Note Taking, Reading Textbooks, Study Habits & Techniques

Note Taking

   For me, taking notes during class is imperative for me to do well. It makes me pay attention and the physical act of writing something down really helps things stick in my mind. My english 1010 teacher is constantly saying, "Good students take notes!" and I totally think that is true, it sends a good message to the professor and really helps you remember the finer points of a lecture.

   It is sometimes hard to know what to write down during a lecture. When taking notes I will notice that I am getting too caught up in making sure that I write every little thing down that I am not learning anything from the lecture, I turn into an automaton. Good things to look out for when writing notes are:

• repeated words or phrases
• words or phrases restated or explained
• body language 
• different inflections
• whatever your professor writes on the board  

Reading a Textbook

College textbooks cost a whole lot of money so why not get your money's worth out of them? Textbooks help reinforce what is learned in lectures, answer questions, and provide visual aids. The book offers tips to becoming better at reading text books:

• Start with a positive attitude
• Choose a good enviornment
• Don't put it off
• Review your notes first
• Skim ahead
• Do it in chunks
• Take notes
• Look up words
• Pause to review
• Create questions and look for answers
• Turn statements into questions and answers 
• Get your ears involved- read aloud to yourself 
• Two heads are better than one
• Use practice problems
• Take breaks
• Get rid of distracting thoughts
• Work on reading faster 

Study Habits and Techniques

   In college you are expected to do just as much, if not more, learning and work outside of the classroom as you are inside. For every hour in class professors expect you to to spend 2 more doing out of class work. For a 3 credit class, thats 6 hours. 

   Some good study habits to create are:

• Study at the same time everyday so that your brain gets used to being ready at that time.
• Find a location that works best 
• Begin to study for your tests the first day of class
• Don't study for too long but definitely study for long enough
• Find techniques that work best for you, make it something more active than just reading your textbook. 

Course Syllabus, Classroom Etiquette. & Talking to your Professor

Reading a Course Syllabus

   A course syllabus is a contract between you and your professor saying that you know what is expected of you and from the course. When reading your syllabus there are a few key things to pay special attention to like, course information, professor contact information, class schedule, course policies, and grades. Always keep your syllabus throughout the semester as you will be referring to it often. It may also be a good idea to highlight or star important these important things. 

Classroom Etiquette 

   Being polite and respectful in your classrooms is very important and shows maturity. The book gives ten tips on proper classroom etiquette: 

1. get to class on time
2. stay in class until it is finished
3. leave your cellphone on silent
4. refrain from texting, instant messaging, surfing the Internet, using social media, or iPods during class
5. don't hold private conversations during lecture
6. address the professor in a respectful way
7. don't eat or drink in class
8. keep your questions and comments in balance
9. cool down before confronting a professor
10. ask permission before recording lectures 

   When in class always remember that you, contrary to the popular beliefs of many young adults, aren't the only person in class. People notice when you're texting, tweeting, or talking and those things are distracting to others and the professor. 

Talking to your Professor 

   Getting to know your professor is a very important skill to learn throughout your college experience. Getting to know your professors and them you (and getting on their good side) will help you feel more comfortable in class and could help your grade too. To make a good impression on your professor you should:

• Show up to class every day
• Be on time
• Come prepared to class
• Pay attention in class
• Turn assignments in on time, having followed the instructions 
• If you aren't able to turn something in or take a test on time, don't lie about why
• Don't make the professor be your only resource
• Have a good attitude

General Education and Graduation Plans

 General Education   

 General education are classes that every student is required to take in order to graduate. The five areas required are computer literacy, English, math, american institutions, science, and for an associates or bachelor of arts a foreign language is required. 
   The things people learn in general education is very valuable and useful. The book lists some reasons why general education is required, this is a few of them that I found especially helpful: 

• you learn to think in different ways 
• it helps you see your options
• to discover new interests 
• to get a foundation for learning
• to enhance key intellectual and practical skills
• to get exposures to knowledge and methods of various disciplines 

   
   Sometimes general education classes can also fulfill classes required for your major. So, when picking what  GE classes to take it is very important to look out for those so that you can kill two birds with one stone. Sometimes your major will suggest specific GE courses for you to take, to find out which classes those would be it would be a good idea to meet with your academic adviser. Another good thing to keep in mind when registering for classes is that specific GE courses may be pre-requisites to required courses. 

Graduation Plans

   A graduation plan is a list of all the courses you plan to take each semester in order to graduate. Having a graduation plan in place ensures that you aren't floundering, wasting your time, and money. Without a plan in place you could end up having to take another semester that you didn't think you would have to. It is a very good idea to meet with an academic adviser in your major to help you determine what classes would be good to take. 

Education 1001- Campus Safety

Last time in class, we talked and read about how to be safe and defend yourself on campus. I think a lot of people have this idea that since St. George is relatively small town, there is no crime, but no matter where you go there will always be crime, and know how to prepare for that . 
Dixie State College campus police force is one of the best in the nation. I think that is a very comforting fact and we are very luck to have a group of officers that take their job so seriously. 
Some of the tips that we talked about and that the book mentioned is:

• Lock your house doors when you're away and when you're home. Always check before answering the door.
• Look your car both when your in it or when it's parked.
• Carry a working, charged, cell phone.
• Always be alert and aware when your walking on campus
• Stand up for yourself if someone says something that makes you feel uncomfortable. Don't let people think you're not an aggressive person. 
• Assert your opinion. Don't be a push-over!
• Make sure you get to know the people you're spending alone time with first.
• Let people, like your roommates, know your schedule so they know when to expect you home.
• Avoid being alone. Especially in dark deserted places.
• Avoid drugs and alcohol. 
• Follow your intuition. If you feel uncomfortable, even if you don't know why, leave. Campus police will be more than happy to escort you to your car or apartment if you are uncomfortable going alone.   

Education 1001- Health and Wellness Center

Erick Robinson from the Health and Wellness center came and talked to us the other day in class. It was a very motivational and informative presentation. That man really knows what he's talking about.
He said that "Self esteem is the realistic view on one's self." I thought that was an interesting way to define self esteem because it really is important to be realistic, if we overestimate we're going to be disappointed in ourselves but if we underestimate then we will place a low value on ourselves.

He also wrote this on the board:            

We are all to some extent

• intelligent
• courageous
• resilient
• have self value
• creative
• patient
• self aware
• compassionate 
• seek growth  

I thought that was very true and very a very insightful way of looking at things, we all have those qualities or we wouldn't be where we are today, at Dixie State College.

I'll end with two quote's from Mr. Robinson "WE decide the value of stuff, stuff doesn't decide the value of stuff." and, "The expirences of my life have not made me who I am, but who I learned to be."

Education 1001- Student Association

Brandon and Mayzee from the student association came and spoke to us in class the other day. Brandon was from the student senate, which I had never really understood what it was until he explained what it was. The student senate basically aims to be the voice of the students to the faculty and administration in a professional way. Dixiestudentlife.com says, "Their purpose is to support the student of Dixie State College in any and all academic endeavors." 
Mayzee was from the communications, or public relations, department of the student association. That department is in charge of getting the word out about events happening around campus. They are also in charge of all of the social media; Dixie State college is on all of the social media sites, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. She also told us about Thurs "D"s, which are activities happening on campus every Thursday night. 
Another very informative Education 1001 class!!

Education 1001- Writing Center

In class the other day we had someone from the writing center come and talk to us about what services are provided there and how to use them. I really enjoyed it because I think it will be really helpful for the intro to writing class I'm taking this semester. I think it is really important for us, as students, to be really informed of  what services are provided to us because that is what our tuition is paying for and we should be getting out of it as much as possible. I have a paper in my intro to writing class coming up and I can't wait to use the writing center!