TIME MANAGEMENT

 

  1. Use calendars and schedulers to keep track of what has to be done over long (semester, month)and short (week, day) term—notice syllabi also have schedules besides listing topics.  What dates should already be in your calendar?

 

  1. Establish priorities:  what is due first and what is most important to spend time on

e.g. in a crunch a 2-point assignment is often  less important than a 10-point assignment

e.g. going out to play is often less important than studying for a midterm

 

  1. Plan in writing what should be done for the day, the week, the month, the semester, considering all your responsibilities.

ü consider how most people learn best and retain information--make large chunks of info and allow time to practice, practice, practice

ü break large tasks down into smaller tasks that are easier to accomplish (e.g. part of chapter or some of problems)

ü consider best times for different activities (e.g. studying right after class, earlier in the week, times of day when you function best)

ü use short periods of time that are available (e.g. time between classes or waiting in parking lot)

ü study in 40-50 minute blocks rather than 3-4 hours

ü give yourself a variety of things to study over several hours

ü reward yourself with 5-10 min breaks and something you enjoy (e.g. physical activity, food, music)

 

  1. Tell friends or family about your plan so they can help you stick with it and not distract you.

 

 

CHEM 4 STUDY SKILLS

 

Skim assigned textbook reading before class; more details at http://www.csus.edu/indiv/p/paradisj/chm4/study_skills/Note_taking.pdf

About 15-20 minutes

List key “big ideas”

According to "Active Learning" what else can you do to monitor your comprehension of the reading?

 

Come to lecture

Take careful notes on a page with left and right columns (in outline form, concept mapping, chart form)

Only use left-hand side of notes to record main points of lecture

Annotate quickly with ! (important), ? (need clarification), etc. What are examples from today's Chem 4 lecture?

What are some cues that something important has been said?

What do different note-taking methods have in common?

 

After lecture, fill in blanks in notes

Re-read text

See: instructor, lab teacher, friends

Use right-hand side of notes to add comments, questions, enrichment, diagrams, etc.

Practice problems

Repeat problems in notes and do problems worked out in the chapter

Get questions answered ASAP

How do you proceed if you already have the answer?

 

Self-test using homework

Close your book and time yourself

Do extra of type you had trouble with

Get questions answered ASAP

Review before test your notes, class problems, homework

                 How many times and when should you review?