Studying is to diligently apply one's mind to focus on obtaining, retaining and using information. The purpose of Section 1: Study Skills is to make the student aware what skills are required in order to focus when preparing to obtaining, retaining and using the information found in a college course.
The systems approach is used to divide the units in Section 1 into four parts. The study skills sections and the units in each section are introduced in the sequence in which they are required to be applied in one's college courses.
Section 1.1: Before Enrolling
Section 1.2: Obtaining Information
Section 1.3: Retaining and Recalling Information
Section 1.4: Test Taking Strategies
While the units are best applied and understood in the sequence in which they are given, it is possible to use each parts and individual units for the following purposes:
• Orientation program for incoming college freshman
• Inform adults coming to college after being out of school for many years of the study skills required for college success
• Study skills seminars for students currently enrolled in college courses
• Study skill component of a regular 3 or 4 credit college reading and study skill course
• All the above uses of TLW can be applied online
Section 1.1: Before Enrolling in a College Course
Section 1.1 Objective: Develop an academic learning plan for the college courses
one plans to enroll.
In order to be prepared to learning the information in a college course, before enrolling in a college course a student needs to develop an academic learning plan (ALP). An ALP is a student centered formalized process that involves the student determining before enrolling in a college course the steps required in order to focus on obtaining their learning goal based on personal, academic and career interests.
Each unit in Study Skills: Section 1.1 is arranged in the logical order in which the study skill developed in one unit becomes the prerequisite information required for the following unit. Upon completing Section 1.1: Before Enrolling in a College Course the students will know the answer to the following questions:
Section 1.2: Obtaining Information
When beginning to read the information in a textbook chapter, it is necessary to take a few minutes to focus on preparing the structure required to hold the information as it is being obtained. Most college students never take the time to prepare to obtain the information in a textbook chapter. This is because they do not realize the importance of “getting prepared.” Beginning with the first word of a textbook chapter, students keep reading through the entire chapter until they come to the last word. Sometimes they use a yellow magic marker to highlight information they want to review. This is a very inefficient and ineffective way to obtain information needed to be retained.
This part of Section 1.2 gives the reason why the strategies introduced in the Vocabulary Skills and Comprehension Skills Sections are required to efficiently and effectively obtain the required information needed to be retained in a college course.
Upon completing Section 1.2: Obtaining Information the students will know the answer to the following questions:
Section 1.3: Retaining and Recalling Information
As information is being obtained it is necessary at the same time to focus on the strategies required to retain and later recall it. Obtaining information without preparing to retain and recall it is a waste of time. The amount of review/study time required to learn information is reduced when retention and recall strategies are applied. Because forgetting information is a normal occurrence sixteen retention strategies are needed to retain information as it is being obtained. Five retention strategies are given to prevent physical and mental factors from interfering with the retention of newly obtained information. In order to recall information it is necessary to have the information organized into a cognitive map or network prior to needing to recall it. Information stored in one's mind is recalled by using what is called “lines-of-recall .” Lines-of-recall are the connections made between the different items of information known about a topic.
- Unit 10: Retention - What strategies are used to retain information as it is being
obtained?
- Unit 11: Recall - What strategies are used to recall information after it has been
retained?
Section 1.4: Test Taking Strategies
When required to demonstrate one's mastery of the information given in a college course, it is necessary to use test taking strategies. Test taking strategies are the actions required to focus on before, during and after taking a test. The purpose of these strategies is to make sure that all of the information that has been learned about the subject will be revealed by the test. Without applying these test taking strategies it is possible to know the information, but be unable to use it to answer the test questions. It is emphasized while obtaining information it is necessary to predict how it will be used. In college information mostly is used to pass tests. Therefore, it is necessary to predict what kind of test questions could be asked on the information obtained.
Test Preparation
Eleven test preparation strategies are given in order to properly prepare to focus on obtaining and retaining the information measured by a college test. It is explained how the Information Preparation Checklist and Test Preparation Checklist are used to determine if one is adequately prepared to pass a college test. Suggestions are given on how to develop areas that need improvement.
- Unit 12.1: Before - Preparing for the test - What is required to prepare to pass a
test?
Test Taking
It is possible to know all the information required to pass a test but do poorly on the test for several reasons. Seven strategies are given to apply when answering the different kinds of objective and recall test questions.
- Unit 12.2 During - Taking the test - What is required answer test questions?
Test Debriefing
The importance of debriefing oneself after taking a test is necessary so that study skills needing improvement before taking a future test are known. A Test Debriefing Checklist is given in the following four areas to determine which study strategies were helpful and which study strategies need improvement.
- Accuracy of instructor's hints as to what information will be asked on the test?
- Source of the test questions?
- Kind of information was required to answer the test questions?
- Questions to diagnosis specific test taking problems
- Unit 12.3: After - What are the strategies used to debrief oneself to be better
prepared on future tests?
Instructor's Guide
Study Skills
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