLEGE

High School vs. College Material is covered quickly and reinforced with homework that is not always collected. –A. HIGH SCHOOL –B. COLLEGE

High School vs. College Assignments are structured with complete directions. –A. HIGH SCHOOL –B. COLLEGE

High School vs. College You must purchase your own materials. –A. HIGH SCHOOL –B. COLLEGE

RESOURCES: BAIARDO, RICHARD, HELPING STUDENTS WITH THEIR STUDY SKILLS IN THE SCIENCES, 2007, POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, RSS GROUP, EVERGREEN VALLEY COLLEGE MCGUIRE, SAUNDRA, USING METACOGNITION TO EFFECT AN EXTREME ACADEMIC MAKEOVER. 2008, VIDEO AND POWERPOINT, ML