1. Attend each lecture, paying attention and taking complete notes. Taking good notes helps you to understand the material and assure you have the latest information being presented. These are behaviors we as faculty can emphasize when composing recommendation letters, that you tried hard and were interested in your success. Lecture capture and transcribed notes are not to replace attendance at lecture.

2. Be sure your in-class behavior enhances your learning and that of those around you. You need to pay attention in class. You should not be texting friends, surfing the internet, or talking to classmates during lecture.

3. Ask questions in class if the material confuses you.

4. Try to connect the material each day with information you have already learned in the course. Try to connect each days material with the overriding theme for the course, science process skills.

5. After each lecture, preferably withing 24 hours, review your notes for clarity and completeness. Many students will record the lectures and review their notes as they listen to the recording.

6. Add to your notes material covered in reading assignments. Reading assignments specifically cover material not covered in lecture. Summarize this material, making sure to answer questions provided in the directed reading assignments.

7. The material covered in lecture and reading assignments needs to be reviewed each week, and in multiple ways, for retention and understanding. Some students prefer flashcards to study. Others highlight their notes. You can print out the powerpoint outlines and use them to check for retention and understanding. Use the practice exams and case examples to test for understanding and application. If you can answer the questions yourself rather than copying the answers from someone else then you should do well on exams.

8. After you feel you are prepared to take an exam, try studying with a classmate or in groups. As other quiz you, you may find gaps in your studying.

9. All of these steps are designed to help you know the material, not just in the sense of recalling the information, but in applying the material in new situations, or in using your knowledge to evaluate situations. Peer tutoring is also available for students needing further interaction with the course material.

10. SASS Spring 2012 Workshops

*Workshops begin at 1 p.m. in STC 147

Tuesday, January 31 - Time Management
Thursday, February 2 - Procrastination
Tuesday, February 7 - Note taking
Thursday, February 9 - Reading
Tuesday, February 14 - Studying
Thursday, February 16 - Math & Science Exams
Tuesday, February 21 - Motivation
Thursday, February 23 - Stress Management
Tuesday, February 28 - Topic TBA
Thursday, March 1 - Topic TBA
Tuesday, March 13 - Time Management
Thursday, March 15 - Procrastination
Tuesday, March 20 - Note taking
Thursday, March 22 - Reading
Tuesday, March 27 - Studying
Thursday, March 29 - Math & Science Exams
Tuesday, April 3 - Motivation
Thursday, April 5 - Stress Management