Trying to learn how to learn..

[FT2FLY]

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I'm a first year undergrad student in Canada. I just wrapped up my semester and did mediocre but not excellent. I'm not satisfied with my GPA and want to improve it tremendously.

That being said, what kinds of study techniques do you guys use? I want to enhance my learning and our school really stresses DEEP learning/understanding to get those A's .. so I know I need a new approach.

High School was a joke... I even took CC classes while I was in high school and they were a joke too. Now that I'm in university, it's hitting me like a brick and to start upward trend on my GPA I know I have to fix my study technique ASAP.

Any tips, advice, insight?

I'm taking Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Linear Algebra, and Computer Science next semester.

 

[2THDDS]

Try active learning instead of passive.
Don't just read powerpoints over and over, but make quiz problems out of the slides, read the corresponding textbook sections and also make quiz problems out of those as well.
When you review for your exam/quiz, don't just read over your powerpoints, but utilize the quiz problems you created for yourself.

Passive learning, like reading powerpoints and textbooks, will not really reinforce the material in your head very well.
But, when you are answering questions instead, that makes you think, and even when you get the problems wrong, you still learn something by referencing the book for the correct answer.

Has worked for me.

It is painful when you study, but it is far more effective than reading powerpoints/textbook 5 times.

 

[PostDocCain]

OP for some of your science classes meet with the professor and find out what they recommend as well as talking with students who have done well in hard science classes with the professors you are taking.

Im only talking about science classes cuz other classes you could probably use high school study techniques and still do well but most students suffer trying to do this with science classes. Ill give a some suggestions.

1. Draw pictures while talking to yourself outloud
For Biology when when I had to learn the carbon and krebs cycle my professor always suggested this and it is quite helpful if you are able to study pictures of pathways and cycles pulling everything from memory and this shows that you TRULY know it.
-Avoid making flash cards, thats high sko stuff and wont help as classes get harder.
- I wouldnt rewrite notes over and over as some people do either but pick topics that you can write about wiht a closed book and closed notes and again pull things from memory to see what you have learned and how much more you need to learn.

2. Do many problems but NOT EVERY ONE
This is the only way to make it through physics and gen chem and math. Usually numbers 1 and 2 will be somehwat similar but if they are the same just do the first one and move on.


For any technique that you use make sure you have good pacing cuz no1 wants to be up all night studying but as you go through college Im sure youll find something that works.


Some of the the best learning techniques are quite different to boost your grades from mediocre to great you just have to give it a try and hope for the best.

 

[discensdentibus]

I say this half seriously: try to get a perfect score on every test. Don't beat yourself up when you don't, but if you are aiming for any "grade/number" that is a commonly used strat. Also, I highly recommend reading this link : basically, I went from a 3.54 my first semester in college to a 3.93 my second semester, and this article helped me get into a good mindset. There were a few different elements, but the grade itself is not the greatest motivator. Your "why" has to be strong. These science classes your are taking increase your knowledge base and will facilitate you becoming the best dentist you can be in the long run. If you pay for your own books, getting the most out of it may help. Sleep is very very important. Find some straight A students, and I can assure you that mostly the miserable ones get no sleep. Bloom's Taxonomy may be something to take a look at also. I know this was a rushed reply but if you need any clarification let me know. An important thing to note is that not every tactic used to learn is universal. Some people may find some methods of learning more comfortable/more successful than others