Keys to Success in SchoolFor that past several years, I have been trying to experiment with different teaching techniques and philosophies in order to improve the course delivery methods in my classes. The following guidelines are based on accepted research and methodologies in education. Moreover, I have modified them to relate to my own observations and classes that I teach. I strongly believe that effective study habits and time management are crucial to success in acquiring knowledge, whether this is in school, college or in the workforce. It is true that while learning can be immensely satisfying and life changing, it requires a sustained, consistent effort on your part. Here are some steps you can undertake to help you improve your chances of success. (1) - Set up a schedule for studying A formal schedule is vital to an effective study program. Setting up a schedule will do much to prevent procrastination and also maintain motivation. By setting aside definite times for study you will also demonstrate your commitment to your goals and help maintain motivation. (2) - Find a place where you can study and concentrate It is important to find a place where you can study without distractions. Most people cannot study effectively while the TV or CD is on, or while other people are talking. Having a specific place for study forms an association with studying and can serve as a behavioral cue for concentration. Other places may serves as cues for other activities, for instance, studying in the kitchen may evoke a cue for eating rather than studying. (3) - Keep a record of your study activities & review on a weekly basis It is vitally important that you get accurate information about how much time are you currently spending in study each week. This forms your baseline or starting point. Use this as a measure of your progress.. Ask questions like, "What are the reasons for poor performance and also for good performance?", If I'm not spending enough time in study where am I spending the time?' In this way you can refine your study approach. Graphical representation of the information can be a useful way to monitor your study efforts. (4) - Reward your studying . One reason why it is so difficult to be motivated to study is that the reward is often in the distant future. A degree may be years away, an exam not due for months. To overcome this problem give yourself immediate tangible rewards for successful study, such as a snack, TV show, time with friends and so on. Be alert to activities which may reinforce bad study habits. Behavioral studies have consistently shown the power of rewards. However, be very careful in how you reward yourself. Make sure that you are not using rewards to reinforce a negative attitude to learning. One research study involving a student who had problems with concentration showed her interrupting her study every 10 to 15 minutes with breaks for drinks, TV and snacks. Every time she stopped for drinks etc, she was reinforcing the habit of interrupting her studies. She finally managed to break this habit in the same way she formed it, through the process of rewards. She set a goal that she would not reward herself until she completed a set amount of time in study. Gradually she increased the amount of time spent in study until she could study for hours with full concentration. (5) - Have the right attitude Those who complain that the subject matter is boring miss the main point. It is not the subject or the teacher who will make the course interesting. Interest is a matter of your attitude. Nobody can make you interested unless you want to be interested. If you bring an inquiring mind, a positive attitude to your studies, you will find learning exciting, challenging, and interesting. If you wait passively to be entertained you will find learning a chore. (6) - Take responsibility for yourself Responsibility is recognition that in order to succeed. You can make decisions about your priorities, your time, and your resources. Don't let friends and acquaintances dictate what you consider important. Follow up on the priorities you have set for yourself, and don't let others, or other interests, distract you from your goals. (7) - Discover when & where you are most productive Discover your key productivity periods (Morning, afternoon, evening) and study spaces where you can be the most focused and productive. Prioritize them for your most difficult study challenges. Consider yourself in a win-win situation. You win by doing your best and contributing your best to a class, whether for yourself, your fellow students, and even for your teachers and instructors. If you are content with your performance, a grade becomes an external check on your performance, which may not coincide with your internally arrived at benefits. (8) - Know when to stop and try something else Don't keep on repeating the things that don't work for you just to prove that they can be done. Look for better solutions to the problems. If you don't understand the course material, don't just re-read the material. Try something else! Consult with the professor, a tutor, an academic advisor, a classmate, or a study group. If you study with someone else and you both perform poorly in the class, then, it is not working. You may either invite another person to the group, or go separate ways and each of you study with a different partner. (9) - Never compromise your work ethics Set the highest possible moral and ethical goals for yourself and never compromise them. Demonstrate them in your daily life in and out of the school. Always respect others and their viewpoints even if you feel they are wrong. Always try to help with the things that you know well and others may have trouble with. Be humble and appreciative when someone tries to help. Always be on time with your appointments. Always contribute to the group you are working with, and always "Look to continually challenge yourself to do better".
The above guidelines are based on documents that I have found at
Jerry Kirkman's Chemistry Page and a document
found at the University of St. Thomas.
The second source iself is partially adapted from the audio cassette by Steven Covey,
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.
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Keys to Success in My ClassesHere are 10 elements I have found to be the keys to success in my classes throughout the years. There may be others too, but they are minor and not always apply to all classes.
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