More from Study Hacks on Achievement

Here is a link to another interesting article on the Study Hacks blog:

Study Hacks:  "If Your're Busy Your're Doing Something Wrong"

Once again, the important point is this:  it is not the amount of effort, but rather well-directed effort that determines success.  Effort is the essential first step, but no amount of time spent on a task can overcome bad study strategies.

A point I would question is the implied value of "marathon" practice.  The article states that 3.5 hours of practice a day, divided into two sessions, is enough for the elite achievers.  While this may work for musicians (the subject of the article), I think this ignores the value of distributed practice-- studying several times a day, every day, but in short, directed sessions.

And again in this context I define studying as practicing the recall of information.  This is a different activity from extracting new information through reading a textbook, attending class, or completing homework assignments, which does require significant blocks of time.

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How to Get the Most Out of Studying Video Series

A colleague sent me a link to a series of videos created by a cognitive psychologist at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

These videos are excellent because they focus on the mental activities necessary to learn something.  Most students equate studying with "looking at something."  This means mindlessly re-reading the textbook or their classroom notes over and over.

Studying really means engaging with and manipulating the content mentally so that new connections are made within the brain.  While there are various ways to do this, the tried and true way is the "grunt" work of self-testing.

Cover up the notes and textbook pages and ask yourself a question about the topic.  Then try to answer it verbally.  Check your answer against your notes.  Did you get it?  No?  Then do it again. And again...  And again...  And again...   until you have perfect recall of the information.  

Then do it all over again with another question.  It's tedious.  It's hard work.  That's studying.

But it can also be rewarding.  With mastery comes achievement and with achievement comes a buoyant feeling.  "I did it!" "I really know this stuff!"

While all of the episodes are valuable, the most significant are Episodes 2, 3, and 4.

How to Get the Most Out of Studying

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Enrollment Information for AAC Classes

If you are interested in enrolling in an AAC class for the Spring 2012 semester, please follow this hyperlink for detailed information:

General Information for Prospective Students

 

If you are interested in our AAC 130 Medical Terminology class, please follow this link to some important information:

About AAC 130 Medical Terminology

 

If you have additional questions after reading or listening to this information, please contact Jeff Merritt via email: jmerritt@jccc.edu

 

 

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

Late Start AAC Classes

Students enrolled in AAC 100-701 Study Skills or AAC 120-701 Individualized Study must visit the AAC this week for an orientation session.  For details check your JCCC student email account.

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Study Tip #5: Perform an "autopsy" of graded tests to determine the source of each error. Use this to better prepare for the next test.

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Study Tip #4: Plan frequent review sessions. Have you reviewed everything you've covered in your classes since August 22?

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The case method of avoiding procrastination: Find someone successful to emulate. http://calnewport.com/blog/2011/07/30/from-to-do-to-will-do-using-the-case-method-to-defeat-procrastination/

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)