TIPS TO SUCCEED IN A SCIENCE CLASS

Mary Catherine Flath, Ph.D.

Successful students aren’t just “smart”. They use a variety of strategies to learn new information effectively. Using the following list of study tips will help you succeed in this class, as well as many others. Happy studying!!!

1. ATTEND CLASS AND LAB REGULARLY. I spend a large amount of class time showing visual aids (photos, diagrams, tables, slides, demonstrations, models, et cetera). You must attend class to take full advantage of this teaching technique. Take notes on what you see in class because this information will be on the exams. We cover important topics every single class meeting.

2. PREPARE DAILY. Make no mistake about it, school is hard work! To be successful, you need to prepare before class and analyze information soon afterward. Make sure you come to class prepared. Preparing for your blue book quiz questions and answering objectives at the beginning of each chapter outline will help you better prepare for class.

3. TAKE DETAILED NOTES. Even though you have extended chapter outlines, I discuss much more in class than what appears in the typed notes that I supply. Take copious notes on what we discuss, what photos or diagrams were shown, what I repeated several times, et cetera.

4. RECOPY/RETYPE YOUR OUTLINE AND NOTES. Many students are convinced that this is the most effective technique. At the very least, go over your notes each evening with a highlighter to emphasize the most important topics.

5. READ THE BOOK. I suggest you read the book three times:

a. Scan it once briefly before the topic is discussed in class so you are familiar with terminology;

b. Read it in detail after the topic is discussed in class, and highlight all important parts (these portions can be transferred to your notes);

c. Before the exam, reread the highlighted portions of the text.

6. USE FLASH CARDS. List a key word on the front and write a definition or explain a process or concept on the back. Flashcards are great study guides and I encourage you to keep them with you at all times. You never know when you’ll have a few extra minutes to thumb through them.

7. ALLOW AMPLE TIME TO STUDY. This technique prevents cramming the night before the exam. For each hour in a science class, at least two hours outside class are usually necessary for proper study time.

8. DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO AUDIOS OF LECTURES. http://webs.ashlandctc.org/mflath

This technique will allow you to “repeat” a lecture. Simply download the audio to a CD, and then play the CD or listen to it using headphones, while you’re going through the lecture’s PowerPoint Presentation. I believe that this is the most powerful of all of the strategies listed.

9. VISIT THE TEXTBOOK WEBPAGE AND TAKE PRACTICE EXAMS. http://www.mhhe.com/shier11

10. ATTEND SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION!!!!

11. EARN EXTRA CREDIT. Take full advantage of extra credit opportunities for community service events. These points will be added to your final point total and you’ll be surprised how they can add up and pull you up to that next highest grade.