Purpose Statement
This activity is intended to increase students' awareness of
their study habits and to provide students with tips on how to be a successful
student.
Description of
Activity
In the first stage of the activity, students are given a
hand-out providing students with 10 tips how to be a successful student (see
hand-outs). The hand-out is distributed during the second class session. The
instructor goes through each strategy mentioned in the hand-out and brainstorms
with students on how to apply these strategies. Throughout the discussion, the
instructor makes frequent cross-references to the syllabus and course
requirements. Throughout the class, the instructor periodically checks whether
students are following through with the guidelines listed on the hand-out.
Materials Needed
Hand-out "Ten Tips on How To Be a Successful Student
(by Patricia Chavez-Nunez)
Application
This activity is meant to be used at the beginning of the
course. It works best if followed by other activities focusing on study habits
such as the following two assignments.
Homework Assignment: Study Distraction Analysis
(Using the Study Distraction Analysis checklist developed by the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University, Division of Student Affairs)
This assignment is intended to help students detect and analyze distractions in
their study places. Students are asked to list three places where they usually
study and to answer a list of questions about the places where they usually
study (see attached checklist).
After answering the questions on the checklist, students record their
true/false statements and determine which place is the least distracting.
Students should try to plan their day so that they can do as much of their work
in that place as possible.
Follow-Up Activity: Small Group Discussion
Students bring in their checklists and discuss their answers in small groups.
Students give each other feedback on places to study. After a few minutes, the
small group discussions are opened up to the entire class. The instructor
provides additional information on the availability and location of potential
study places (both on and off campus).
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web page was created on 3/12/99 at 11:02:51 AM
and modified on 3/12/99 at 11:02:51 AM