Unit 2 Seminar Test Taking Unit 2 Seminar Test Taking Academic Strategies CS 119 Petra Jones Hill

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Define is anxiety? Define is anxiety?

A relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic a vague unpleasant emotion that is experienced in anticipation of some (usually ill-defined) misfortune wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn Anxiety is that phenomenon that focuses on the future… both the possible good (wonderful, terrific) and the possible bad (ugly, horrible, catastrophe!) Kaplan

Identify 2 types of anxiety?

Types of Stress Debilitating anxiety  Is when you start to worry uncontrollably about what hasn’t happened yet…  The project becomes an external threat  The emotions become the focus and not the real life situation  We get caught up in the “disaster stories”  The running thoughts make the “threat” seem bigger and bigger!  We are sure that our ability (or intelligence, or strength) is smaller and smaller and cannot meet the threat…failure is sure Facilitating anxiety  Keeps you motivated to succeed  Does not hinder test preparation and test taking abilities  This type of anxiety may help to improve performance Examples: Adrenaline rush before the game Positive/nervous energy before a date

More than likely many of you experience anxieties prior to taking test. More than likely many of you experience anxieties prior to taking test. How does it get in your way as a new student? How does it get in your way as a new student? How can it get in the way of learning activities like taking tests? How can it get in the way of learning activities like taking tests?

Based on our weeks text what Based on our weeks text what are some specific strategies are some specific strategies for dealing with anxiety? for dealing with anxiety?

We can all agree that an essential way to prepare for academic success is to develop effective study habits.

ORGANIZING YOUR STUDY TIME Did you know that there are 168 hours in a week? Observe how you use them. Decide how many hours a week you want to spend studying.

Try a little affirmation. “I have plenty of time for the things that matter to me.” It will help you a lot more than saying, “I don’t have any time.”

1. What are some specific test taking strategies you can use in the online test taking environment? 2. How can changing your environment around you help you perform on your tests?

 Figure Out What You Need to Learn  Gather Information About The Test  Create an Effective Study Plan  Practice Answering Test Questions Pre Test- Before the Test

 Display a POSITIVE attitude  Set Learning Goals  Quiz Yourself  Use Review or Objective Questions  Take and Review your Notes  Paraphrase or Summarize  Teach the Material to Someone Else  Apply What You Learn  Become Aware of Gaps in Your Understanding  Troubleshoot Self Testing Methods

3. How can reviewing the test after it’s graded help you for the next test?

Test-Taking Formats and Strategies

Multiple Choices Eliminate answers you know are wrong Eliminate answers you know are wrong Don’t look for patterns Don’t look for patterns Read all the answers before making a final choice-Choose the BEST answer Read all the answers before making a final choice-Choose the BEST answer Watch for “all of the above” and “none of the above.” If at least 2 answers are true, then the answer is all of the above. If at least 2 answers are false, then the answer is none of the above. Watch for “all of the above” and “none of the above.” If at least 2 answers are true, then the answer is all of the above. If at least 2 answers are false, then the answer is none of the above. In questions with NOT, you can look at each answer like a True or False question and you are looking for the false answer In questions with NOT, you can look at each answer like a True or False question and you are looking for the false answer Determine keywords in the question and in the answers Determine keywords in the question and in the answers Try to answer the question before looking at the answers Try to answer the question before looking at the answers If you do not understand the question or an answer, try rephrasing it, drawing it, or picturing your notes. If you do not understand the question or an answer, try rephrasing it, drawing it, or picturing your notes. Read the question and answers out loud Read the question and answers out loud

True-False Read the entire statement Read the entire statement Look for key words Look for key words Watch the exact wording: if any part of the statement is false, then the entire statement is false. The opposite is not necessarily true. Watch the exact wording: if any part of the statement is false, then the entire statement is false. The opposite is not necessarily true. Don’t look for patterns Don’t look for patterns Watch these keywords: Watch these keywords: Every, never, and always- Usually FALSE Every, never, and always- Usually FALSE Usually, sometimes, and generally- Usually TRUE Usually, sometimes, and generally- Usually TRUE

Online Test Taking Tips Take the test when you will not be distracted Take the test when you will not be distracted Turn off your cell phone Turn off your cell phone Take the test during your peak hours (i.e. If you are a morning person, then take it in the morning). Take the test during your peak hours (i.e. If you are a morning person, then take it in the morning). Eat a light, healthy meal before taking the test (protein and healthy carbs) Eat a light, healthy meal before taking the test (protein and healthy carbs) Do not cram right before the test Do not cram right before the test Organize your notes and testing materials before you start the test Organize your notes and testing materials before you start the test If you are prone to anxiety, do some relaxation exercises before taking the test If you are prone to anxiety, do some relaxation exercises before taking the test Know the weather in your area before taking the test (you don’t want to lose your internet connection) Know the weather in your area before taking the test (you don’t want to lose your internet connection)

Time Divide the number of minutes you have to complete the test by the number of questions on the test. This will give you have many minutes you have for each question. Divide the number of minutes you have to complete the test by the number of questions on the test. This will give you have many minutes you have for each question. For example, if there are 30 questions on the test and you have 60 minutes to complete the test, then 60/30 is 2. Therefore, you have 2 minutes per question. (number of minutes in the interval / number of total minutes) X number of total questions) Example: (30/60) X 30 = 15. Therefore, at 30 minutes, you should have completed 15 questions. During the test, check how many questions you have answered during each interval. If you answered too few, then you need to speed up. If you answered more, then you can slow down. During the test, check how many questions you have answered during each interval. If you answered too few, then you need to speed up. If you answered more, then you can slow down.

The Case of Eduardo In high school, Eduardo did not like taking tests, and he often waited until the last minute to study, studying with friends in a late-night cram session, if at all. He never seemed to do well on the exam, regardless of whether the cram session seemed effective or not. During the exam, he usually became so nervous that he could not remember the material, and this affected not only his performance on the exam, but also his grade. He is now taking an online college course requiring him to complete two exams. For the first exam, he did the same thing he did in high school – crammed the night before became nervous during the exam, and failed. For the second exam, he refused to let this happen again and realized that he needed to utilize more effective test preparation strategies.

Eduardo often became stressed and anxious during his exams. How is test preparation directly related to stress/anxiety levels before, or during, an exam? In this case study, Eduardo followed a similar pattern on his first college test that he used in high school- cramming for exams. Why might this cramming the night before cause a problem when taking exams?

How realistic is Eduardo’s story? How realistic is Eduardo’s story? Can you apply his situation to your own life? Can you apply his situation to your own life? Consider what effective test taking methods might work well in this situation. Why did you choose these methods? Consider what effective test taking methods might work well in this situation. Why did you choose these methods?

Unit 2 Assignments Seminar Seminar Discussion Question Discussion Question Quiz Quiz

Discussion Board Requirements for Discussion Questions are in each Unit. There is a 150-word count or roughly 7 to 10 sentences Use these as a guideline to be sure that you have included enough information. BEGIN BY SATURDAY! Your response to the discussion question should be made no later than Saturday.

Do you have any questions or concern regarding our discussion? Any questions pertaining to your course work?

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