COURSE SURVIVAL TIPS

Class Attendance is crucial to successful completion of the course. You cannot know what you are missing when you are not in class. Pre-Lecture Time is an important time for previewing the chapter so that you can get a "frame of reference" for the lecture. The chapter should be skimmed and scanned for major ideas. Section headings and illustrations should also be glanced at. In addition, jot down notes on what you think the important chapter concepts are and questions you can ask in class. The preview should only take about 30 minutes, but it will help you take better notes and save you post-lecture review time. The best preview time is an hour before class. If this time is not feasible, preview the chapter the night before. Quality Notetaking involves writing main ideas by using phrases, brief summaries, and abbreviations. Additionally, one should leave room for further clarification or note expansion at a later time. Post-Lecture Time is the most crucial time. Studies indicate that individuals waiting 24 hours post lecture to review lecture notes forget about 50% of the material within two days and 62% by the end of one week. Individuals who review lecture notes within a few hours of lecture time remember about 98% in two days, 97% one week later and more than 90% three weeks later. Note reviewing immediately saves lots of study time before the exam. The longer you wait, the harder you will have to work to retain the information learned. Lecture Review should be used to expand on the condensed thoughts from lecture time. Your text should be used to clarify anything you did not quite understand. The chapter summary and glossary can be used as a reference. Summarize the main lecture points and related text and laboratory assignments. Try to write the important points in your own words. In addition, answer the questions asked in your chapter objectives and laboratory manual. Study Time varies. On the average, a successful student should spend about eight hours per week in a typical semester course, outside of class time, studying for a four credit course. In a ten week summer course, you should study a minimum of 13 hours per week. In a five week summer course, you should double that time. Remember, taking a lab course is like taking two classes in one. Study Groups are helpful. By participating in a study group, you are able to explain concepts to others and have concepts explained to you. Study group participation helps you save time. Less time is spent cramming for an exam, provided your study group meets on a timely and consistent basis.