Students Manual for Effective Studying

By TP Pilapil

Consult not your fears, but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.
-- Pope John XXIII, theologian

CONTENTS
IINTRODUCTIION NTRODUCT ON HIITTIING AND SETTIING GOALS H TT NG AND SETT NG GOALS EFFECTIIVE STUDYIING EFFECT VE STUDY NG POSIITIIVE THIINKIING POS T VE TH NK NG STUDENTS RESPONSIIBIILIITIIES STUDENT S RESPONS B L T ES BUIILDIING GOOD HABIITS BU LD NG GOOD HAB TS TIIME MANAGEMENT T ME MANAGEMENT CLASSROOM IINSTRUCTIIONS CLASSROOM NSTRUCT ONS EFFECTIIVE READIING EFFECT VE READ NG TAKIING EXAMS TAK NG EXAMS MAKIING USE OF TUTORIING MAK NG USE OF TUTOR NG HEALTH MAIINTENANCE HEALTH MA NTENANCE MAKIING USE OF THE IINTERNET MAK NG USE OF THE NTERNET MANAGIING YOUR RESOURCES MANAG NG YOUR RESOURCES ABOUT THE AUTHOR ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Introduction
o two people study the same way. What works for one person may not work for another. Everyone is different. For some students, studying and being motivated to learn comes naturally, while to some, additional effort is required. However, there are some general techniques that seem to produce good results. Success in high school or college is dependent on our determination to study effectively and efficiently. Success in studying does not just happen. It takes, among other things, dedication, commitment and motivation. It needs an active participation from the concerned student. This book aims to provide condensed guidelines and techniques required to be an effective, efficient and successful student. Effective students accept personal responsibility for creating the outcomes and quality of their lives. They discover lifes purpose to motivate them, characterized by well-defined goals and dreams which they consistently plan and take effective actions in pursuing them. Effective students become lifelong learners, finding valuable lessons in nearly every experience they have. They develop emotional maturity, characterized by optimism, happiness and peace of mind. Above all, they believe in themselves, feeling capable, lovable and worthy human beings. This material relies on hard work and determination. This is written primarily for high school and college students. Studying independently, away from the watchful eyes of their parents, these students need to develop a good system of studying in order to be an effective learner. In this day of information explosion, they need to study at peak efficiency. This is also written for parents. They have great influence in developing the students attitude towards studying. They provide input to students and this book is geared to help them understand better what the students need and should do in order to get more of studying. Teachers and school counselors can also make use of this book. Success or failure of a student reflects the teaching capability of a teacher. It is not enough for the teachers to improve their teaching efficiency. It is also important that the teacher learns how to improve the learning capability of the students. This book is written based on common sense and experience. To make use of this book, one must desire to possess a mind that is always open, malleable, teachable, and enthusiastic for newness. This book does not promise immediate results. Most techniques presented here involved character change for self-improvement. Changing character for the better needs time, hence, require determination and perseverance. These depend on one thing, and that is your willingness to improve and do well in school. You are the one who is responsible for your education, and effective

study skills can help you only if you do your job. So, invest in your future. Use this book to start changing. Take the first step and the next one will be easier. Go for it and start now!

Hitting and Setting Goals

hy do we need to go to school? Why do we need to study? When we are young we go to school because our parents wanted us to. But as we go older, we need to understand why our parents are doing it. We need to find the reasons why they get upset every time we show resentment in studying. For now we should be aware that success in life depends on how we prepare for it. It depends on our attitude towards studying, acquiring knowledge or learning new things. Knowledge is not acquired by chance. We need to work for it. Our parents try their best in developing our attitude towards learning. They tried to expose us to the right environment. They choosed our toys, our books, our friends, our school and even the way they talked to us were properly planned, especially when we were still very young. They believed that our capability of learning new things depends on our attitude towards it. But as we grow older we gradually take control of our life. Defining our targets and structuring ways to hit them has now become our prime responsibility. 1. The importance of setting goals With very few exceptions, nothing worthwhile in our studies really happens by accident. But what if it is as simple as deciding where you want to go and planning the route to get there? Goal setting is the process of deciding where you want to go in life and then mapping out a series of small steps to get you there. Success in studying is something we make for ourselves. Luck has nothing to do with it. Hitting a target starts with defining where the target is, knowing what is it then aim for it. All successful people set goals. Some may have a structured routine, others a vision. Some may not even consciously set goals at all. But the process is all the same. Successful people know what they want, determine the steps that will get them there and then they implement them. "Long-range goals keep you from being frustrated by short-term failures."
--James Cash Penney, retailer

By setting goals, you will use your time more productively, perform better and more efficiently and with every goal you achieve, your self-confidence will increase, motivating you to aim ever higher. If you have goals, you have purpose. If you have purpose, you have direction. If you have

direction, you do not waste time on activities and things that will not get you where or what you want. Think of it as setting out on a long journey to somewhere you have never been before. Would you even put the key in the ignition unless you had a destination in mind and a map to get you there? Your studies and eventually your life is the longest and most exciting adventure you will ever take. Make sure you have a map before you start out. You may decide to take some side trips along the way, but youll at least reach your destination eventually. You may even find some shortcuts. But if you leave without a map at all, you may just waste the entire journey driving around in circles and achieve nothing worthwhile. 2. How to set goals The major cause of students failure to complete their studies is the lack of focus and determination. Lack of these two factors result from insufficiently defined and studied goals. Goals provide direction and motivation for any undertaking. They are like road maps. They get us where we want to go. Goals focus attention, provide motivation and are means to measure progress. Goals create purpose, purpose generates plans of action, plans produce action, consistent action creates good habits and good habits produce good results. The best way to get good results is through proper planning and consistent implementation of what has been planned. Planning is a blue-print of something we want to achieve or make happen. The first step to setting effective goals is to know what it is you want. It is what you want that is important, not what others want for you or for themselves through you. Begin defining your goals by writing a master list. Dont censor yourself. Dont put limits on yourself. Be positive. Think of a single master goal and then subdivide it into several sub-goals. For example to be successful in life and retire at 50 could be your master goal and completing a college degree could be one of your sub-goals. Visualize yourself living your ideal life. Think of categories such as career, education, family, personal life, physical, spiritual, financial, social, pleasure and attitude. Perhaps it is to be at the top of your profession. Perhaps to be selfemployed. What kind of house do you want to live in? Where do you want to live? What type of car do you want to drive? What exciting destinations do you want to travel to? There are no limits. You are the architect of your future. You are limited only by your imagination. 3. Some criteria for goal setting Now that we have a vision for our life, it is time to start crystallizing our dreams and expressing them in terms of specific objectives. Before beginning the work of actually setting sub-goals and supporting tasks it is important to understand the criteria for setting effective goals.

Be specific. Whatever you want to achieve in the future, know that education is just an instrument of achieving it. Make your goals specific. If they are fuzzy and ill-defined, you will not be able to internalize them in a way that will allow you to decide on precise actions to take to achieve them. Also, your subconscious wont perceive them clearly enough to act on them. Furthermore, you will not know whether you have achieved them or not. Make it realistic. Whatever you set as a goal must be within your power. While it should be challenging, it must also be something that you can achieve as a result of your own efforts and not something that depends on someone else doing something. Make it challenging. While your goals must be realistic, they must also be challenging if you are to gain any real benefit from them. Do not set something for a goal if you can achieve it without doing any extra effort. 4. How to choose goals In schooling, choosing goals sometimes mean choosing a career. We go to school because we want to be someone someday. There are many career goals we can choose from. To choose the right one for us, we need to consider three areas. These three areas include us; what is available where and what is in the market. "You have to find something that you love enough to be able to take risks, jump over the hurdles and break through the brick walls that are always going to be placed in front of you. If you dont have that kind of feeling for what it is youre doing, youll stop at the first giant hurdle."
--George Lucas, Director, Star Wars movie

First, we need to consider ourselves. We need to know who we are, what are our strengths, which activities we love to do most, what subjects we can learn more easily than others, etc. We have to concentrate on the positive aspect of our well-being. Second, we need to research which career are available where. By now, we must already have a short-list of careers we may possibly be considering. We need to check which school they are available. At this stage, we need to consider also our financial capability. Will our studies be financed by our parents, ourselves or through scholarship. Financial aspect can also dictate where we will study aside from choosing the best school in terms of quality and reputation. If we don't have any idea what we want to do, then we need to research various careers, seek ideas from counselors, teachers, family and friends and take general survey courses to see what interests us.

Third, we need to check what is hot in the market. Many students choose to study the career they like, only to find out in the end that such career is already too saturated, with too few jobs for too many job seekers. After considering these three areas, we might find ourselves in a dilemma. For example, we might find out that the career we like to pursue is too expensive or is not available locally, or the career that would possibly give us a good-paying job is not the one we like, etc. In this case, we need to be flexible with ourselves. To be practical, we might be forced to decide to study a career we dont like. But it is not possible to work efficiently in something we dislike. Hence, it is necessary for us to learn how to like what we dont like. Likes and dislikes are not something that is fixed within any individual. It is controlled by our mind; hence, it is changeable or could be improvised. Well concentrate on the positive aspect of things. Remember, a goal should be fixed. Changing goals along the way could be disastrous simply because time spent will never come back. We should never decide on any career until we learn how to like it because this could greatly affect our performance in school. Now we have chosen which career we will pursue. But is choosing a career already enough? Many people achieved their goals, got the degree they desired but still find it difficult to earn a living. This is because finding a job itself is a competition. To win this competition, we need to do our best. And the best way to prepare for this competition is to start early right at the start of classes. We will learn more on how to be a top-notch student and stay at the top in the later chapters of this book. "Nobody can be successful unless he loves his work."
--David Sarnoff, TV pioneer

5. The goal plan Now that you have written down your master goal list and understand the criteria for effective goals it is time to begin translating your list into a goal plan. Starting with your master goal; express each sub-goal in terms of a long-term objective. For longterm or life-time goals, you will need to work backwards, breaking your objective down into more manageable sub-goals. For example if you want to retire at 50, you need to define where you will be at 40, at 30, at 20, etc. You may want to complete your degree at 20 and start working, establish your own business at 30 and let it grow, be depth free at 40 so that you can retire at 50. The objective of starting long-term and working backwards is to break each objective down into manageable steps. The end result should be a daily to do list. Take a moment to think though what you will need to achieve those longer term goals. Think about what skills you will need to acquire and how to get them; what information and knowledge; what help, assistance and

collaboration; what resources. Then try and anticipate obstacles and plan a way around them. Prepare for all foreseen contingencies. Once you have a clear idea of what you will need, you can build these things into your goal plan. 6. Hitting your goal Now that you broken down your long-term goal into a daily task, you have now a clear direction of where you are going. With a daily task list, you can be sure that you're investing your time and energies in activities that will bring you long-term benefit. These activities will bring structure and purpose to your day and eliminate time wasters. Soon you will find yourself becoming discriminating in what you give your time to. You will learn there is a certain feeling of satisfaction and sense of accomplishment in completing a task. You will feel secure in the knowledge that you are taking care of your education. "The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly."
Cecil B. DeMille, Movie Producer

But along the way you will encounter unexpected setbacks. You may find you get bored doing the same things day after day or any task not achieved. These are all perfectly natural and normal. The trick, though, is not to let them derail you from your course. This is what separates the success from failure. There are four keys to staying on track: commitment, flexibility, discipline, determination. Designing a goal plan and sticking to it requires commitment. Unless you are committed to improving your life nothing will happen to you. Remind yourself constantly of your objectives. Write your goal in a poster-size paper and post it in place where you can see it frequently. Write the reasons why you want to achieve a particular objective next to the objective in your goal plan. Read them every morning and evening. Be flexible. If your reasons dont compel you to keep striving, then perhaps they are not good enough reasons. Maybe the objective is not something you want badly enough. If so, change it. Dont let your objectives lock you into a path you dont want to go down. Setting and achieving goals is a lifetime process. Over the course of a lifetime you will go through many changes. What was important to you ten years ago may not be a priority any more. If this happens to you, let it go. Success is attainable only if we concentrate on our goals not on the obstacle. Preparing to hit a target does not just consist of making sure your gun is loaded. It also includes putting yourself in the best position where you can clearly see the target. If the target moves you need to re-position yourself.

Learn how to discipline yourself. Many of the tasks you have to do on a daily basis to achieve your longer-term objectives will be laborious and may become boring. Discipline yourself to carry out those tasks every day even if you dont feel like it. When you suffer setbacks, just hang on and keep going. Determination or persistence is what separates the winners from the losers. Anyone can give up when the going gets tough but it is those who keep going in the face of setbacks who are ultimately victorious. Never give up. Never ever let anyone else make you doubt whether you can achieve your goals. Your success is in your own hands. Reach out and take it!

Effective Studying

ffective studying requires good planning which should consider several aspects. These aspects should include proper scheduling, preparation, choosing the right place to study and pacing your work.

"Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing."
--Thomas Alva Edison, inventor

1. Proper scheduling A good student should set aside a special time each day for studying. Scheduling study time and following it strictly with consistency and self discipline is a requirement for better grades. Following a study schedule strictly doesnt necessarily mean cutting ourselves from other activities. Others have learned how to manage their time effectively so that they have time to play, time to eat and sleep, time with friends, etc., and still have sufficient time to study. This is what we call proper scheduling. A general rule is to budget about 3 to 4 hours of study for every hour of class. Generally, the difference between low performers and high performers lies in the number of hours devoted each week to studying. As much as possible, we need to have studying time everyday day. This is important for conditioning our mind and making studying a habit. The general idea of studying is to prepare ourselves for future encounters with the teacher. Its a wrong attitude to study only in preparation for exams. If we follow our schedule diligently and go to school well-prepared, then we are prepared to take any exam any time. Consistency is very important in scheduling our time to study. We need to find which time in any given day is suited for studying. It should be the time where we are usually free from any distractions and when we are usually not sleepy, say, 7 to 9PM everyday. This is a nice schedule when followed strictly. But we can only follow a schedule strictly if we have self discipline. Consistency means we study even after some exams. We can always give ourselves a break but if we are serious in getting most of studying, we have to make studying a habit.

Prepare a Time Chart (Weekly Schedule). Fill in the time blocks with your known time commitments such as classes, religious services, club meetings, eating and sleeping time, sports and other activities in which you know you will be participating and which will be taking time out of your daily schedule. You can move your study time to accommodate any important event, but never move it to the following day. As students, studying is more important to us than any other things. Better move the schedule earlier than later. Make a list of what you intend to study, prioritize the list, and stick to it.
Proper scheduling

Choosing the right place to study

Preparing yourself

Effective Student
Concentration Get organized

Repeat and recall

Pacing your work

In determining which hours are best for studying it is important to bear in mind that we probably perform better at different times of day. Maybe our best period of concentration is in the morning, perhaps just before lunch or late in the evening when everything is quiet. Try to choose hours for studying when you know that you can get some peace and quiet moments and concentrate on what you are going to do. Generally speaking, most students who are high-performers in school learned to use time to their own benefit. They are not the slaves of time as long as they use the time they have wisely. There is no difference between us and them as long as we do what we are supposed to do as students. 2. Preparing yourself Preparing ourselves to get most of studying has three requirements. Create favorable conditions; generate a positive attitude and develop good techniques.

"How you see yourself is the way youll end up being."

-- Kenneth Cole, clothing designer

Create favorable conditions. Creating favorable conditions generally means making a study schedule in such a way that it can be easily followed. Plan to study specific times each week. Break up times as much as possible; an hour here, an hour there. Consider that your mind is not a machine. It can easily get exhausted. So study easier subjects first when you are still fresh. Make this a habit. When you study difficult subjects first, by the time you finished studying it, your mind is already tired, and when you study the easier ones, these will also appear difficult you. Choose a location where you can concentrate. Avoid or remove distractions. Loud music or any TV reduces effectiveness. Generate a positive attitude. It is normal that we like some subjects and dislike others. But in order to get good grades in all subjects, we need to face them all, regardless of whether we like them or not. So it is very important that we know how to develop a positive attitude towards anything. It's important that we develop a positive attitude concerning the act of studying. We need to make the subject meaningful to us in some ways, especially if we dont like it. But before we teach ourselves to have positive attitude towards anything, we need to have a positive attitude towards ourselves also. It is not possible to get better grades if we ourselves believe we are losers and not capable of doing anything. We need to think we are winners and act like one. We need to stop thinking they are better than us rather, we need to make ourselves believe that we can be whatever we want to be. We cannot reach a goal we have not set. We are already aware of the fact that some of the things we will be studying can be directly used in our eventual employment or in graduate school. Other subjects may not be so easily integrated into our life. Try to find something in every subject that you can personally use, whether it's something you can use now or later. Remember, we'll only be in high school, college or university once (most likely) so we should not waste our time. Make use of everything coming your way. Get to know your classmates. Get to know other students in your classes who are also concerned about learning and getting better grades. We can draw support from each other and help each other, share notes and thoughts about the subject which should result in better performance in school. Develop good techniques. Preparing ourselves to be effective students requires that we need to be masters of ourselves. We need to know where we are fast and where we are slow. From here we can develop a system where we can get most of studying. Most of us vary in many different ways and subjects are different from each other, hence, no single technique can be applicable to all. Each individual must develop his own technique for every subject. For example, the best way to study mathematics effectively is to practice solving problems, solve problems as many as you can. This technique may not be applicable to subjects which dont require problem solving. Or to get most in reading

textbooks, you may need to survey first the section or chapter, check key words, figures and summaries; create questions for each major topic; read and answer these questions; create a onepage summary sheet; etc. Use repetition to increase absorption. For intensive memorization, create flash cards and practice often. 3. Choosing the right place to study Most successful students usually devote one place where they do nothing other than to study. Some like to work in their bedroom at a desk, others read in bed, some do their studying at the library and even have their own special studying room. Having a special place to go where all we do is study can help towards creating an environment which aids in concentration. If we can concentrate on what we're studying we can absorb more in less time. Some students can easily get into the mood for studying, and can study longer and study more efficiently, when they have a "special" place to study. Look for your special place. If you can not fine one, then create your own. It should be well lighted. This will make reading easier and less tiring on your eyes. You will not tire as easily as you might with poor lighting. It should be relatively quiet. At most, any noise should be predictable and of low volume to avoid distractions. The area should be comfortable. Feeling comfortable is an important part of effective studying. It needs to have comfortable chairs, good writing surface at right height, no bad smell, clean, not crowded. It should be a place where you can concentrate, conducive to learning but not sleeping. 4. Pacing your work All people are capable of learning but not all people learn at the same rate. Some people can learn more in a four-hour study period than others. Some people can study more effectively in the first 1 hour only of a continuous studying, while other could study effectively for the first three hour of continuous studying. As a student, you need to find your own rhythm. If you yourself are efficient only for the first two hours of continuous studying, then you need to have time breaks every two hours. Through practice, you may be able to increase the effectiveness of your studying. You need to determine at what rate you work now, then decide at what rate you would like to work in the future. Pacing is a goal in itself. If your goal is to double your effective study time then increase the amount of time you study a little each week until you are satisfied that the time given to study is sufficient for completing your studies on schedule. Every 20 to 30 minutes, schedule a study break to recall what you have studied and to check through it once more. Remember, this is not a break to relax and take your snack. It is a break to refresh your mind of what you have studied so far. Vocalize important parts. It will force you to organize the material in a way that is natural for memory improvement. If you listed down questions, review them now and check if any were answered by this time and how.

5. Concentration To concentrate properly on a subject matter and keep paying attention is vital to the learning process. Sometimes, however, we find it difficult to concentrate. When this happens, it is beneficial that we take a break. There is no point to waste a whole study session to accomplish little. Try a short span at first, concentrating as hard as you can, then gradually build up to longer sessions, having 2 to 3 minutes break in between. Do not day-dream. If you catch yourself daydreaming stop it immediately. To take a break, stand up, walk around, think of something else but then get right back to the job at hand. 6. Repeat and recall Effective studying means effectively storing information into ones mind and recalling them once needed. Storing and recalling information is what studying is all about. Having knowledge of something means being able to recall any stored information when the need arises. Storing information is best accomplished by repetition. Drumming a fact into your head repeatedly is still the best and fastest way to remember something. This means that we need to study a subject or topic several times when necessary in order to effectively digest it. Without reinforcement through repetition, our stored information may soon be gone or be forgotten. Like a nail, information should be hammered several times to effectively store it in place. 7. Get organized Create your own system of organizing yourself. Have a consistent place for everything, and above all, keep it there. Have everything needed for study handy beforehand. Don't waste valuable time looking for books, notes, of other information. After you have assembled the items you need, put them where you can reach them easily. Be mentally aware of which things are placed where. Looking for a pen amidst cluttered papers can be time consuming sometimes.

Positive Thinking

hinking positively means admitting into the mind only thoughts, words and images that promotes growth, expansion and success. It is the expectation of good and favorable results. A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. Whatever the mind expects, it finds. "It is not the brains that matter most, but that which guides them the character, the heart, the generous qualities, progressive ideas."
--Fyodor Dostoyevsky - Writer

"How you see yourself is the way youll end up being."

-- Kenneth Cole, clothing designer

Negative thoughts, words and attitude bring up negative and unhappy moods and actions. When the mind is negative, poisons are released into the blood, which cause withdrawal feelings, unhappiness and more negativity. Negative thinking is the way to failure, frustration and disappointment. Most people are not successful because they think they can not be one. Positive and negative thinking are both contagious, and their results are very obvious. If you choose the former you gain a great and beneficial power. Thinking positive requires vigilance, the constant guarding of the mind against negativity. People do not change their attitude and thoughts overnight. Consistent application is necessary. It does not matter what your circumstances are at the present moment. Think positively, expect only favorable results and situations, and circumstances will change accordingly. It may take some time for the changes to take place, but eventually they do. 1. Importance of positive thinking to students Most students dont do better in class because they believe they are. Students who are good performers in class believe in themselves. They dont bother themselves with anything they can not do, instead they strive to find hows to their every whys. Their confidence in themselves is their motivation or driving force to move on. Poor performers on the other hand believe that their capability is very limited when compared to other students. This makes it very difficult for them to try new things; instead they are usually dependent to other students. Their lack of self confidence is their usual stumbling block towards getting good grades. Some students continue to get poor grades because they concentrate on the obstacles rather than concentrating on their goals.

In general, students who are positive thinkers or those who have a great deal of self confidence are motivated to spend more time in studying while those who lack self confidence usually find studying boredom. A positive thinker is comparable to a person who while climbing a mountain is enjoying the scenery, while a negative thinker likens to a person who while climbing a mountain is cursing the mountain itself. The first one does not easily gets tired hence, has a great possibility to arrive at its destination in still great shape. It is just not possible for someone to learn while at the same time thinking that the subject matter is too difficult to tackle. If we want good grades, we should believe we deserve it. The biggest difference between people is their attitudes. For some, learning is enjoyable and exciting. For others, learning is drudgery. For many, learning is just okay, something required on the road to a job. We are in control, whether we know it or not. We can be positive or negative, enthusiastic or dull, active or passive. Then we get what we deserve. 2. Creating positive mindset People do not become positive thinkers by chance. They are made. They undergo a process of change, gradually rejecting negative thoughts and accepting or entertaining only positive ones. This requires commitment, positive commitment to oneself, concentrating only on the positive aspects of anything. We need to keep our mind focused on important things. Set goals and priorities for what you think and do. Once a negative thought enters our mind, we have to be aware of it and endeavor to replace it with a constructive one. The negative thought will try again to enter our mind, and then we have to replace it again with a positive one. It is as if there are two pictures in front of us, and we choose to look at one and disregard the other. Persistence will eventually teach our mind to think positively and ignore negative thoughts. "If you think you can, you can. And if you think you cant, youre right."
--Mary Kay Ash, Founder of Mary Kay

Cosmetics

In every class, look for positive people to associate with. Avoid negative thinkers. This will lessen the inflow of negative ideas into your mind; hence, your progress will be faster. Not every lecture will be pleasing to our ears. In fact, almost every lecture is boring. To be positive, in every lecture, we need to look for one or more interesting ideas. Concentrate on these ideas to get motivated. We dont wait to get motivated. We have to teach ourselves how to get motivated. We can not change the lectures according to our own taste. We need to make adjustments within ourselves.

Before attending any class, prepare questions for the teacher. Prepare questions not only for things you dont know but also for those you already know. This will deepen your knowledge of the subject matter. Your questions will invite more questions from other students. With every idea you learned, explain it to your friends. Dont bother yourself with every negative reaction from your friend, rather, tackle it positively. This will increase your knowledge and strengthen your positive mindset. Positive thinking is power in itself. When the attitude is positive we entertain pleasant feelings and constructive images, and see in our mind's eye what we really want to happen. All of us affect, whether positively or negatively, the people we meet. This happens instinctively and on a subconscious level, through thoughts and feelings transference, or through body language. This is why we need to be around with positive persons and shun negative ones. People are more disposed to help us if we are positive. They dislike and avoid anyone broadcasting negativity. Always visualize only favorable and beneficial situations. Use positive words in your thoughts or when talking with others. Smile a little more, as this helps to think positively. If you feel inner resistance when replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, do not give up, but keep looking only at the beneficial, good and happy thoughts in your mind. Disregard any feelings of laziness or a desire to quit. If you persevere, you will transform the way your mind thinks.

Students Responsibilities

efore we decide to go schooling, it is important to know what our responsibilities are as a good and responsible student. There is no such thing as free education even if we are on scholarships or even if the teacher is doing the teaching as a volunteer. The fact is the teacher is exhausting his energy and time for the students sake. Whether he is being paid or not, time and energy is being wasted. It is the responsibility of the student to do his part in the learning process. It is important to realize at this point that it is the students future that is at stake here. It is very irresponsible on the part of the student to go to school and wait to be fed. "I long to accomplish some great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble."
--Helen Keller, social activist, author

1. The learning process Education is a two-way activity, even at the very early stage. When the student is in pre-school, education already consists of an active participation between the student and the teacher at school and between the students and parents at home. The parents usually prepare the students how to behave in school. As we grow older the participation of the parents become less and less, especially when the students enter high school or college where in general they prefer more independence. Originally, the teacher provides example, direction, evaluation and help. However, as time goes on, students should become more self-sufficient, more self-directed and more self-critical. Finally, the student should become a teacher to himself. The role of the teacher should be reduced to giving scope, direction and monitoring. If you want to be a good and responsible student, be your own teacher. If you are used to be in school where spoon-feeding is the way of teaching, then learn how to feed yourself. Be an active learner. 2. Students responsibilities Take control of your own learning process. Some students managed to complete a five-year course in four years time. Yet some were able to complete their course in twice the usual time duration. The first student controls his own learning process while the second one used the free-wheeling style of learning. Control your own learning process. Make a general program of the whole course, what subjects to take in what semester.

Organize the subjects, check which subjects are prerequisites to which subjects, check which subjects are more difficult than the others, etc. Take control of your own learning process through good planning. Act like a competent adult. Treat yourself like and adult, act like an adult and others will treat you as an adult, with respect. An adult takes responsibility of all his words and actions. An adult makes his own decisions and thinks independently. Define success in your own terms. You need to know what success means to you. Usually, people define success as an attainment of a certain goal. Define your general goal, why you go to school to study. Then out of your general goal, develop yearly goal, monthly goal, weekly goal and daily goal. Monitor your success. Rectify your failures to your advantage, make it a success and use it to achieve goals. Think and act positive. Feel good about yourself regardless of your abilities. Do not compare yourself with others because whether you like it or not there are always things where others are better than you. Concentrate on your positive aspects and develop it. Identify your negative aspects and make way to rectify it to your advantage. Screen ideas that enter your mind. Accept and develop only positive ideas. You can not do anything unless you believe you can do it. Ask questions. Always ask questions, even if you already know the answers. Concentrate on positive questions. Some questions will invite follow-up questions from other students. It will increase your knowledge in the process. Do not repeat the questions of other students. It will only show that you are not listening or participating actively in class. Concentrate on open-ended questions, questions that could encourage participation of others and could invite more questions. Seek extra help. It is the responsibility of the students to seek extra help. Seek extra help from your teacher. You paid them to teach you, make use of your payment. Most teachers are required to allocate consultation time for the students, make use of it. Your teacher will be glad to know you are interested to learn in his subject. You may also seek extra help from your friends and classmates. Some students consider it an opportunity to help others because they also learn more things in the process. Develop your own personal learning strategies. Most students consider studying as a simple reading and memorizing activity. But most good performers have developed their own learning techniques, techniques that enable them to get more by exerting less. Learn how to optimize the use your resources. Explore your self, discover what your strengths are then make use of it to your advantage. If you like the subject, learn how to spend less time in it so that you will have more time to other more difficult ones. Most students

spend more to subjects they like. This is wrong because to be successful students we need to get good grades in all subjects. It is the students responsibility to develop good techniques for efficient studying, for taking exams and for solving problems. Do homeworks and assignments. Homeworks and assignments are two very important learning tools that most students take for granted. In most cases when a teacher gives an assignment, only very few students do their assignments diligently while others just wait and then copy. Assignments and homeworks, including group projects are very important tools for learning because it gives the students the opportunity to learn at their own pace and strategies. They can open their notes, use as many books as they can, interview other experts, etc. The source of learning avenues is endless. So if you are serious in learning, do your homeworks and assignments diligently. Always turn in your homework even if its not completed. Partial credit is always better than no credit. It shows your professor what you know. Attend and actively participate in class. Some students attend class just for the sake of showing up, because some teachers give up to 10% credits from class attendance. Some students also seldom attend classes especially if the teacher is not very particular with class attendance. But in general, students like these seldom get good grades unless they really get perfect scores in exams. So, unless you have exceptional intelligence, you need to be punctual in attending classes. To actively participate in class, you need to prepare, know and study in advance the next topic. Students who actively participate in class and attend class regularly perform well in any exam, whether it is announced or un-announced. They are also well-informed hence, can do assignments and homeworks correctly and submit them on time. Attending class is the best way to learn what youre supposed to learn, what your professor will put on the exam, and whats expected of you in your homework. Help others in need. In some classrooms, competition is intense and there is a tendency for those good performers to shun helping others. This is a wrong attitude. Helping or teaching others doesnt mean losing something because we gave it to others. As learners ourselves, when we teach others, especially our classmates, we will be facing a lot of questions from our classmates. In trying to answer those questions, we will discover some of our mistakes and other weak points and learn that there are still areas that we have not studied in detail. So, in helping others, we also learn, hence we are always on the lead. Organize tutorial classes. Aside from learning more out of helping others, youll also end up having a free lunch.

Work smarter, not just harder. Concentrate and prioritize doing activities that will yield the greatest benefit. Continue improving yourself. Cut out some of the non-productive activity in the learning process and focus on that which is productive. Do that and you will learn more and get better grades.

Building Good Habits

f studying things is our habit, then we should not be reading this article. To most of us, habits are something that is developed in a person naturally. Usually, it is developed without the person actively knowing it. The development of a habit of a person is influenced mainly by the environment where that person is exposed to. Our subconscious mind is continuously collecting information from the environment and stores it in our brain. "We first make our habits, and then our habits make us."
-- John Dryden, writer

If we study closely the process how our habits are developed, we will notice that we can actually take control in its development. If we can control it then we can choose which habit we want to develop. How? By choosing our environment we choose our friends, we choose what to do, how to do it, when to do it, etc. In other words, we actively give direction to our life. Building good habits can help us to be effective in studying. But it doesnt happen like magic that if we follow what we outlined to do then the habit will automatically develop. Our subconscious mind works through repetition. When a driver first study how to drive, he mentally prepares a list of things to do to start driving or while driving, like adjusting first his seat and checking the mirrors before turning on the ignition switch, look left and right before crossing a street, etc. But when he is already used to driving, he will be doing these things automatically without consulting his mental list. Our brain works that way. There is no magic formula. It is purely natural development. This is how successful people hit their goal. They endured long and tiring training/studies in developing effective skills. Athletes develop athletic skills; musicians develop musical skills; managers develop managing skills. They attained it by making training and studying a habit. In order to find success in schooling, learners therefore need to develop learning habits. Developing learning habits means overhauling ourselves, improving good habits we already have, learning new ones and throwing out those which we think detrimental to our goal. 1. Improving and managing learning styles Improving and managing learning styles consists of planning, monitoring and evaluating our own learning styles. Each of us may have different learning styles in any subject. We need to identify them, check which ones are effective and which are not. Observe also other students, check how

they study effectively. We need to know other styles so that we may have several options to develop our own effective learning styles. Keep monitoring and improving your learning styles and skill. From time to time, check how you do in reading, writing, listening, time-management, note-taking and/or problem-solving. Try different learning avenues or tools. Others dont start studying until they gathered all the information available. Others gather as much books as possible. Others browse the internet to gather more information. Others form groups to study together. The choice is endless. Check which one is effective to you. Checking means you have to try them. Try different learning environments. Other stays in their room and study quietly. Other prefers outdoors and study alone quietly. Others study in groups or find study partner or partners. They discuss together, asking each others questions. Try them and identify which one fits on you. Be flexible. Dont limit yourself to only one option. Many high-performing students use any style applicable in any given situation. For example, when you are in a group, do not wait until you are alone in order to study. Make use of what is presently available. The point is you need to know what to do in any given situation. Keep improving your learning styles and make it a habit. 2. Positive thinking It is your responsibility to educate yourself. Though you paid the school or teacher, but they are just instruments for you to learn. Without your active participation, nothing will happen to you. So take charge of your future. Take charge of your own education. Develop the habit of accommodating only positive thoughts. You need this to develop self confidence and self-esteem. Set goals, big goals and do positive actions towards it. Do not consider learning as a burden, rather enjoy yourself learning. "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
-- John Wooden, basketball coach

"He, who every morning plans the transactions of the day, and follows that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through a labyrinth of the most busy life."
-- Victor Hugo, writer

3. Time management Develop the habit of managing your time. Always budget time to every activity and follow it faithfully. Make a daily schedule and identify mentally which time could be squeezed and which one needs to be expanded. Also prepare some filler activities, activities you can do in times you

are vacant. Always make yourself busy. Spend your time wisely. Time is expensive and never comes back once spent. 4. Self discipline Our parents, guardians and teachers try their best in instilling discipline in us. But nothing will really happen if we ourselves dont take positive actions. Develop the habit of self-discipline. You can always make good schedules, good plans, nice goals, etc. but you can never follow or attain them unless you know how to discipline yourself. Self discipline builds your confidence - being in control of yourself, your emotions and actions boosts your confidence and esteem. It affects how you see yourself - your self image is so much better when you know you can succeed and change. It affects your ability to make foresights. It allows you to stay focused on your goals. It enables you to stay in control of yourself and of your reactions to any situation. With self discipline you can change your life anyway you want to. You can cut out bad habits and create new good ones. This requires will power and determination but if you have self discipline you are in control. 5. Creative and critical thinking Critical and creative thinking can be described as qualities of good thinking processes and as types of thinking. Creative thinking is generally considered to be involved with the creation or generation of ideas, processes, experiences or objects; critical thinking is concerned with their evaluation. Critical thinking involves logical thinking and reasoning including skills such as comparison, classification, sequencing, cause/effect, patterning, webbing, analogies, deductive and inductive reasoning, forecasting and planning. Critical thinking involves skills that enable the student to sort, analyze, and refine creative ideas. Creative thinking involves creating something new or original ideas. It involves the skills of flexibility, originality, fluency, elaboration, brainstorming, modification, imagery, associative thinking, attribute listing, metaphorical thinking, forced relationships. The aim of creative thinking is to stimulate curiosity and promote divergence. To be successful problem solvers, students must possess a balance of creative and critical thinking skills. In every situation, subject or topic, try to be creative and critical at the same time. You will need this kind of attitude for making decisions and solving problems. Develop this habit. 6. Asking questions Its a part of our natural process to grow up, but theres one aspect in a childs life which we need to retain, especially in dealing with other people, especially our teacher. Its the art of asking questions. Ask questions like a child and make it a habit. It is needed in identifying main ideas and

supporting evidence. It is also useful in generating interest, motivation, focusing concentration, improving memory, etc. It is needed in expanding our knowledge. 7. Create new habits Always study your environment, check the habits of other successful people. Identify which one you need to develop. Justify to yourself how important it is to your life or your studies. Make a planning in developing this new habit. Create a step by step process with time allotments. Make it easy to follow and implement. Implement and follow your schedule faithfully. Keep track of your progress and evaluate your self from time to time. Identify obstacles. For example, lack of time, lack of self confidence, procrastination, etc. Try to eliminate them. Make it a habit of attending and never missing the first class meeting. This first classroom instruction is usually devoted for orientation. The whole subject is discussed here. This lets you know what the subject is all about, how the teacher is going to handle it and what is expected of you. Make it a habit of reading the class syllabus and handouts the teacher passes out in any meeting. This will keep you informed of all the rules regarding absences, exams, assignments, etc. Make it a habit of being in the classroom a little bit early. This will make you more active rather than passive. Doing this means we are pressing the time. Being late means the time is pressing us. There is a big difference between the time beating us and us beating the time. This is how losers and winners are distinguished. Being early in class brings many good things in us. Make it a habit of attending and never missing a class unless you are really sick. You can always borrow notes or ask your friends what was discussed in the class, but let us accept the fact that there are always communication losses. You do not absorb 100% of what you hear and this is a reality. If your absorption capability is only 50% and so do with your friend, then you loss 75% of what is being discussed in the class when you are absent and just rely on the input of your friends. If you do have to miss a class, always call or see a classmate after the class to find out what you missed and if your teacher assigned anything that will be due when you return. Make extra reading to cover up your losses. Make it a habit of being an active participant in the class. Always have your calculator on your desk and have your text book out. Teachers often do problems out of the book as examples. If the teacher or any of your classmates is making some sort of computation in the board, work along with him/her, do not wait for results. Make it habit of doing your homework the same day it is assigned to you. Additional works will be assigned to you from time to time. Doing it later will force you to squeeze your time and effort. You do it while it is fresh in your mind and while you still have plenty of time to try different materials and methods. Make it a habit of getting to know well three to four of your teachers. Always try to create a good relationship with your teacher, even if you dont like him/her. Whatever or whoever he is, you will

need him in the near future. You dont have to invite him/her for dinner. Just be active in class, show your enthusiasm, ask questions and show your interest. Make it a habit of getting summer jobs that are related to your course of study. Not only will you be doing something more mentally stimulating, but you will also be getting to know people who have first hand experience of what you are studying. Dont care too much about salary, accept what is available. Experience and exposure is what you need now. Observe always your environment to scout for effective habits. Study the lives of other successful people, identify their good habits. Mind always your existing habits, improve those needing improvements and eliminate those that need to be eliminated. Make this a habit.

Time Management
ime is one very important resource we have which we rarely give due consideration. It is abundant to those who are doing nothing and scarce to those who are doing something. The flow of time cannot be delayed and cannot be controlled. The only way to make use of time is to manage it properly. "Time is the scarcest resource, and unless it is managed nothing else can be managed."
-- Peter F. Drucker, author

Family, friends, work and play will compete with your education for time and resources. Students life is busy and full of challenge. You don't need to waste time or make life more difficult by being disorganized. Don't miss an important meeting or exam because you forgot. Schedule study time. Don't leave it to a chance that you will study whenever. You should make out daily plans for a week at a time. Time management means listing all your activities, allot time requirements for each activity and define priorities, determine which activities cannot be done without completing the other, etc. If necessary, breakdown complex activities into several minor activities to make them manageable. 1. Listing of activities As discussed in chapter 1, before we embark into all-out studying, we need to have a goal. Whatever our goal is, we need to set time limit, when are we going to achieve it. If for example we choose to study a four-year course, we need to break it down in such a way that we will know what we will be doing in any given year. Any given year might compose of one, two or three semesters. We again need to know what subjects we need to load in any given semester. Then in every subject we are taking in any given semester, we need to make monthly targets or monthly goals, or simply a list of monthly activities for such subject. We again need to breakdown these monthly goals into weekly goals, then to daily goals. "The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."
--Mark Twain, writer

So from one single complex goal, we break it down to goal per year, goal per semester, goal per month, goal per week and goal per day. Listing of activities does not just mean setting down and listing down every activity that come into our mind which we think needed in our endeavor. There

has to be a system we need to follow that could simplify the studying process. Whatever this system is, it should consider breaking the main objective into several major activities, and then each major activity into several sub-activities, and so on, up to a level we consider manageable. A schedule should take into account every class, laboratory, lecture, social event, and other work in which you engage. There are basic activities such as classes and so on that has to be incorporated. You must focus on the "free time" available and how you will use it. Indicate times for classes, labs, lectures, social, and work time. Also allocate a period for sleeping and relaxation each day. With what is left, plan time for study. This gives you a rough estimate of the time available. You can always revise your schedule as circumstances warrant. 2. Time assignments Time management does not stop at listing or breaking down of activities. We need to assign time duration into major activities and all its sub-activities. Assigning time durations to each activity does not just consist of closing the eyes and jotting down whatever time duration which come into our mind. It needs to follow a system too. First we need to consider the activity versus ourselves. We need to familiarize ourselves with our own natural capabilities. There are really subjects which we are fast learners and there are some that are simply more difficult. We assign longer time durations to more difficult subjects. Next, we need to consider the time available. Though we dont buy time, we have to consider that time is not free. If we have exam the following week, then we need to assign time durations in such a way that we have enough time to study all the subjects. As a rule of thumb, try to allocate at least three to four hours of advance study for every hour of class. 3. Define priorities Now, we have a list of activities with corresponding time assignments. What do we do next? At this point we need to consider that not all activities are equally important, though all of them should be done. Defining priorities means re-arranging the list according to its importance. The problem is how to determine that an activity is more important than the others. There has to be some criteria we need to consider. For the yearly schedule and schedule per semester, priorities are usually defined by pre-requisites. Some subjects need to be taken first before the others, and this set up is usually controlled by the school. However, for monthly, weekly and daily schedule, we need to set the priorities by ourselves. Setting priorities means deciding which activity we have to do first before others. First, consider the weight of the subject. The weight of any subject is usually given in terms of units which corresponds to the number of hours of classes each week. Thus a six-unit subject means you have to attend six hours of classes per week. The more units the subject has the more important it is, thus needs to be prioritized. A six-unit subject is two times heavier than a three-unit subject though they may require the same length of time to study.

Second, consider easy subjects and prioritize them. Here, prioritize means doing them first before studying or doing the more difficult ones. But prioritize does not mean assigning more time to it. The point is, since the activity is easy, we can do it more quickly and our brain does not exert much effort thus, preserving our energy for the more difficult ones. Most of us like easy subjects because this means easy work but we should always consider that we need to do all the activities, whether we like it or not. So we should not trap ourselves into spending more time on easy subjects just because we like it. Third, consider difficult subjects and prioritize them. This time, prioritize means assigning them more time to study. Most difficult subjects are heavyweights (having big units), hence, need more concentration. Fourth, consider your current standing. There is a need for us to constantly monitor our current standing for every subject. Subjects which we are performing poorly at any given time need special attention. There are still a lot of criteria that we can consider. After all, all subjects are important, though not equally. To be a successful student, we need to get good grades in all subjects. Its a matter of arranging which to do first. There is always a danger of not finishing all the activities we plan to do, hence it is important to define priorities. 4. Scheduling of activities Now, we have a list of activities with corresponding time assignments, and we also know which one to do first or which activities are dependent on other activities. But we still dont know which to do in a given day, week, month or year. Yearly and semestral goals Schools usually have a prepared prospectus for every course of study, a listing of subjects that need to be taken by the student every semester. Through research and years of experience, the school was able to come up with this prospectus. Initially, it is enough for us to follow this yearly/semestral schedule. However, as we go along with our studies, we may find it necessary to revise this schedule. A good schedule should be flexible and should permit revision. Some students however, abuse this flexibility and find themselves enrolling those easy subjects first. In effect, in their senior years they are forced to take all difficult subjects in a semester. This could end in a disaster. A good schedule should be well-balanced, with easy and difficult subjects distributed evenly. Some students also are wise enough to re-arrange the prospectus given by the school, by taking more subjects than required in any given semester, and even take summer classes. They end up completing their course of study ahead of time. Monthly goals Monthly schedules are prepared every semester. This is prepared once we have finished enrolling the subjects we need to take in a semester. We make monthly schedule for every subject, which

chapter or chapters will be done this month, etc. Our instructor will usually give us the subject outline at the beginning of each class in a semester, listing down the topics to be taken up, how many major exams will be given and the tentative dates of the major exams. From this data we can prepare our monthly schedule. Monthly schedule should be flexible enough to permit revision once the need arises. Also, it should be prepared in such a way that progress can be monitored and corrective action could be taken once our actual progress lags behind the schedule. Weekly goals Monthly schedule is broken down in a weekly basis. From our list of activities, we group together the activities we need to study in any given week. In preparing weekly schedule we need to consider also other activities aside from studying. We are social beings and our life will be very boring without social activities. We need to have time being with friends and/or relatives, time for relaxation and entertainment, time for worship, etc. Like any other schedule, weekly schedule should be updated every week to take into account the actual progress. Daily goals Weekly schedule is still difficult to implement because it is still too general, with no specific timing. Daily schedule is prepared so we may know the activities to be done in a day. We set the time we wake up in the morning, take a bath, eat, attend classes, meetings, etc. We list down all the routine activities we need to do in a day, with corresponding time when to do them. From this list, we will know which time of the day we are free, then we can insert in our study periods. Study periods should be distributed throughout the day to avoid overloading our mind. Also, daily schedule should be flexible enough to our own advantage. When we budgeted two hours for a certain activity and we finished it in less than two hours, we go directly to the next activity. Dont waste time. Daily schedule should also permit revision but revision should be done mentally. 5. Advantages of proper time management Converting impossible into possible At first, our goal would seem difficult or may be impossible to achieve. But by breaking down our goal into sub-goals up to a more manageable level, we can achieve our goal one step at a time. Measure progress With a well-defined schedule, we can easily measure our progress and detect possible problems. With detectable problems, our productivity is improved and possible problems could easily be rectified without spoiling other activities. Eliminate procrastination With a well-prepared schedule, procrastination could be eliminated. With all the activities scheduled to be done in a specific time, we will be forced to follow it diligently because we see the whole picture. We know what will happen if we dont follow the schedule. If we schedule the activity to be done at seven oclock, we know we have to do it because there is another activity schedule for eight oclock.

6. Some tips for proper use of time Know yourself There are times of a day when we are mentally alert and when we are mentally down. Some students are effective at studying during night time, some during morning, and yet some at early dawn. Know your self, know which time is best for you to study. Use your power times to study; use the down times for routines such as laundry and errands. Distribute study time Study in shorter time blocks with short breaks between. This keeps you from getting fatigued and "wasting time." This type of studying is efficient because while you are taking a break, the brain is still processing the information. Choose study areas that are conducive to studying This will allow you to reduce distractions which can "waste time." If there are times in the residence halls or your apartment when you know there will be noise and commotion, use that time for mindless tasks. Be health conscious Have enough sleep, exercise regularly and have proper diet. Make this a habit. Poor health means poor mind. Poor mind can not study efficiently hence, need more time to learn. Poor health is therefore a waste of time when it comes to studying. Make your study materials handy and portable Write your notes and other study materials in flashcards, small notebooks or a loose sheet of paper, so that you can put it in your pocket or handbag. You can open them anywhere when you find extra time, e.g., while waiting for a bus or while waiting for your turn in a bank.

Classroom Instructions

ome students attend class just for the sake of showing up. Some students also prefer not to attend classes especially if the teacher is not very particular with class attendance. In general, students like these seldom get good grades unless they really get perfect scores in exams. So, unless you have exceptional intelligence, you need to be punctual in attending classes. To actively participate in class, you need to prepare, know and study in advance the next topic. Students who actively participate in class and attend class regularly perform well in any exam, hence get good grades. "Whatever your grade or position, if you know how and when to speak, and when to remain silent, your chances of real success are proportionately increased."
--Ralph C. Smedley, Toastmasters International

1. Preparing for class Make it a habit of attending class well-prepared. Read assigned pages/chapters before coming to class. Note what parts of the readings made sense to you, and which ones did not. It will be these things you will want to pay special attention during the lecture. Be prepared to take notes and raise questions. Participate actively in class. The biggest mistake students make is that they dont know what theyre supposed to learn in their classes. Rarely will you discover the objective by reading the textbook. Usually the professor reveals that in class, most often during the first week. Knowing the objectives will provide a framework for your studies for the entire semester. 2. Taking Notes Students don't always recognize how important it is to take good notes. The importance of note taking is to maximize retention and for easy recollection of the lecture, especially during study time. Develop your own style of taking notes. Don't take down every word. If you try to keep up with a lecturer by taking down every word you won't be able to understand it. Write down ideas and put them in words you understand. It is advisable to write down keywords or phrases only. If there is a word or phrase you don't know, write it down. You can ask the instructor about it or look it up at a later time. If you think you need every word, ask your instructor if you can record the lecture.

As soon after class as possible, review and edit your notes. If you wait weeks or even a day or two before reading your notes you will have lost a lot. Review them while they are fresh in your mind. Add and edit the notes for accuracy and to make them read more clearly. Check the notes of your classmates to see if you missed any important items. Think about how your notes relate to other parts of the class. Teachers usually try to integrate lectures, readings and assignments. Make an attempt to understand how the various parts fit together. 3. Effective note taking Be physically and mentally present in class. Don't talk to others regarding other matters during lecture. Write down the information presented in as organized a way as possible. As you write notes, make sure you understand what you're writing. Don't write too much or too little. Don't write complete sentences, except for definitions or quotations. It takes too much time and effort and you can not catch-up with the lecture. On the other hand, don't be too lazy to the extent of missing some points. Copy anything put on the board. It is more likely to show up on tests. Good note taking requires motivation, concentration and a systematic method of recording information. You may use notebooks or loose papers. Loose papers are considered best because you can insert handouts and other notes into them. You can also arrange and re-arrange them as you like. Always put a date in your notes. Taking accurate and concise lecture notes is essential. When you listen to a lecture, formulate questions as you listen. Your main job in taking lecture notes is to be a good listener. To be a good listener, you must learn to focus and concentrate on the main points of the lecture. Get them down, and then later reorganize them in your own words. Try to develop and keep your own set of abbreviations. You will need this in increasing your notetaking efficiency. You may find it necessary to edit this list from time to time. Be flexible. 4. Getting most from lectures Some students watch lectures like they watch television, as passive spectators. Be active and be prepared. Come to class with all homework finished. Sit in front of the room. Preview material before lecture, thumb through the chapter on the topic for the day. Review the last lecture notes. Don't let the lecture become meaningless material. Convince yourself it's important. Generate interest and motivation. After class, ask the teacher what will be covered next time. As soon as possible, create a short outline about the lecture. Within 24 hours, review your outline and notes. Add comments. Cover your main notes and recite key points out loud. This recitation is one of the best ways to strengthen understanding. Review again. Within 7 days, review the outline first, then the notes.

5. Listen with aggressiveness Be physically and mentally present in the class. Learn how to listen aggressively. The secret to aggressive listening is to make your mind like a radar. Youre alert, curious, and aware of whats being said and whats going on around you. Refresh yourself always about the object of the lecture. Be aware how the lecture fits with the objective. Effective listening also needs the use of your mouth. Ask questions to clarify a point. Examine and probe the topic carefully in order to gain full understanding. Note taking also aids in increasing your absorption efficiency. It will help you focus on the lecture. Average students are able to recall about eight times more of the content when they become involved than when they just listen. Twenty-four hours after a class, you will remember only about 10 percent of what you heard unless you repeat it, discuss it, apply it, or in other ways become aggressively involved in cementing the material in your memory. 6. How to Use Questions Questions can be used to organize information, stimulate interest, clarify ideas, improve listening skills and improve test-taking. While youre taking notes, generate some questions and have them ready to roll, either in class or after class. Be like children and scientists. The two most effective groups of learners are children and scientists. Both are naturally curious. Both seek answers to their every question. Curiosity and questions are the motivation and means of learning. By the time you get to high school or college, it is assumed that you know how to ask good questions, even if you don't verbalize them out loud. Learn how to use basic forms of questions. These are the familiar questions starting with "what, when, where, why, who and how." You may go into advanced form of questions as you go deeper into the topic. These are the questions in the form of cause and effect, or what if scenario. 7. Dealing with distractions Distractions in the classroom are sometimes cannot be avoided. To help avoid distractions, sit near the front of the class. You're less likely to miss something important, and there are far less distractions at the front than any other location. Pay attention to the course outline or syllabus. Generally, important points and materials are referenced here and repeated. Don't be afraid to ask the teacher if there is something you don't understand. Most teachers will be glad to clarify for you. Be active in class to be less affected by distractions.

Effective Reading
earning how to read and retain what you read is critical to being a successful student. Some students can easily absorb what he is reading. Some need to read and reread the topic several times before he can fully absorb it. As a student, you need to develop techniques to improve your absorption efficiency. Learning to read effectively is an important study skill. It aids in the retention of information and serves as a necessary addition to the information you gain in class. You can improve your reading skills by making the following changes in your current style. "Employ your time in improving yourself by other mens writing so that you shall come easily by what others have labored for.
--Socrates

1. Reading textbooks Read the summary and conclusion first. Don't read a textbook like you would a novel from the front to the back. Textbook authors go to great pains to select appropriate titles for their books and chapters, also to make the information flow in the most logical and natural way. Still, most students give it no thought whatsoever. Start reading the parts of the book which give overall picture of the whole book. Try to know in advance what the book is all about. Survey the material and the information contained therein. Read all the headings and subheadings. Try to absorb. Read the preface. It often contains hints on why the book was written, what the author thinks is important for you to know and how the information is organized. Read the table of contents. Look at the table in some detail. Every line in here is important. Make a note of them. They are the ones you need to concentrate your subsequent study efforts on. Before reading the main text turn to the end of the chapter and read the summary. If the text provides a glossary at the end of each chapter read it next. Doing this gives you an idea of what the author thinks is important. Now you can read the main text with a better idea of where to focus your attention. Be motivated You might be very enthusiastic to start reading the first chapter. You want to learn as much as possible. But what, exactly, is it that you are looking for? You need to be motivated. You need to be finding something in what you are reading. There have to be some questions which answers you are trying to search. Just reading one paragraph after another with tidbits of information strewn

here and there; wastes a lot of time. In the end you may get nothing you need or get many things you do not need. Fortunately, you are reading a textbook, not a novel. Unlike novels, textbooks give sample questions at the end of each chapter or near the end of the book. Look them up now. Those are sample questions you are required to answer correctly as affirmation of your learning progress. Try to make a wild guess of the answers in advance before you start reading. This will definitely arouse your curiosity and that assures that you become properly motivated. Having questions in your mind which need answers you are now ready to read with purpose, you stay alert, you empower the learning process. Then, and only then, are you ready to start the textbook with chapter one. Take notes. Use a highlighter to mark up important points. Pay special attention to graphs, tables, photos and inserts. Too often students tend to skip over these. The author, however, wanted them to jump out at you. Be aware of how the current chapter relates to other parts of the book. Then think about how the reading relates to lectures and assignments. Do not try to re-write the book, or copy word for word. Read a recommended reading or reference. Sometimes, at the end of the book, the author will list some recommended readings and references. Try to read them if you have time or if you can get hold of them. It will give you a broader understanding of how the author summarizes and integrates information. 2. Reading research articles For some introductory and many advanced courses you will be required to read related published research articles. Like your textbook, read them before class, especially if they are assignments. Research articles usually include a summary, referred to as abstract of 100 to 250 words. "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can not read them.
--Mark Twain, writer

Like the textbook, read this first then go to the summary and conclusions section at the end of the article. Take notes as you read. Take note of the author(s); title; purpose or hypothesis of research; any independent and dependent variables; how these variables were measured; key findings, check if they are consistent with the hypothesis and conclusion.

Pay special attention to tables, graphs and inserts. These are what the author thinks are most important. Think about how this research is related to other readings, lectures and assignments for the course. Try to find out why your instructor wanted you to read it. 3. Improving reading comprehension Reading comprehension requires motivation, mental frameworks for holding ideas, concentration and good study techniques. Keep reading. Keep pouring ideas into your mind. Broaden your background knowledge by reading newspapers, magazines and books. Become interested in world events. Good writers construct paragraphs that have a beginning, middle and end. Often, the first sentence will give an overview that helps provide a framework for adding details. Also, look for transitional words, phrases or paragraphs that change the topic. Try to anticipate the author and predict future ideas and questions. If you're right, this reinforces your understanding. If you're wrong, you make adjustments quicker. Create motivation and interest. You need to be interested on what you are reading. The stronger your interest, the faster is your comprehension. Study pictures, graphs and headings. Just reading a book once is not enough. To develop a deeper understanding, you have to highlight, summarize and review important ideas. Always keep a dictionary with you while reading. Keep building up your vocabulary. For most educated people, this is a lifetime project. You might carry around a pocket dictionary and use it to look up new words. Or, you can keep a list of words to look up at the end of the day. Try to develop a systematic reading style. Try to survey the book first, try to learn why the book is written and what is being achieved. You can do this by reading first the preface, table of contents, introduction, abstract, summary and glossary or index. Before reading the main text, try to develop questions which answers you need to find out in reading the main text. As you read the main text, keep a paper and pen handy to take down notes. If you are reading your own book, use a highlighter to highlight some important lines in the book. Also, keep a dictionary to check for words you dont understand. As you read, dont overdo it with your highlighter. Only highlight or underline main ideas, names of important people or dates, key terms, or statements that summarize the main elements of the passage. Use cross-referencing while you read. If you see a point on a page that relates to something you have read previously, make notes in the margin of each page referring to the other page that has related information.

After reading the main text, review mentally what you have learned from the reading. Go through your notes. Then review the book to find out what you have missed. Verbally summarize what you have read to help improve your retention. Write down any areas that were confusing or if you had questions about and ask your instructor as soon as possible. Review what youve read frequently. It is important to monitor your attention, concentration and effectiveness. Some can read a book while the mind wanders away. Try to stay focus on what you are reading. Others find it beneficial to read aloud, while others prefer to read mentally. Try to find which way you can concentrate effectively. 4. Right reading environment Before you start reading, it is important to prepare yourself. Make sure that the place where you want to read is conducive to reading, a place where you can concentrate in your work or where you can not disturb anybody if you wish to read aloud. Make sure that you arent hungry or too full, or over-tired. Make sure that the room is well-lighted, and that you keep distractions to a minimum. Controlling your environment in this way will help you concentrate and get more out of what you are reading. 5. Reading problem-solving textbooks Reading mathematics and science books involve problem solving to acquire mastery of the subject. In addition to the steps in reading other textbooks, you need to add practice stage for solving problems during the review stage of your reading. Make sure all the problems are solved before you move on to the next chapter. If you have trouble solving the problems, form a study group with others or visit your instructor. If you move on without understanding the prior information, you are likely to understand even less in the following chapters.

Ta k i ng E x a m s

ost students can be found in hallways or at their desks just before an exam hurriedly going through their notes or texts. You can almost see the desperate and panicky look in their eyes. They usually don't do well on their tests because they were not prepared. You are not supposed to be one of them. "Most battles are won before they are ever fought."
--George Patton, US Army general

We are talking here about exams that are scheduled and/or unscheduled. Unscheduled exams are those given by teachers when he feels he likes to. These include daily quizzes, short tests, assignments, home works, etc. Scheduled exams are those major exams that are announced in advance. There is no specific technique to handle unscheduled or scheduled exams. The point is, if you are prepared to face unscheduled exams, chances are you are also prepared to take that scheduled exam Don't let yourself get into this situation. Do your assignments ahead of time, prepare your outlines or term papers and projects ahead of schedule, do your home-works diligently. In other words, be an active student. Active students are those who are making actions. Passive students are those who used to wait for actions then make reactions. You'll walk into exams relaxed and ready to perform well. You'll have enough time to show your professor your written work and still have the time to modify it if there is such a need. No matter how you look at it, you are prepared, relaxed and have increased your odds of performing better. Keep a pocket-sized or notebook calendar with you in all your classes and when you study. Keep a record of assignments, tests, papers, field trips and anything else that is related directly to your class work. There is only one formula in getting more in any exam aside from having good health. Be prepared. Being prepared builds up confidence. Confidence makes us relax before, during and after the exam. Being relax gives us focus. This is the only way to get good results in any exam. "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."
--Benjamin Franklin

1. Preparation The key to getting good results in any exam is preparation. Good preparation, in turn, leads to confidence and being relaxed. A majority of students prepare for major exams only. A week or less before any major exams they go into extensive preparations, studying overnight the whole week. Chances are, they learn very little and their health could be affected, taking exams with no enough sleep. They seldom perform well in any exam. In the first day of classes, the teacher usually gives an orientation. He usually tells the student how he handles the subject matter, how often he gives short exams, what is the coverage of the major exams, what is his grading system, etc. It is the students responsibility to know who his teacher is, his background, if he used to give assignments, homeworks, quizzes, etc., if he is very particular with attendance, how he give grades, if he is generous in giving grades, etc. We need to know whom we are dealing with. Ask other students who have experience with him being his teacher. This will help us in our every encounter with the teacher and this will greatly affect our performance in the class and our grades. Sometimes, our performance in class is affected by our personal feelings towards the teacher. Sometimes, the student is not performing well because he doesnt like the teacher. We need to review our goal. Whatever our goal is, we need to have good grades no matter if we like the teacher or not. Concentrate on the positive aspect of anything. Learn how to handle every situation to your benefit. Teach yourself how to convert into positive whatever negative feelings you may have. Neither students nor teachers like exams. But the fact is exams are a part of our students life. Read your assignments. Many students don't read the assigned readings and few read the suggested one. Readings should be kept up with and read before the class. Do the assignments and exercises. Teachers usually make assignments and exercises to teach specific skills. More often than not these skills are tested on exams. Leave time for review. The day or two before an exam should be for review not to do the readings or assignments. Review your notes. Preparing for short tests or quizzes The best preparation for any exam is to be prepared for class everyday. Be an active student. Follow your study schedule diligently. Make sure to attend every class, well prepared. Classes are supposed to be a two-way activity. Before attending a class, we should already have a picture of what will be discussed in the class. A class does not just consist of a teacher giving a lecture alone. It consists of the active participation of the both parties, the students and the teacher. The teacher may give a short quiz any time and the student should be prepared for this. We should not wait to be asked questions; rather, we should prepare as many questions as we can before attending any class. In this way, our learning rate will be faster and we should not have trouble if the teacher gives any test any time.

Preparing for major exams If we are prepared to attend every class everyday, chances are, we are also prepared to take any long exams. But this is not enough. We need to review the coverage of the exam. Coverage of scheduled long exam is usually announced in advance. Check if you already have studied them all. Review your notes, check if you missed anything. Make your own test questionnaire, try to anticipate questions. Put time allotment in every question or topic. Then answer your own questionnaire diligently, as if you are taking the real exam no open books or notes. Monitor your efficiency, then study more, review the areas where you perform poorly. You may find it useful to form a study group with your friends then take the mock exam together. Your friends will ask some questions and you will find out that there are still areas which you need to study more. As a result, you will learn more. Talk to your teachers; try to know in advance what type of exam he will be giving. In general, you'll find your teachers are cooperative and appreciative of the fact that you care enough about your participation in class to come in and clear this matter up for yourself. Some teacher will announce the type of exam, some not. Check also if the exam would be an open books/notes exam. This will give you an idea what type of exam he will be giving, the possible topic, the possible question or whether the exam is difficult or not. Review your assignments and homeworks. Some teacher will include your assignments or homeworks in the exam to check if you were really the one who did them. One secret in preparing for any exam is to be actively engaged on the subject matter. Monitor your health. Try to get enough sleep at least two nights before the exam and especially the night before the exam. The day before the exam should be devoted to review, resting and relaxing. Never take any mock exam the day before the test. An accidental lower score may only confuse and upset you. It would be counter-productive. Take a rest, relax and be confident in having done all that preparations. 2. Taking the exam Do not go to the examination room with an empty stomach or with an overloaded stomach. Eat a light high-protein meal, not carbohydrates (they can make you sleepy). Do not bring notes or books to the examination room unless your teacher tells you that the exam would be an open books/notes exam. Check all the things you need to bring, pencils, pens, papers, calculator, snacks, etc. bring extras. Be early to the test, don't chat with others. Relax. Think positive. Its examination time. Preparations are over. Make an effort to avoid making any last minute reading and especially avoid talking about your prospects with other students. You can only get depressed recalling the topics you should have paid more attention to but for some reason have not. Keep to yourself and remain confident that you have done every preparation necessary.

Before starting the test When the go-ahead signal is given to start the exam, do not start immediately without surveying first what the exam is all about. Read the directions word for word and make sure you understand it. Indicate your answers exactly the way the directions state. Make sure your answers are clear. Determine what the scoring rules for the test are and follow them to your advantage. For example, if wrong answers are penalized, don't make any guess unless you can reduce the choices to two. Glance through the test briefly and budget time mentally according to points assigned to questions. Check which part of the exam you know best. Always start answering with the easy ones and do not spend much time on the questions you are not sure of the answer. You can come back to it later when you have answered all the easy ones already. The important points here are budgeting your time and preserving your energy. If you answer the exam in chronological order, chances are you may be answering difficult questions first. Your energy might be exhausted and your valuable time might be wasted, and you might not have enough time and energy to answer those easy ones. Essay type questions Read all the questions first and budget your time. Then for each question, organize your ideas before writing your answer. Put this on a scratch paper then label or number it according to its importance. This is to make sure you dont miss anything. Make your first sentence answer the question, and then expand your argument. The general rule is not to get carried away on one or two questions to the extent that you cannot answer the other questions in the time allotted. If the exam allows you to choose from a number of questions, be sure to number your answers exactly to match the questions. Don't "write around" the question but answer it directly. If you get stuck, go on to another question. You can come back to it later if you still have time. Good handwriting and correct grammar is also very important in essay-type exams. Easy to read and well-written grammatically correct answers almost always receive higher grades than poorly written grammatically incorrect answers, even though the answers themselves are the same. Multiple-choice questions Multiple choice questions are essentially true-false questions arranged in groups. Read the questions very carefully and be sure you understand them fully before selecting the correct answer. Usually, only one alternative is correct. Your job is to pick the alternative that is more nearly true than the others. Read multiple-choice questions the same way as for true-false. Do the easy questions first. If you are not sure of the answer, leave the question for a while; put a marker indicating that you have not answered it yet. Go on to the next question, you can always come back to it later if you still have time. Your mind might be cleared about its correct answer as you go through with the other questions. Use guessing only as a last resort and make sure there is no penalty for guessing. In guessing, use the elimination technique. Discard first those choices which you are sure are obviously not the correct answer before making your guess.

Math or science problems Before you take any math or science exams, be sure that you have studied the theory and principles in detail. Clarify with the teacher first if formulas are supplied or whether you are allowed to use calculators. Before you take exams of this type, you must have practiced with problems like this at home already. You must have developed a system how to deal with this kind of exam. Read the problem very carefully. List down the data given and what is required. This is one way of simplifying the problem. Check with the formula if you can arrive at the answer with the given data. If you think the data is lacking, read the problem again, you might be required to make assumptions. You need to know by heart whether your answer is practically correct or not. Use your common sense. For example if the problem is asking for a speed of a man running and you arrived at an answer greater than 100 mph, something must be wrong with your solution. A man could not run that fast. Know the practical limits. Be systematic with your solution. Label every step or equation you make. Make sure your teacher can follow your solution. Present your solution in a step by step fashion. Write legibly. Be careful in writing the final answer. Sometimes you are not allowed to box or en-circle your answer. Check the instructions again. Like other exams, you have to budget your time well. Read all the questions briefly before you start answering. Do not spend too much time in one problem. You might not be able to complete the whole exam. If you get stuck in one problem, leave it, proceed to another problem. You can go back to it later if time permits. Before you start answering, try to spot which problem or problems appear easy to you. Always start with the easy ones and solve it as fast as you can. Dont waste any time trying to beautify your solution. Other problems which appear difficult to you might require more time. And remember, most difficult problems usually have more points assigned on them. In taking math or science exams, always bring a lot of scratch papers, along with extra pencils or pens. Try your solutions first in a scratch paper before finalizing it in the test paper. Other types of exams The methods used to answer true or false and multiple choice questions apply to matching questions as well. Always read the entire list of alternatives before selecting the match. Try to identify key words in each list. If you don't know the answer, give it your best guess, but use guessing only as your last option. Try to go on with the other questions first. Sometimes answers will just pop-up in your mind as you go along with other questions. Mental block Some people develop a mental block when the exam paper hits their hands. This can happen to anyone no matter how prepared you are. When this happens, just relax. Dont worry and dont panic. Close your eyes and try to recall any moment when you were very confident of yourself.

Recall how you did your assignments and try to feel you are actually doing it. Then give yourself the 'go ahead' signal. You can do it! Now open your eyes and start. Read the examination paper and select the easiest question to start with. Your composure will slowly go back. Remember, worry and panic will just make the situation worst. Deal with the present situation positively with confidence. Its examination time. You are alone; nobody can help you but yourself only.

Making Use of Tutoring

utoring is a method of learning thats gaining popularity among students. It is usually composed of students actively seeking knowledge. It is composed of a tutor to share information to other students, and tutee or tutees who receives such information. It is simply a group of students teaching other students. Tutoring is one of the best ways to learn, both for the tutor and the tutee. "One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want" --Proverbs 12-24 What makes tutoring work is the one-on-one involvement and focused help - just at the right pace, usually, no time restrictions. Because the learning environment is informal, some students who find it difficult to participate in the usual student-teacher class can easily participate in tutorial classes. The tutor can be a teacher or just a fellow student. Some students just form a group and organize tutorial classes. They may invite a teacher friend as a tutor or seek volunteers from among the group to act as tutor. Sometimes, they invite other students to attend their tutorial class, and sometimes they just limit the tutorial class to their members, each member given the task to be a tutor, assigned their respective topics. The tutor learns because he prepares for his assigned topic. He even learns more when the other members ask him questions which can make him think hard for answers. The tutees learn from what the tutor teaches and from the questions ask by the tutees themselves. In other words, tutoring is a learning matrix wherein every participant learns. What makes tutoring even better is the fact that it is usually free of charge with less time constraints and pressures. 1. Get involved with tutoring Be an active learner. Dont wait, take positive actions, and get involved with tutorial activities. Associate with other students who are actively pursuing their dreams. Everyone needs a tutor at some time. The most important advice to students who need help is, don't wait too long. If you're having trouble, clear it up quickly. It is far easier to stay up with a class than it is to catch up.

Participate in tutorial classes. One good thing with tutorial class is that, it can be organized. Therefore, it can be tailored to suit our needs. So, if there are no tutorial classes available, talk to your classmates and organize your own. Everyone can be a tutor at some time. "You cannot hold on to anything good. You must be continually giving -- and getting. You cannot hold on to your seed. You must sow it -- and reap anew. You cannot hold on to riches. You must use them and get other riches in return.
-- Robert Collier, writer, publisher

You may or may not be satisfied with your grades, but you still need tutorial classes when it is available. If you have good grades, it is worthwhile to share your techniques to others. In sharing you will learn more. If you are not satisfied with your performance in class, you should seek outside help. Either way, get involved with tutoring. 2. Being a tutor The role of the tutor is similar to that of the teacher to let the tutees learn. He should prepare in advance to appear knowledgeable in front of the tutees. The goal of any tutor is to provide an encouraging environment that helps the students learn better and easily. The tutor should focus on guiding or showing the tutees what to do, rather than telling them how to do it. A tutorial class should be more on a hands-on exercise or a work-shop type rather than discussing theories. It should be more on problem solving and questions and answers session. Because there are no commitments to complete a topic at a certain time frame, a topic should be thoroughly learned before jumping to another subject matter. Focus on quality, rather than quantity. A tutee will learn more easily when praised rather than criticized. Let them do the work rather than you do it. 3. Being a tutee Do not take tutorial classes for granted. Though it is usually free of charge, somebody has sacrificed his resources for your benefit. Do not attend a tutorial class without preparing yourself. You might not be attending a tutorial class as a tutor but you should know what you need from this tutorial class. Participate actively. Prepare as many questions as you can think of and attend tutorial class with a positive attitude. Do not ask the tutor to do your work. The tutor's role is to help you do the work. Do your homework yourself and seek help if needed. Don't come if you haven't read the book or tried the homework. Remember, the tutor is just a student like you. His knowledge is still very limited. You will get more out of tutoring through active participation, rather than waiting to be fed. View tutoring as a form of

cooperative learning. To get the most of it, students should follow a more active and more responsible role in the learning process. Everybody contributes, everybody learns.

Health Maintenance

eading off to school means heading off to a new environment. In intellectual terms, this can be stimulating, heading to more challenges and adventures. In health terms, with geographically diverse populations now converging on campus, it simply means exposing yourself to more health risk. For freshmen or students who are away from their family for the first time, this means learning to care for their own health. "Look to your health; and if you have it, praise God, and value it next to a good conscience; for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of; a blessing that money cannot buy."
-- Isaak Walton

You may consider getting immunized. Talk to your doctor about preventive actions needed, say, meningitis inoculations, hepatitis B vaccine, measles-mumps-rubella, tuberculosis, and tetanus vaccines, a yearly flu shot, etc. If you have health insurance, make sure you carry a valid insurance card at all times and know how to use it. Getting immunized put our health safe against most known disease which could undermine our learning capability or which could keep us away from school. But there are also less known health hazards which could not be prevented through immunization which we need to address. Maintaining good health and preventing illness need our active participation. Immunization and other preventive shots do not work unless we actively pursue good health. 1. Have enough sleep Some students postponed studying until the exam is only few days away. As a result, they end up having sleepless nights and they rarely make good in any exam. This is the reason why studying should be done regularly, regardless of whether there are exams or not. Sleeping is too easy for some and could be too difficult for others. Others find studying too difficult because they easily feel sleepy when studying. Others spend several hours in the bed and still can not find sleep. Both need self discipline to get most of studying. Have just enough sleep and make it a habit. Schedule your sleeping time and follow it diligently. Remove all factors that could undermine your sleeping. Make sure to sleep in a comfortable quarter. Make sure your bed is comfortable to you. Make sure your bedroom is conducive to sleeping. Most people sleep best in a room that's a bit cooler than normally desired when awake. Say good night to your worries and shut the bedroom door on them, literally. If you find sleeping is difficult, it needs your active participation. Dont just wait until you feel sleepy. Do something.

Sometimes we find it difficult to sleep because our mind is actively wandering away. You need to be aware of it. Stop thinking, concentrate on sleeping. Forget about those scary movies, intense conversations, problems, things to do, etc. Let your mind rest. Do this regularly. Allow yourself to sleep, or stay awake, if your body so chooses. In other words, don't try to force or control anything. You can't force yourself to sleep. If you can not sleep, get up after 30 minutes or so and do something you like or need to do. If you can't sleep, you may as well be productive. Continue studying or read something. Make use of your time. After another 30 minutes or so, try sleeping again. Be patient. 2. Eat enough good food Eat just enough good food. Let your mind take control, not your craving. Eat to live, don't live to eat. Eat healthy foods, emphasize on fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains. High protein meals give high energy and are best eaten in the morning. High carbohydrate meals produce sleepiness and are best eaten in the evening. Follow your schedule diligently. When its eating time, stop what you are doing and eat. Do not skip eating or postpone it at a later time. As the vehicle does not run without fuel, so is your mind without proper nourishment. Eat just enough good food. Do not take food that contributes more harm than good to promote good health. Eat just enough. Too much or too little is counterproductive. 3. Do physical exercise regularly Physical fitness is to the human body what fine tuning is to an engine. It enables us to perform up to our potential. Fitness can be described as a condition that helps us look, feel and do our best. Physical fitness involves the performance of the heart and lungs, and the muscles of the body. And, since what we do with our bodies also affects what we can do with our minds, fitness influences to some degree qualities such as mental alertness and emotional stability. To be useful, the exercise has to raise heart and breathing rates. The goal is to increase the blood oxygen level reaching the brain. The decision to carry out a physical fitness program requires a long term commitment of time and effort. Exercise must become one of those things that we do without question, like bathing and brushing our teeth. Unless you are convinced of the benefits of fitness and the risks of unfitness, you will not succeed. Make exercise a habit. Stick to a regular time every day. Put "exercise appointments" on your calendar. Include daily exercise in your schedule. The hour just before the evening meal is a popular time for exercise. The late afternoon workout provides a welcome change of pace at the end of the work day and helps dissolve the days worries and tensions. Another popular time to

work out is early morning, before the work day begins. Your exercise schedule should correlate to your study schedule. A good goal for many people is to do physical exercise 4 to 6 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. To start and stick with an exercise program, we need to choose something we like to do which suits us physically. It also helps to a get a partner. Exercising with someone else can make it more fun. Regular exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes and obesity. It keeps joints, tendons and ligaments flexible so it's easier to move around. It contributes to our mental well-being and helps treat depression. It helps relieve stress and anxiety, increases energy and endurance, helps us sleep better and helps us maintain a normal weight by increasing our metabolism. 4. Vitamins and minerals Vitamins help store and release energy and maintain your bones, blood, and nerves. Vitamins help you to digest your food and make new cells. They also aid in protecting you from heart disease, cancer, and a host of other diseases. Minerals play an important role in controlling the actions of certain hormones and enzymes in your body. Some minerals also provide the raw materials your body needs to build and maintain body parts such as your bones and teeth. Vitamins and minerals are vital for good health. Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients: substances required in small amounts that are nevertheless vital for normal growth, body function, and health. Deficiencies in vitamins and minerals can produce serious health problems, which can often be avoided by taking supplements. Some people never need vitamins and minerals. Some people need them occasionally. Some people need them most of the time. You need to find out what you need or if you really need some. If you get sick or have low energy levels or eat mostly processed food, then try a daily vitamin and mineral supplement for three months to see if you feel better. 5. Positive thinking and good health Your thoughts are in your control, and they can be very powerful. Positive thoughts can motivate healthy behaviors, such as eating right and being active. But the reverse is also true. Your thoughts can be defeating. If you set your mind to something, you can do it. A "can-do" attitude may be just what it takes to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle. Best of all, your attitude is something you can control. You have the choice to have a positive outlook. Chances are when you choose to think positively, you'll feel better about yourself and be able to perform better in whatever you do.

Positive thinking can help you achieve and maintain healthy behaviors, such as becoming more physically active or limiting your sugar intake. A positive self-image is crucial for success. Fortunately, it can be improved. Visualize yourself being the person you want to be. Practice positive thinking and positive self-talk. Smile easily, laugh often, and be friendly and helpful. Try to improve each day. 6. Overcoming stress The major cause of stress is uncertainty, uncertainty about jobs, money, health, school, friends, lovers and self-esteem. Uncertainty puts an extra burden on the body's adaptive system by keeping a person in a constant state of worry and tension. But remember, if you can't control something, worry won't help. Start dealing with harmful stress by transferring doubts and worries to a list and by relaxing, exercising and cultivating a positive attitude. When you are under extreme amounts of stress, you may feel like there is no way you can overcome your problems. You believe you'll just have to cope until the situation improves. The good thing is you don't have to put up with the negative effects of stress. You can fight back and come out on top. It's not hard to do. Drinking water can greatly improve how you feel. You know how it feels when things get tough. Your mouth gets dry, you start to sweat and your heart begins to palpitate. Sometimes when under stress, you may also forget to drink. This can lead to dehydration and even more severe symptoms. Get some water and help your body return to its normal state. Sometimes it is actually best to put aside a stressful problem until a later time when it can be dealt with more effectively. By dealing with your stress in a positive manner, you can turn around a negative situation. As with any problem, in order to feel better, you have to take care of yourself.

Making Use of the Internet

ith cyber technology, learning is no longer limited to the classrooms or libraries. With computer and internet access, we can now obtain unlimited information anytime with just a click of the mouse from the comfort of our room. We can also contact and communicate with anybody from any part of the globe to discuss or share any information. To get most of studying through the internet, we need the following: "The Web, or its future descendant, is the technology that delivers on the promise of the information superhighway. ... It combines the impact of the printing press, the interactivity of the telephone, and the reach of television - all in a point-and-click interface."
-- PC World, June 1995

1. Computer skill There are many ways to acquire computer skill. Some learn from their friends, some took computer classes while some learn by themselves. Learning computer is like learning how to play a guitar. To acquire and retain the skill, you need to keep using it to gain mastery. The fastest way is to have your own computer and learn by yourself. Apart from learning the basics of computer, you need to learn some basic word processing and spreadsheet software as well. These are basic tools you will need in computer-based learning. You may start with Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel as your initial word processing and spreadsheet tools. You will need more as your computer-based knowledge increases. Learn and understand also how the internet works and how you can benefit from it. You dont have to attend formal education for this matter. This can be best learned through your own initiative. Learn how to upload or download files, learn and understand the electronic mail system and how you can make use of them. Above all, learn and understand how your studies can benefit from this technology. By understanding how the computer and internet works, you will know what you can get from them. 2. On-line access A computer set is quite an expensive tool. Having an internet access needs additional budget. However, this should not be considered and obstacle. Most schools have computers with internet access for the students to use.

For those who have their own computers, you need to have at least 56K modem and email account. Most internet subscription already includes an email account. Free email accounts are also available from Yahoo, Gmail, MSN, etc. Most of these free email accounts are more than enough for the students need and can be accessed in any computer connected to the internet. As an optional tool, you may need also a good anti-virus software (McAfee or Norton) and Firewall (Zonelabs, or use MS XP built-in) to keep hackers out of your computer. 3. Motivation Internet could be a very powerful tool for your studies. However, its power is dependent on how motivated we are of learning how to make use of it. Dont wait to be told. Be an active learner. Learn how to work independently; do not be dependent heavily on others. Learn how to create your own motivation. World-wide-web by its name is very wide it covers the whole world at our fingertip. Lack of books or lack of reading materials is no longer a valid reason to keep us from learning. For example, if we want to know how to solve quadratic equations, all we have to do is open yahoo or goggle then search quadratic equation. The computer will return with thousands of results. Sometimes, group meetings can not be done due to physical constraints. With internet, group meetings can be done without leaving your room. Documents can be shared around very easily. With the use of email, we can obtain information from experts without disturbing them in their busy schedules. Learning is easier and more effective with shared-document conferencing where postings and comments can be in the same document and where groups can jointly construct assignments. So with internet, we dont have any more reasons not to learn, unless we ourselves really dont want to learn. 4. Self-discipline Time is one very important resource we have which use needs thorough planning. Our time is limited hence need proper budgeting. However, with our unlimited access to whatever information we want in the internet, it is most likely that we will lose control of using our time. Our mind will be craving for more information, some we really need and some we just want but not necessarily need in our studies. When we search some information in the internet, we will be presented with so many article, many will appear to be very important to our studies. We could be losing our valuable time, or we could be gathering a lot of information that we no longer have enough time to process them.

Self-discipline is what we needed here. From our schedule, we know how much time is allotted for web-surfing. We need to follow it. We should not use our scheduled time for gathering information not needed in our studies. Also, we need to set limits in gathering information from the net. We should not attempt to gather everything to the point that we could no longer handle them to our own advantage.

Managing Your Resources

t is difficult to build a structure without a blueprint. It is your reference point for all the resources needed in building the infrastructure. To build the foundation of our future we need to be aware of the resources we need and learn how to utilize them properly. "Whatever failures I have known, whatever errors I have committed, whatever follies I have witnessed in private and public life have been the consequence of action without thought."
-- Bernard M. Baruch, Financier

Budgeting means tight monitoring of all the resources we need with little to no flexibility in adjusting it. A budget must be well-planned. Too much flexibility could result in overspending and could kill the budget. Budget preparation could also be an opportunity to influence change in our personal habits and guide our overall direction. This means the budget is considered an investment, not a cost, so it is worth planning. The resources which the student should utilize properly depend on the individual but will usually include time; food supplies; notes; books; money; supplies; etc. Act like an adult and dont expect anybody to do the planning for you. Budget your resources well. Always remember, as a student, you are possibly not earning your own money yet. You are using money which is not a fruit of your own labor. Use your resources wisely; they are not always available, even if you belong to a rich family. 1. Time Time is one very important resource we have which just come and go freely. The flow of time cannot be delayed and cannot be controlled. The only way to make use of time is to manage it properly. Time management is discussed in detail in Chapter 7. 2. Food supplies Stocking food supplies is connected to our eating habits. Concentrate on stocking healthy foods. Let your mind take control, not your craving. Eat to live, don't live to eat. Emphasize on fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains.

Schedule shopping, apply your time management. Minimize time spent on shopping. Stock enough food; say for a week, if you are shopping weekly. Do not put yourself in a situation where you still have to find food when you need one. Budget your stock well to avoid unnecessary out-ofschedule shopping. Be aware of the rate of inflow of money. How often do you receive money from home, etc? Also, be aware of your ideal consumption rate. You might find it necessary to adjust your eating habit to suit your budget. 3. Notes Notes are one of the important resources the student must have. These are gathered and accumulated through lectures and reading. Make sure they are complete and well organize. Read them frequently to keep the lectures and reading fresh in you mind. Sometimes we need to borrow notes from our classmates; hence, it is also possible that we let our classmates borrow our notes. Make sure that your notes are available to you when you need them. Always refer to your schedule. Be aware about your study times and scheduled exams. Make this known to your borrowers. 4. Books and other reading materials When we study, we need to rely on somebodys work. We need books all the time. We can obtain books by purchasing, borrowing or renting them. But first, be aware of the books you need. Be careful, concentrate only on the books you need, not you want. Before the start of every semester or school year, determine in advance what are the books you need and where to get them. Coordinate with your teacher regarding books requirement. Check also your friends who have taken the subject already about reference books they can recommend. First, check your school library if it has enough books for the class. Check also if the books are available for rent for the whole term or if they are available only for short term borrowers. With this information you can decide if you need to buy books or not. You also need to consider your own studying habit. If you used to write something in the book while reading or studying, you need to use your own book, do not borrow or rent. Check also your library if it has enough reference books. You also need to consider the importance of the subject with regards to your chosen field. Check if it is worth buying the book even if the library has enough copies of it. If you indeed need to buy the books you need, plan in advance. Check which bookstores they are available. Sometimes, the books we need are not available in a local book store, and we might find it necessary to order them somewhere, sometimes from other countries. This may take time, and maybe by the time we need to use the book, it might not yet be available, and when the book arrives, we might no longer need it.

Whether you buy, borrow or rent a book, plan in advance. The book must be available by the time you need them. If you put yourself in a situation wherein its already time to study and you are still looking for your study material, its nobodys fault, but yours. The same with notes, sometimes we need to borrow books from our classmates, hence, it is also possible that we let our classmates borrow our books. Make sure that your books are available to you when you need them. 5. Money Whether you get supports from your parents, self supporting or on a scholarship, you need to budget your money and spend them wisely. Concentrate on what is needed, rather than wants. Establish yearly, monthly and weekly budgets. Make a list of probable expenditures in advance, in the order of priority. Be aware of the usual inflow of money, in which, your budget should be based of. Being a student, you are not in control of the inflow of money and you should consider that just like other resources, money is not always available. Hence, if given a chance to save, save any extra money you may have. 6. Supplies Stay well stocked. Have enough stock of notebooks, paper, pencils, pens, glue, straight edge, etc. Purchase good school supplies and keep them in stock. Nothing is more frustrating than discovering you are out of glue or your markers are all dried up, just as you are beginning the project that is due the following day. Keep your supplies away from the site of your friends. This is not selfishness, just a way of making it sure that your supplies will last as intended. Just like your other resources, budget your supplies well. Dont be extravagant in using your supplies. If you find your budget is too lax, revise it. As with bond paper versus notebooks, experience suggests that it is better to use bond paper for taking notes than notebooks. In most cases, at the end of the semester, most notebooks are not fully used, hence, a waste. Bond papers on the other hand are handy, you use only what you need, and you can keep your notes together using a ring binder. This means that when you go to school, you can bring only what is needed. At the end of the semester, you can have your notes bookbound and it can last longer.

About the Author

TP Pilapil is a practicing Structural Engineer and presently residing in New Zealand. He was a recipient of the MSU Full Scholarship grant for his Civil Engineering degree, Mindanao State University, Philippines in 1979 to 1984 and the Kings Scholarship grant for his Masters degree in Construction Engineering and Management, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand in 1990 to 1992.

COMMENTS ABOUT THIS BOOK

For any comments about this book, please email: tppilapil@gmail.com