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. 

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! 

Education 1001- Library Tour

Today in class we met in a classroom in the library in the Holland center. It took me an eternity to find but I'm very glad I did! Having that tour of the library was really really great for me. I have been meaning to get myself acquainted with the library and find out where the tutoring center and things are, but I could never find the time with my schooling and working two jobs. So I was very very glad to have had the opportunity to have that in depth tour of the library.
I think one of my favorite things about the library was all of the study rooms. Its a perfect place to get things done in a place that is free from many of the distractions that I have when I study and do homework in my room at home. And with all of the glass walls, you really feel motivated to not be slacking off!
Another thing that I loved about the Holland Center is how beautifully clean it is! Not in a sanitary, not dirty sense, but in how clean and simple and fluid the design of the building is. I am into photography and the sharp clean lines of the building really made me want to get in there and take pictures! And, the view from the fourth floor is so beautiful, what a great location for a campus we are so lucky to have!

Education 1001- Scavenger Hunt

For my education 1001 class at Dixie State College we were asked to keep a blog as a journal of our class and of our first year of college in general. So that's what this blog post is!
The other day in class we were sent on a scavenger hunt around campus to get us acquainted with the building and their purposes (and the location of their restrooms). As a class we divided everything up so as to be the most efficient. Sydney Ward, who it turns out I went to high school with for a year, took the two most north buildings, the NIB (north instructional building) and the North Plaza. My math class is in the NIB so I was already pretty well acquainted with that building, but that was my first real time in the North Plaza building (my little brother had some camps there a few summers ago that I would drop him off and pick him up at). It was neat to look around at all of the art classes going on, it really made me wish I was taking an art class! 
Overall it was a great and exciting assignment, and I'm excited for this class!