As students returned to classes this semester, many discovered that reading and interacting in online environments changed the way the studied and retained information. That’s understandable. Suddenly, a platform they used for social interaction was a virtual classroom.
As part of the Student Success Response Team, several students asked questions about navigating their courses effectively.
Here are some of the questions they asked and the tips I provided:
How can I get a good grade on every assignment? Read the directions slowly and carefully. If you need to read them aloud, do it! That’s how many students can learn the material as it helps to hear those directions as well as read them. If those steps don’t help, ask your professors. They’re the ones who created the assignments and they know what they’re looking for. I think you’ll be happy to discover that they’re responsive to your email and they want to help.
How can I read articles quickly to get to the main point? Although I hope you’re not focusing on finishing things quickly over finishing them effectively, there are some ways you can read articles that will help you get to the main point quickly.
With articles, you can:
Read the abstract: The abstract is a paragraph that breaks down the article into a single paragraph. It usually highlights the main points and the main ideas presented in the paper.
Read the main headings: You’ll find bold text in the articles that breaks up the paper. You can read those and skim the first paragraph to get a basic understanding of the articles.
Look for topic sentences: Most paragraphs will have a topic sentence that essentially tells you what the author is trying to say. Although I’d love to tell you where to look in each paragraph, its location and form may vary from paragraph to paragraph.
Talk to a classmate: If you can connect with a classmate in your class who is reading the same articles, use social media platforms or the phone to talk about the article.
Talk to the instructor: Notice how I always go back to this one? The professor should be able to distill the article down to the main idea. Talk to your teachers.
Most of the information above will help students read textbook chapters, too. Textbooks often have a summary and a list of questions at the end of each chapter. Read those, then go back, skim the chapter, and look for answers in the text.
After reviewing the PowerPoint and my notes, I forget the information by the next day. How can I remember them more effectively? Forgetting something is natural, but I’m sure you’re asking me how you can boost your memory. When you read through a PowerPoint for the first time, take notes. I know it’s easy to just look at the slides, but taking notes and putting the information into your own words will help you learn the material because you’re making it your own. Challenge yourself to answer a simple question with each slide: “What did the slide say? Why is that information important?” If you get stuck ask your professor.
Should I review PPT from time to time and take notes where I find it important? Yes. Absolutely. You should review your notes 15 minutes a day every day. Studies show that simply reading through your notes each day and challenging yourself by asking, “What did I just read? What does it mean?” will help you retain up to 90% of the information.
The trick here is to make the material important to you. Do you use a note-taking mastery technique such as the Cornell System? I’ve found that most students use it to help them master tough material. Here’s a link to a few videos that describe the method in detail. If you want more information, I have a few handouts I can send to you, too.
The link to the Cornell System:http://lsc.cornell.edu/study-skills/cornell-note-taking-system/
I always feel powerless because I can’t always figure out what’s important. I think we’ve all felt powerless from time to time. I have four degrees, and I’ve felt lost in material, too. It happens and it’s natural. Don’t let this get you down! We learn from our mistakes. If you’ve forgotten some material, ask yourself why. Did you put in the time to study?
Remember this: Your teachers wouldn’t send PPT lessons to you if they didn’t think they were important. I’d suggest matching the material from the PPT slides to the material you find in your textbook. That’s usually a good way to start making connections that make sense to you.
Although there’s no “magic formula” I can give you to help you quickly get the answers you want, I hope this list helps.
If you’d like more information, you can reach me by emailing michaelfrizell@missouristate.edu
Michael Frizell, Director of Student Learning Services at Missouri State University, is the Chair of the Past Presidents Council for the National College Learning Center Association and Editor of their journal, The Learning Assistance Review, and their first book, Learning Centers in the 21st Century. He holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of Arkansas. He writes biographies of the famous and infamous in addition to several fiction titles for TidalWave Comics, writes the forwards to the re-releases of Harold Robbins novels for Oghma Creative Media. His graphic novel, Bender, was released in 2018.