Study Skills

Kara Sawarynski and Rod Nyland

Study strategies session
 This session will be interactive!

 Wecan’t cover everything or even the depth of

some things

 Wewill provide a handout later that covers these

concepts in more detail than we have time for
today

 This
is an attempt to arm you with strategies you
can start using today
Remember as many as possible

YQG 20OU
43R DXNL
NCAA QCY
CY89 M59
Memory Making
Connections

Preparing Student
For Class Reflections
Activity 1: Memory

HORIZONTAL

FRONT BACK
1 2
Activity 1: Memory

HORIZONTAL
There are 10 pieces of
FRONT BACK
information
1
on a penny. 2

How well can you

remember a penny?
Activity 1: Memory
If you were given two
minutes
FRONT
1
How many What would
points do you the highest
think you score in the
could class be?
remember?
X X
10 10

X = 0 to 10
Activity 1: Memory
FLIP THE PENNY
HORIZONTALLY

FRONT BACK
1 2

DRAW DRAW
THE THE BACK
FRONT OF OF A
A PENNY PENNY

ACCURACY, NOT ARTISTIC ABILITY!!!

 Trade with a neighbor and score out of ten
Facing to the right?
What is the tenth point?

For full point requires

having the item and
correct
Adapted: Daniel T. Willingham location
“Why Don’t Students
 Activity 1: Memory

HORIZONTAL

FRONT BACK
1 2

Adapted: Daniel T. Willingham “Why Don’t Students Like

 What is the point?
How many times have I seen a penny
 Two pennies a day
 Three days a week
 Thirty years

2 x 3 x 5 x 3 =9,36
2 isn’t
 Just reading a textbook 0 enough!
0
Fluency illusion
 The more you see something, the more familiar it
becomes –
 But this does not mean you KNOW it better
More details in forthcoming handout
Data from the classes of 2018 and 2019
Better than As Worse than
predicted predicted predicted

10 % 20 % 70 %

Under Correct Over

estimation estimation estimation

70 % of students overestimated
their recall ability in the penny
exercise
Reflections: Class of 2018 after workshop

“I must make sure I

internalize not just
recognize info.”
Reflections: Class of 2018 after workshop

“…the fluency illusion

is something I do and
have never realized
it.”
Reflections: Class of 2018 after workshop

“I don’t remember what

a penny looks like.”
Memory Making
Connections

Preparing Student
For Class Reflections
 Before class – short version
Moodle handouts
 Learning objectives
 Unfamiliar terms
 Make connections

Text books
 Start with figures
 Provides context

More details in forthcoming handout

 During class – short version
Taking notes
 You’re not a stenographer
 Meta-cognitive note taking
 Personally identify important points
 Note confusing points / terms
 Handwriting vs. typing

Participate
 Monitoring your engagement

More details in forthcoming handout

 After class – short version
Immediate ( <24 hrs)
 Can you answer learning objectives?
 Can you put important concepts into other words?
 Review and summarize (panopto)
 Work out answers to confusing points

Over time
 Review and connect different disciplines
 Teach concepts to others
 Test yourself
 Create your own questions

More details in forthcoming handout

 Meta-cognitive note taking
Reference
Reflections &
comments
• Terms to look up
• Relation to other
content Notes
• Questions you have
“This is related to the
pathophysiology of
glaucoma”
Summary
“Look up syncope”
Best if done the
same day.
Stephen Carroll – More details in forthcoming handout
Advice: Class of 2019 mid-semester
• Active listening is key
• Clarify questions with the professor right
after lecture
• Summarize lecture – within 24 hours
• Review objectives
• Handwrite notes, even after typing
• Stay organized, and don’t panic
Memory Making
Connections

Preparing Student
For Class Reflections
Activity 2: Instructions

Second
• Write alphanumeric
combinations
• Location in table doesn’t
matter
• Correct combination matters

First
• Predict personal
score
Activity 2 Stand up if th
has this c
YQG
? 20OU? Remain
Exchange your sheet
has an
with a neighbor.
43R
? DXNL
?All charact
be in
NCAA
? QCY
?
Grade the paper
in front of you.
Locat
CY89
? M59
? is
Activity 2

Write the total correct in the box

at the bottom right.

Keep the sheet for now.

 To create new you need old
To assimilate new information
 Connections
 Meaning
 Chunking

The importance of practice

 Retrieval
 Forgetting
 Spaced
 Interleaved

More details in forthcoming handout

Memory Making
Connections

Preparing Student
For Class Reflections
Reflections: Class of 2018 after M1 year

“I used to use tables

that other students
made to study…I
thought it would save
time…”
Reflections: Class of 2018 after M1 year

“…after doing poorly on

an exam…
synthesizing my own
study materials has
become a top
priority.”
Reflections: Class of 2018 after M1 year

“Tables that other

people make don't
always include the full
story or the thought
process one needs to
apply the
Reflections: Class of 2018 after M1 year

“…memorizing without
making sure I
understood the whole
picture first wasn't
helpful in the
slightest."
Handbook, evaluation, and follow-up

Handbook available
through Moodle page

Provides more detail

and references for
topics
Thank you for your participation
 Thank you for your participation!

 We will collect “penny” cards and surveys

 Ifyou have any questions please stop by or email

us