Unformatted text preview: 8/26/2021 Class Preparation | College Success College Success
Learning Styles and Strategies Class Preparation … 1/10 8/26/2021 Class Preparation | College Success To be prepared is half the victory. —
Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish novelist
and playwright LEARNING OBJECTIVES By the end of this section, you will be able to:
Identify effective mental and physical strategies to prepare for an individual class session
Describe typical ratios of in-class to out-of-class work
per credit hour … 2/10 8/26/2021 Class Preparation | College Success Kai feels like he is struggling through his first semester of college.
He works long hours at a job every night, lives at home, and helps
care for his younger sister. When he gets home from work, he is
ready for bed and is often too tired for homework or studying.
He has trouble focusing in class and occasionally drifts off during
lectures. Kai knows he needs to change some of his habits, but he
feels too overwhelmed to know where to start. Identifying Ways to Physically and Mentally Prepare
for Class
Lots of students like Kai have to balance a lot of responsibilities, such as
work, school, and family. Such competing demands can make it hard to
get the most out of class time and assignments. The effort you put in to
succeed in college will pay off, though, and there are ways that you can
physically and mentally prepare to excel in class. Eat Healthy Meals and Snacks
Sometimes students get so busy that they skip meals like breakfast or
lunch and then resort to junk food and coffee or caffeinated drinks to get
them through. While a candy bar and soda might give you a temporary
boost, you’ll soon feel tired and hungry again. Eating healthy meals and
snacks that contain lean protein, vegetables, and fruits will give you the
energy needed to accomplish all of your daily tasks. The United States
Department of Agriculture MyPlate on Campus site includes tips on
healthy eating, especially in the cafeteria setting. We’ll return to this topic
later in the course. Exercise Regularly
Similarly to healthy eating, exercising can give you energy throughout
the day. Physical activity can also help prevent you from getting sick,
which can lead to missed classes and work and lower grades. According
to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), college-aged
students should get at least 2.5 hours of exercise each week. Get Enough Sleep … 3/10 8/26/2021 Class Preparation | College Success Sleeping is like recharging your personal battery each night for the next
day. However, studies show that on some campuses like the University
of Alabama, 60 percent of the student population doesn’t get adequate
sleep. Although some students will need slightly more or less sleep,
most should aim for eight hours every night. Along with getting enough
sleep, students can practice healthy habits to sleep soundly, like avoiding caffeinated beverages before they go to bed and reading instead of
using electronic devices before bed to help the body start to relax. [1] Manage Stress
According to a recent American Psychological Association (APA) study,
more than half of college students who used their school’s counseling
services cited anxiety as the reason they sought help. Other stress
points included relationship and academic problems. Stress management will look different for each student. For some students, the
solution might include exercising. Other students might want to make
time each week to meditate, go out with friends, spend time with pets,
listen to music, or work on arts-and-crafts projects. Regardless of
which activities you enjoy, it’s important to make time for stress management in your schedule. [2] Talk to Guidance Counselors or Instructors
Guidance counselors and instructors are good resources to help you
learn strategies for being successful both in and out of the classroom.
For example, your guidance counselor might suggest dropping a class if
you are currently taking too many, or your instructor might be able to
give you additional studying resources for any concepts you find difficult,
so you can catch up for future classes.
Sometimes student success can be as simple as changing your mindset.
For example, if you identify what makes you happy and brings you positive thoughts, you might generate more motivation and enthusiasm for
schoolwork and class time. The following video discusses other small
goals students can set in order to succeed. … 4/10 8/26/2021 Class Preparation | College Success How to Balance School and … After speaking to his guidance counselor about his stress and
difficulty balancing his activities, Kai decides to tell his work supervisor that he needs to reduce the number of hours he’s working. He shifts from 30 hours a week to 15 hours and obtains a
loan to help cover the loss of income. He now has more time to
work out, sleep, and visit friends. Feeling confident about his new
work arrangement, Kai is surprised to find that his grades are still
lower than he would like. He talks to his guidance counselor
again, who recommends that Kai create a schedule. This will help
him set time for homework, studying, and leisure activities so that
he avoids procrastinating on his schoolwork. Class- and Study-Time Ratios
Although Kai knows that studying is important and he is trying to keep
up with homework, he really needs to work on time management. This is
challenging for many college students, especially ones with lots
of responsibilities outside of school. Unlike high school classes, college
classes meet less often, and college students are expected to do more
independent learning, homework, and studying. The amount of time students spend on coursework outside of the physical classroom will vary,
depending on the course (how rigorous it is and how many credits it’s
worth) and on the institution’s expectations. However, a general rule is
that the ratio of classroom time to study time is 1:2 or 1:3. That means
that for every hour you spend in class, you should plan to spend two to
three hours out of class working independently on course assignments.
For example, if your composition class meets for one hour, three times a … 5/10 8/26/2021 Class Preparation | College Success week, you’re expected to devote from six to nine hours each week on
reading assignments, writing assignments, etc.
If you account for all the classes you’re taking in a given semester, the
study time really adds up—and if it sounds like a lot of work, it is! The
only way to stay on top of the workload is by creating a schedule to help
you manage your time. You might decide to use a weekly or monthly
schedule—or both. Whatever you choose, the following tips can help you
design a smart schedule that’s easy to follow and stick with. Start with Fixed Time Commitments
First off, mark down the commitments that don’t allow any flexibility.
These include class meetings, work hours, appointments, etc. Capturing
the “fixed” parts of your schedule can help you see where there are
blocks of time that can be used for other activities. Consider Your Studying and Homework Habits
When are you most productive? Are you a morning person or a night
owl? Block out your study times accordingly. You’ll also want to factor in
any resources you might need. For instance, if you prefer to study very
early or late in the day, and you’re working on a research paper, you
might want to check the library hours to make sure it’s open when you
need it. Plan Ahead
Even if you prefer weekly over monthly schedules, write reminders for
yourself and keep track of any upcoming projects, papers, or exams. You
will also want to prepare for these assignments in advance. Most students eventually discover (the hard way) that cramming for exams the
night before and waiting till the last minute to start on a term paper is a
poor strategy. Procrastination creates a lot of unnecessary stress, and
the resulting final product—whether an exam, lab report, or paper—is
rarely your best work. Try simple things to break down large tasks, such
as setting aside an hour or so each day to work on them during the
weeks leading up to the deadline. If you get stuck, get help from your in- … 6/10 8/26/2021 Class Preparation | College Success structor early, rather than waiting until the day before an assignment is
due. Consider Leisure Time
It might seem impossible to leave room in your schedule for fun activities, but every student needs and deserves to socialize and relax on a
regular basis. Try to make this time something you look forward to and
count on, and use it as a reward for getting things done. You might reserve every Friday or Saturday evening for going out with friends, for example. Or, if a club you’re interested in meets on Thursdays during a
time you’ve reserved for studying, try to reschedule your study time so
you can do both.
Now that you have considered ways to create a schedule, you can practice making one that will help you succeed academically. The California
Community College’s Online Education site has a free source for popu- lating a study schedule based on your individual course load. ACTIVITY: CREATING A WEEKLY SCHEDULE Objective Calculate typical ratios of in-class to out-of-class work
per credit hour
Directions Refer to your class schedule, work schedule, and any
other documents you have that indicate the day and
time of your weekly obligations.
Using a 1:2 or 1:3 in-class–to–out-of-class-study ratio,
determine how many hours per week you need to study
for each class, given your current course schedule.
Create a weekly schedule in a digital document.
You can use Word, Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or
any other format you prefer. … 7/10 8/26/2021 Class Preparation | College Success Be sure to include at least class sessions, homework
and study time, and leisure time in your schedule.
When you are finished, write a paragraph summarizing
how you created your class schedule and why you think
it will be effective.
Follow your instructor’s guidelines for submitting your
assignment. Class Preparation
Which of the following demonstrates making recovery
time in your schedule, as discussed in the video?
Reserving time for lunch and a power nap
Avoiding discouragement after failing an exam
Creating flexible schedules that accommodate unexpected
events
Writing down new goals each day
How sure are you of your answer?
Just A Guess Pretty Sure Very Sure 1. "Sleepy Students Emphasize Studies, Social Activity to Detriment
of Health, According to UA Study." UA News. 20 Aug 2014. Web. 10
Feb 2016. ↵ … 8/10 8/26/2021 Class Preparation | College Success 2. "College Students: Coping with Stress and Anxiety on Campus."
American Psychiatric Association Blogs. 27 Aug 2015. Web. 10 Feb
2016. ↵ … 9/10 8/26/2021 Class Preparation | College Success Previous Next … 10/10 ...
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