HOW TO MAKE STRAIGHT

As WITHOUT TEARS
SEMINAR BY COUNSELLING
UNIT
 DISCARD THESE MYTHS
• Only exceptional students can get As
• Some lecturers have made it their
mind never to give As in their courses
• Getting As puts unnecessary stress on
students
• To get As, one has to cheat in exams
HOW TO MAKE STRAIGHT As
• Condition your mind: What am I here for?
• Employ self- discipline ( ability to make
yourself do what you should do, when you
should do, whether you feel like it or not)
• See learning as your full-time job( full time
job requires at least 8hrs of daily work
• Take responsibility over your time and life
 GOALS AND ATTITUDES
Set your goals and priorities for the semester and
then develop a plan for achieving each goal. Some
of your goals may relate to your education; others
may concern such areas as personal growth,
physical fitness, relationships, etc.
– Example goal: To give academics top priority this
semester.
– Example Plan
 Attend all classes.
 Turn in all homework on time.
 Study 4 hours daily.
HOW TO MAKE STRAIGHT As
• Be a determined person
• Develop your organizational skills (Eccl
3:1-12) There is time and season for
everything
• Be a critical thinker
• Have a purpose for your education
(what and where you want to reach in
life, what kind of future you want to
enjoy at old age)
GAIN CONTROL OF YOUR
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Find a place to study that is free
from distractions. Study only in
that place and do nothing else
there but study.
Arrange to study regularly; allot
some time each day for study
HOW TO MAKE STRAIGHT As
• Improve yourself consistently. (Ensure
that you improve your grades in any
test or examination.
• Accept your uniqueness (Psalm
139:14, fast or slow learner)
• Identify what you are good at and
develop it
• Treasure good friends( those who will
force you to do what you don’t like)
EFFECTIVE WAYS TO UNDERSTAND
AND REMEMBER WHAT YOU STUDY
• Organize the information effectively
• Make sense of what you read
• Engage more of your sensory organs
in your studies
• Use focused attention and curiosity
• Study in bits and allow breaks
 EFFECTIVE WAYS TO UNDERSTAND
AND REMEMBER WHAT YOU STUDY
• Use images and pictures
• Use repetitions and rehearsing
• Read aloud to yourself
• Study at a convenient environment
• Link new information to what you
know already
• Participate in class: Ask questions
• Adopt your own note-taking strategy
CLASSROOM STRATEGIES THAT
CAN OFFER YOU GOOD RESULTS
• Prepare for class
• Be an active listener
• Show interest in the lesson
• Observe and underline key concepts
• Avoid detractors: sit in front if
possible, phone calls and text
messages in class
CLASSROOM STRATEGIES THAT CAN
OFFER YOU GOOD RESULTS
• Do not miss lectures unnecessarily
• More tests and exercises help you to
learn better. Test yourself after each
topic treated by the lecturer to assess
your level of understanding of the
topic
• Compare and discuss notes
• Make good use of free periods
 HOW TO PLAN YOUR PERSONAL
STUDIES
• Have a special study times
• Have a personal study plan(private
time table)
• Make use of your peak times
• Set goals for each study session
• Switch topics (from reading to
calculations and vice-versa)
• Carry some notes with you always
• Make good use of your free times (no
lecture)
 HOW TO STUDY DIFFICULT
SUBJECTS
• Change your mindset towards the
subject
• Allocate more time to difficult subjects
• Study difficult subjects during the
best part of the day (peak period)
• Use systematic study approach
• Use active reading method
• Discuss, practice and teach others
 STUDY TECHNIQUES
• Read the assignment before class.
Active involvement in reading the text
is important for comprehending the
material. One frequently suggested
method for reading textbooks is the
SQ4R method
 STUDY TECHNIQUES
S=Survey
Briefly survey the chapter, noting the
divisions, headings, tables and figures.
Read the chapter summary. This
provides an overview of the chapter
content and a framework for
organizing the material.
 STUDY TECHNIQUES
• Q=Question
Turn each section heading into a
question that you want answered.
Also, try to guess questions that might
appear on the exam.
 STUDY TECHNIQUES
R=Read
Read the chapter, section by section,
trying to answer your questions.
R=Recite
Answer the questions and state the
main points verbally. You may also
write down the answers and key
points for later reference
 STUDY TECHNIQUES
• R=(W)Rite
First, write the question and then write
the answer to the question using only
key words, lists, etc.
• R=Review
Briefly look back over the material to
assure that you have included all the
main points. Reflect on the meaning
and application of the major points.
 TAKING LECTURE NOTES

• It is important to take lecture notes so

that you will have a record of what the
lecturer thinks is important. You
should take down the main ideas and
as much additional information as
necessary in order for you to have a
fully developed concept for later
review
 TAKING LECTURE NOTES

• Write your notes legibly the first time;

do not plan to rewrite them because
you probably will not have time.
• Write on only the right 3/4 of the
page. Use the left 1/4 of the page for
your own questions, summaries,
comments, notes from outside
readings
 TAKING LECTURE NOTES

• Try to take notes in your own words

rather than writing verbatim what the
lecturer says. Use abbreviations where
appropriate, but do not abbreviate so
much that you are unable to "decode"
your notes later
 CONCLUSION
• Pay attention the entire class period.
• Immediately after class review your
notes; add or clarify information while
the lecture is still fresh.
• Review your notes on a daily basis.