My job as the instructor for this course is to help you learn the material. Not everyone learns in the same way. As you progress through college you'll find out what works best for you. Because I want to help you to do the best you possibly can, here are some tips that Dr. Witter - the instructor for Section 1 of Oceanography - and I would like to share with you. You'll find many of these should help you in other classes as well.

Cheers,
Joe Ortiz

Study tips:

Tip 1: Develop a smart strategy for attending class. Most important - do attend!  Grades from students who took this class in previous semesters show a strong relationship between class attendance and final grade for the course. If something during lecture is confusing - ask a question!  Questions are always welcome during lecture.  If speaking up in front of a large group is not your style, try sitting toward the front of the class (it may feel smaller :), or see me after class or during office hours.  You can also jot down your questions and hand them to me before or after class,  I'll try to address your point during this lecture or in one of the next lectures. Staying focused for the full class period can sometimes be a challenge.  If you're having difficulty, try sitting closer to the front of the classroom (a simple concept that really works!) or ask a question to make sure that you see how some of the concepts fit together. If you're having difficulty keeping up during class, skim the on-line notes the night before the lecture (notes are usually posted late in the afternoon the day before each lecture).

Tip 2: Develop a smart strategy for reading the text book. Consider reading the chapter in the following order: (a) "What to Watch For ..." (at the beginning of each chapter) (b) "Key Concepts to Review" (at the end of each chapter) (c) Skim the figures that will be shown in class (these are listed in the online notes), making sure to read the captions (d) Read the assigned pages (e) Re-read "Key Concepts to Review"  Please note that not all topics presented in the book are covered during class.  Focus on topics discussed during lecture.

Tip 3: Develop a smart strategy for taking exams. Before the exam:  (a) Manage your time - don't wait until the last minute to study the material! All nighters often just wear you out instead of prepare you for an exam.  (b) Experiment with studying at different times of day to find out when you retain information most effectively.  (c) Use the on-line study questions - these cover the most important concepts from each lecture (a substantial fraction of each exam will be based on these questions).  (d) See the instructor of something doesn't make sense.  During the exam:  (a) Read each question carefully.  Because exams are multiple choice it may help to circle important phrases in the question or highlight words that are differences between the multiple choice options.  (b) Answer all of the questions that you "know" the answers to first - jot down your first impression of the harder questions.  (c) Go back to the harder questions - draw pictures and diagrams on the exam sheet, if these will help you work through the concept.  (d) Answer every question - there is no penalty for incorrect answers.  Make sure that the number of questions that you answered is equal to the number of items on the test (this is listed on page 1 of the exam).  (e)  Re-read each exam question and answer and double check your computerized score sheet for accuracy if time allows.  After the exam:  (a) Pick up your graded exam (these are handed out during class).  (b) Pay attention during the in-class exam review (usually held the day that exams are handed back) - questions on the final will emphasize "big picture" concepts and concepts that the class as a whole had difficulty with on the midterms.  (c) Work through the questions you missed (remember, the final is cumulative!)  (d) See the instructor if you have questions

Tip 4: Be aware of your learning style and use it to your advantage. Some students learn best by listening, others by writing, others by hands-on activities.  Many students learn best using a combination of these strategies.  If you are not aware of what works best for you, experiment with different approaches (e.g., jotting down notes as you do the reading, drawing pictures and diagrams as you're listening to lecture) to see what gives you the best understanding of the material for your time.  Click here to assess your learning style online. Special note to students who learn best by writing:  Because the class notes are available on-line you may be inclined to not take your own notes during class.  But, if you learn best by writing, this strategy could backfire.  You may learn more effectively if you jot down the most important concepts during the lecture.

Tip 5: Focus on understanding concepts rather than memorizing facts and numbers. Use the online study questions as a guide to the most important concepts covered in each lecture.  Try to understand why the correct answer is what it is, rather than just jotting down the correct answer from the book or notes.   Meet with the instructor to discuss any study questions that are giving you trouble.

Tip 6: Form a study group. Study groups are a very efficient way to use your studying time.  Participating in a study group can help point out topics that you don't understand and help you work through concepts that are giving you difficulty.

Tip 7: Use the online flash cards, quizzes and other materials provided by the textbook manufacturer.  To find the online texbook resources, follow this link.

Tip 8: Have fun - oceanography is an exciting topic! To enrich your experience, visit a beach, river, lake or aquarium.  Read a novel about the sea, view some artwork or listen to music inspired by the sea (see Nonfiction, Literature, Art and Music Inspired by Sea for some suggestions).

Additional Resources for Enhancing Study Skills:

    Kent State University Academic Success Center

    Information About Learning Styles
    (includes an online survey to assess your own learning style, by Catherine Jester
      of Diablo Valley College, Calif.)

    Study Guides and Strategies
    (an extensive online resource from Joe Landsberger of the University of St. Thomas, Minn.)

 

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