Do you know people that just seem to be happier in general? Do you say to yourself, “I want to be more like them”? Often, the happiest people in the world don’t have the best of everything…they just make the best of everything!
Archive for September, 2012
After reading several articles recently on how students can prioritze how they study I fealt I needed to also blog about it because this is an issue I notice with my students. As a student myself there are times when I have to remember to stay disciplined if I am to do well in my courses. So I wanted to share these tips with learners and educators. These are tips I have used and share with my students. I know that I blogged about this before but I feel I needed to refresh the idea.
- Make a list of what you need to do for the week. This includes what you have to do in your personal life such as work, family time, and personal activities (eating, exercise, etc.). Review the list daily.
- Manage your time. Stay focused and do not procrastinate. Prioritize!
- Review your syllabus. Look at what is due that week and the rubrics for the assignments.
- Become self-disciplined. Take the time to get acquainted with your courses and the expectations. Read announcements, emails, or any tools the professor provides.
- Make flash cards to help study each unit or chapter. Flash cards can be taken and used anywhere, unlike a bulky textbook. Plus when you are ready to take a midterm or final exam you can have everything in one place.
- Sleep ~ Make sure that you get enough sleep daily.
- Attend and participate in class. Whether online or onground, attend seminars, participating in discussion boards and completing your work are essential in order to be successful in a course. This also allows you to prepare for tests because you are hearing and reading the material.
- Choose a location where you can study without distractions. I would set aside time to study when the children were at school or asleep, or in the car during my lunch time at work.
- Take notes and re-write your notes. I suggest writing them out in outline form or some form that will help you to understand the material. When you do this it is repetition which helps you to comprehend the material and embedd it to memory.
- If you are taking classes onground ask your professor if you can use a tape recorder in class. This way instead of focusing on writing everything your professor says you can listen to the lecture and ask questions if necessary. Then you can go back and listen to the tape and re-write the notes. Again, repetition! You are hearing it and writing it.
- If you are taking classes online and the seminars are recorded, go back and listen to the archive and jot down any notes you may have missed. Again, repetition!
- Study in moderation. Do not spend too much time on one subject. You can spend 15 minutes on one subject and then switch to another so one subject does not get boring or confusing. This is similar to when you spend too much time on one question on a test. After a while you analyze the question to much and then you can get a brain fog. It is better to skip the question and go back to it.
I thought this video was excellent to show that it does take discipline to achieve anything you want. I share this in my classroom which is an online setting. I have learned as an educator that it does take discipline for students.
Anatomy and Physiology by Boatwright 