Strategies for Improving Your Performance
It's normal to feel a bit frustrated when
learning something new. Only time, patience and practice will allow you to work through
the frustration and to learn new things.
Attend Lecture
"True" learning usually does not occur by seeing something once.
Learning something well requires repeated exposure and practice.
Read the assigned sections in your textbook before the lectures are given. The lectures
will provide additional exposure to the material.
Listen Again
Audio recordings of all lectures are available in
the Undergraduate Library. These can be used for repeated exposure and to fill in gaps (or
to correct information) in your lecture notes.
Read Differently
Read technical material (like your Chemistry textbook) differently than you would read
a novel. Read in short "chunks" and give yourself time to reflect and interpret
the information presented. With technical material, it is often difficult to pick up the
"story" in the second paragraph if you did not process the first paragraph.
Read technical material in a "distraction free" environment. Processing
technical information will be more effective in the absence of TVs,
radios, headsets, etc.
Read and interpret subheadings. With technical material, the subheadings often carry
important information. This is different from the Chapter headings in a novel which
usually contain no information.
Use the textbook as a reference when you study your lecture notes. Fill in any gaps and
correct any information.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Work additional problems at the end of each chapter which were not assigned as
homework.
Work problems on old exams without the answers. Check your answers only after you have
completed all of the problems. Work as many problems as you can.
Look for similarities and differences in problems (homework, group problems, old
exams). Classify problems by the type of knowledge that is needed to solve the problem.
To learn how to make free throws in a basketball
game, one needs to practice at times other than game time.
Ask Questions
Take advantage of the fact that the folks listed below want to see you do well and are
happy to answer any questions that you have. However, remember that we cannot read your
mind - if you need help, you need to let us know!
Your Graduate Instructor
Graduate Instructor office hours
Resource Room
Course Supervisor
Dr. Nash
Don't Procrastinate!
Learning new things will take time. Study the material presented in the course each
night. Do not try to learn several weeks of material the night before the exam - this
simply does not work.
Get sufficient rest. Staying up all night before the exam produces lower
exam scores than studying the course material regularly and getting a good night's sleep
before the exam.
Which Strategy Should I Try? Yes!
To be successful in Chemistry 12500, you will probably need to try a combination
of all of these strategies.