1. Danielle Handsor Educational Development Centre, Dillon Hall

2. Presentation Overview Note Taking Reviewing Your Class Notes Reading Textbooks Studying and Test Taking Your GPA Campus Services

3. Note Taking

4. Active Listening It is impossible to write down everything your professor says therefore you must listen actively and distinguish the important material covered

5. Active vs. Passive Listening Active ListenersPassive Listeners Lean forward and sit up straightSlouch and learn back in their chairs Make eye contact with the speakerLook around the room Listen for what is not saidHear scattered information Are patientAre easily frustrated Leave emotions outside the discussionGet angry at the speaker Avoid jumping to conclusionsMake immediate assumptions Ask questionsSpeed the speaker along Focus on the topicDaydream Have an open mindPrejudge the speaker React to ideasReact to the person speaking

6. Note Taking Why take notes? To become an active part of the listening process To have written criteria to follow when studying Some situations when you should be taking notes: When the instructor is making a major point When the material is presented on an overhead, chalkboard, whiteboard or similar medium If your professor distributes a handout, it is usually a good idea to take notes on it as the professor reviews.

7. Note Taking Tips for effective note taking: Attend class- there is no substitute Come to class prepared- E.g. Have assigned readings completed. It is easier to take notes when you are already familiar with the material that will be discussed. Bring the proper materials- E.g. Textbook, pen, highlighter etc. Ask questions and participate in class!

8. Note Taking Principles for basic note taking: Always date your notes Keep notes from each class separate (E.g. Use dividers) Use your own shorthand system Incorporate related handouts with appropriate notes Write on one side of the page only Mark main ideas with a star Take down examples that are given

9. Reviewing Your Class Notes

10. Reviewing your class notes on the same day you take them! Look over your class notes and make sure that they are complete and accurate Make note of anything that was confusing

11. Reviewing Your Class Notes Based on a 1 hour lecture Day 1- Leave the lecture knowing 100% of what you know Day 2- If you have done nothing with the information you will have lost 50-80% of what you learned Day 7- We remember even less Day 30- We only retain about 2-3% of the original hour

12. Reviewing Your Class Notes Day 2- If you spend 10 minutes reviewing after the lecture you will raise the curve to 100% Day 7- It only takes 5 minutes to re-activate the material Day 30- You will only need 2-4 minutes to reactive the material If you don’t review it will take you 40-50 minutes to re-learn each hour of material

13. Reading Textbooks

14. Reading is an active process Use the Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review (SQ3R) reading method: Survey: Pre-read an assigned chapter (headings, vocabulary, illustrations, tables, chapter summary). Surveying also includes reading the first and last sentence in a paragraph. Question: Who, what, when, where and why? If you cannot answer the questions, you should find the answers as you read along.

15. Reading Textbooks Read: Read slowly and carefully. Cannot skip this step even though it is time consuming. Do not move ahead if you don’t understand the previous section. Take notes and highlight. Several methods of taking notes include: charts, outlines, key words, mind maps, flash cards, summaries and time lines. Recite: Discuss the material you just read with a friend or recite the information aloud Review: Survey the chapter once more. Look at highlighted areas and notes. This step will help you store and retain this information in long-term memory.

16. Studying & Test Taking

17. Studying Before you begin studying find out the format of your test and what it will cover (E.g. Is the entire exam short answer? Is the exam cumulative?). Go through your notes, texts, related primary sources and handouts, and then set aside materials you don’t need Seek information from people who have already taken the course: how difficult the instructor’s tests are, whether they focus primarily on assigned readings or on class notes etc.

18. Studying Prepare a study schedule- consider your study materials, the number of days until the test, and the time you can study each day Use the 3Q3R reading method when reviewing your materials Take a pretest- E.g. Some textbooks have questions at the end of every chapter. If this is not the case create your own test questions.

19. Studying There are many benefits to studying with others- whether it is one other person or a group Study buddies can help you to: Enhance understanding of your course material Master key concepts Review for tests and exams Work with others with whom you feel comfortable and whom you believe to be dependable Assign work and a set schedule

20. Studying How to prepare physically: Get adequate amounts of sleep- adequate amounts of sleep have an impact on your memory Eat healthy- Avoid foods high in sugar. Avoid large amounts caffeine- Too much caffeine can make it difficult to focus 3 meals a day- Eating nothing leaves you drained, and eating too much food can make you sleepy

21. Test Taking General strategies to help you succeed on tests: Write down key facts- Before you even look at the exam write down key information (E.g. Formulas, definitions etc) Begin with an overview of the exam- Take a few minutes and look through the exam. Take into consideration the number of questions in each section, and their point values. Use this information to schedule your time.

22. Test Taking Read test directions- (E.g. Only answer 80 of the 100 multiple choice questions) Begin with the easy questions- Begin with those that seem easiest to you. You can answer these questions quickly, leaving more time for questions that require greater effort. Watch the clock- keep track of how much time is left and how you are progressing

23. Communicating With Your Professors At the beginning of every semester you should drop by your professors office, during his/her office hours and introduce yourself Take advantage of your professor's and teaching assistants (T.A.) office hours If you are having difficulty with the course material meet immediately with your professor or T.A.

24. What Is Your GPA? The marks obtained in all courses taken at the University of Windsor are used to calculate your cumulative average How can you improve your GPA? Repeat failed or low grade courses: If you repeat a course the second grade counts, even if you receive a lower grade in your second attempt You are only allowed to repeat a course once Remember to select “Repeat” from the drop down menu when registering for courses on SIS

25. Voluntary Withdrawal What is voluntary withdrawal (VW)? Students have 9 weeks at the beginning of a new semester to withdraw from a course (see important dates on the SIS system) Students who fail to withdraw from a course before the VW date remain registered in the course and must take grades as assigned On your transcript a VW is preferred over a low grade Students who VW from a required course are encouraged to repeat the course as soon as possible, when the learned material is still fresh in their memory Students who VW from an optional course may try re-taking the course with another professor in a different semester

26. Campus Services

27. Advising Centre The Advisory Centre assists students in selecting and organizing a successful education plan. The following are some of the reasons you would meet with an advisor: Add, drop, or withdraw from a course Understand and discuss your degree audit Discuss your academic progress Discuss changing or choosing your major Clarification on academic policies and procedures The Advisory Centre assists students in selecting and organizing a successful education plan. The following are some of the reasons you would meet with an advisor: Add, drop, or withdraw from a course Understand and discuss your degree audit Discuss your academic progress Discuss changing or choosing your major Clarification on academic policies and procedures

28. Student Advisors Current Students Advising Centre - CAW Centre (1st floor) advising@uwindsor.ca 519 253-3000 Ext. 1414 Marty Lowman Susan Page Barbara Niewitecka Current International Students & Student Athletes Room 105 Cody Hall ernest@uwindsor.ca 519 253-3000 Ext. 3951 Lori Handsor To schedule an advising appointment online with any of the above Advisors go to www.uwindsor.ca/advising Current Students Advising Centre - CAW Centre (1st floor) advising@uwindsor.ca 519 253-3000 Ext. 1414 Marty Lowman Susan Page Barbara Niewitecka Current International Students & Student Athletes Room 105 Cody Hall ernest@uwindsor.ca 519 253-3000 Ext. 3951 Lori Handsor To schedule an advising appointment online with any of the above Advisors go to www.uwindsor.ca/advising

29. Campus Life Line Website: www.uwindsor.ca/lifeline, E-mail: Danielle Handsor at danielle@uwindsor.ca, Phone: (519) 253-3000 Ext. 3285 Campus Life Line is a program geared towards helping students adjust to university. The workshops are held on campus and are only 30 minutes in length. The workshops address concerns and issues as they arise throughout the academic year. The workshops are FREE and every student who attends a Campus Life Line Workshop will receive a free gift. Website: www.uwindsor.ca/lifeline, E-mail: Danielle Handsor at danielle@uwindsor.ca, Phone: (519) 253-3000 Ext. 3285 Campus Life Line is a program geared towards helping students adjust to university. The workshops are held on campus and are only 30 minutes in length. The workshops address concerns and issues as they arise throughout the academic year. The workshops are FREE and every student who attends a Campus Life Line Workshop will receive a free gift.

30. S.T.E.P.S. Workshops Sign up for the workshops by visiting the website: http://www.uwindsor.ca/steps The S.T.E.P.S. program stands for “Skills to Enhance Personal Success”. The interactive sessions include practical applications to help you improve your study skills. The workshops are 45 minutes to an hour in length. You can purchase a S.T.E.P.S. membership for $15 in the Educational Development Centre, located in the basement of Dillon Hall Topics include: How to study smarter, not harder Multiple choice tests and exams Notes and reading Sign up for the workshops by visiting the website: http://www.uwindsor.ca/steps The S.T.E.P.S. program stands for “Skills to Enhance Personal Success”. The interactive sessions include practical applications to help you improve your study skills. The workshops are 45 minutes to an hour in length. You can purchase a S.T.E.P.S. membership for $15 in the Educational Development Centre, located in the basement of Dillon Hall Topics include: How to study smarter, not harder Multiple choice tests and exams Notes and reading

31. Academic Writing Centre Location: 478 Sunset Avenue (next to the Grad House), Website: www.uwindsor.ca/awc, Phone: (519) 253-3000 Ext. 3405 The Academic Writing Centre offers the following services: Writing advice Writing assessments Referencing help Professors expectations Peer Writers (currently stationed in Leddy Library) Location: 478 Sunset Avenue (next to the Grad House), Website: www.uwindsor.ca/awc, Phone: (519) 253-3000 Ext. 3405 The Academic Writing Centre offers the following services: Writing advice Writing assessments Referencing help Professors expectations Peer Writers (currently stationed in Leddy Library)

32. References Carter., Bishop., Kravits., Maurin. (2004). Keys to success (3 rd Canadian ed.). Toronto, ON: Prentice- Hall Canada Inc. Casady. (2002). Getting the college edge. Boston, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. Montgomery, R., Moody, P., Sherfield, R., Fraser, L., & Fraser, D. (1997). Cornerstone building on your best (Canadian ed.). Scarborough, ON: Prentice- Hall Canada Inc. University of Waterloo (n.d.). Curve of forgetting. Retrieved November 13, 2008, from http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infocs/study/curve.html

33. Any Questions?