T H I S M O D U L E W I L L C O V E R :

LEARNING STYLE STUDY HABITS/TIPS

TEST ANXIETY

Adapted, in part, from university of central Florida’s student academic resource center (SARC) presentation on power studying & UK’s A&S 350

STAR MODULE 3B

Classes at UK have a strong focus on reading, writing, critical thinking, and research. Students are expected to be independent learners who are proactive in seeking assistance.

As a student on probation, it is important that you evaluate your current study habits and learning style.

Make a commitment to implement at least one

new study habit next semester.

Becoming a Stronger Student

Undergraduates are failing to develop the broad-based skills and knowledge they should be expected to master.

If you approach each course from a learning perspective, you will make the connection to the skills you are acquiring on a daily basis and value your education more!

What have I learned today? How will I use that info tomorrow?

Click the link below to watch this video: http://youtu.be/4TKbIidbyhk

Where do you sit in class? Does this have an impact on what you learn? Does this have an impact on how you learn? Does this have an impact on when you learn?

Strengths & Education

Each student has a unique set of talents that can enable and empower him/her to do certain things very well in college and beyond.

Each and every student already has all of the

talents needed to achieve and persist in college. The key to achieving is within a person’s talents;

achieving to levels of excellence requires development and application of strengths.

Most students do not know what their greatest

talents are; even fewer know how to develop or apply strengths.

Therefore, the most critically important job for

students is to discover their greatest talents, then develop and apply strengths in the many courses, programs, services, and opportunities available to them through a college education.

Learning Styles

Learning styles are “characteristic cognitive, affective, and psychological behaviors that serve as relatively stable indicators of how learners perceive, interact with, and respond to the learning environment.” The concept of learning styles has been applied to a wide variety of student attributes and differences. Some students are comfortable with theories and abstractions; others feel much more at home with facts and observable phenomena; some prefer active learning and others lean toward introspection; some prefer visual presentation of information and others prefer verbal explanations. One learning style is neither preferable nor inferior to another, but is simply different, with different characteristic strengths and weaknesses.

Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire

What is your learning style? Take the Index of Learning Styles

Questionnaire

This informational will be employed to complete the required assignment for this STAR Module.

Print out the assessment to

use as you reflect on your results.

Click on the link to take this quiz. http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html

Learning Style Results

How To Use These Results

Read the explanation of the differences and tips for each learning style here:

http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSdir/styles.htm

If you think you would benefit from more information about learning styles – and how to

adapt your style to that of your instructor, make an appointment for an

Individual Academic Consultation at The Study!

These free one-on-one meetings will provide you with concrete skills to use in your classes.

http://www.uky.edu/AE/current/individual_consultations.html

Review the following slides for tips on improving your study

habits.

Keys to Successful Studying

Stop thinking in terms of time and start thinking in terms of efficiency and effectiveness

Study SMARTER not harder!

2 Components to Successful Studying: 1. Preparation 2. Organization

Consider the following…

How many hours should you typically study for an exam covering 5 chapters? What about a comprehensive final? Typical answer: 10-20 hours depending on the subject for a 5 chapter exam and

20 or so for a comprehensive final

You have an exam tomorrow. What should you be doing? Typical answer: Reading textbook, creating some flash cards or a study sheet,

meeting with a study group

What the answers should be: 2 ½ hours no matter if you are studying for a short quiz or a comprehensive final For the exam tomorrow, today you should be going over already created

materials to practice comprehension and memory for about 2.5 hours

Why? The key to successful studying is successful preparation– planning ahead!

Key Strategy #1: Preparation

Those estimated 10-15 hours and 20 or so hours should be sent in the weeks LEADING UP TO the test. What types of things should you be doing in those hours? Reading your textbook Creating flash cards, a study sheet, or whatever

method that works best for you for digesting the information

Meeting with a study group Going over problems (especially in math and

sciences)

Key Strategy #2: Organization

So, what do you need in order to study effectively?

We already know you should be reading your textbook, rewriting notes, working and reworking problems, etc., but what do you need to do that?

Organization

Reverse Planning: A way to break down big projects, presentations, tests into doable steps.

• Once your teacher announces a test (often included in the syllabus in the first

week of class), write down the test day in your planner.

• The day before you know that you will spend 2.5 hours on memory and comprehension, so go ahead and block those hours off. If you are writing a paper, those 2.5 hours will just be for editing and proofing your final paper. If you are doing a presentation, those 2.5 hours will be practicing your presentation. Everything else will be finished before this point.

• Then, plan backwards. You know that you have to read all of the chapters, create a study sheet (or whatever method you use) for each chapter (or write each section of your paper or presentation), and practice.

• So, work backwards in your planner and set goals for each week to stay on target for studying for your test

• Once you do this for all of your classes, you will have a way of making sure to

fit in studying for all of your classes, writing those papers, completing those presentations, etc.

Sometimes its not a lack of studying, but fear of failure that

keeps us from succeeding.

Do you suffer from Test Anxiety?

What is it? It is when you are so nervous about preparing or taking a test that you have difficulty

planning, thinking, concentrating, recalling what you have studied, and relaxing. It is very common, understandable, and curable. Is test anxiety all bad? No. We need a little anxiety to get us going. If we had no feelings of anxiety, we

wouldn't care and we wouldn't get anything done. However, it is not good when we have so much anxiety that we set ourselves up for

failure. Fear can be our enemy. What can you do about it? Prepare: Start early to minimize stress and anxiety! Take care of yourself: Be healthy – eat regular meals, get enough sleep, exercise

regularly, have some fun! Manage your anxiety. Easier said than done? Try these. . .

Reduce Text Anxiety: Relaxation Technique

Watch this video now – click the link below

http://youtu.be/yiO1V4wwNvU

Try these relaxation techniques: Learn this relaxation technique: Breathe in slowly

and deeply through your nose and feel your stomach (not your chest) extend. Hold for a few seconds. Pull in your stomach, forcing the air out and think "relax". Repeat 2 or 3 times. Practice this procedure.

Tighten and then relax muscles groups of your body,

one at a time. Start with your feet and then move up your body to your neck and face.

Practice calming yourself by saying a couple of

sentences like: "This test will not permanently affect my life. I'm going to feel calm and relaxed."

Practice visualizing a calm, soothing scene (such as a

beach or mountains) and use this when you feel anxious.

Turn your test over and write your name 3 times.

This can help you if you feel yourself freeze-up.

If these techniques are not enough, work with the professionals at Counseling and Testing!

Workshops on test anxiety are free and offered regularly. http://www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Counseling/services.html

Study Skills Resources:

The Study 3rd Floor Complex Commons, 859-257-1356

Free tutoring

Free workshops for improving time management, study skills, stress management, procrastination.

Individual Study Consolations. Not sure what you’re doing wrong? Meet one-on-one with an expert to assess your current methods and look for changes you can make.

Make an appointment in the myINFO tab on myUK!

The Writing Center 5th floor W.T. Young Library, 859-257-1368

Free consultations for writing assignments in all subjects.

*Consultations are by appointment only

Counseling & Testing Center 2nd Floor Frazee Hall, 859-257-8701

Test Anxiety Workshops

Relaxation Workshops

Individual appointments

Support Groups

Study Skills Resources:

Student Disability Resource Center Alumni Gym, Rm 2, 859-257-2754

Assistance for all students with a documented diagnosed disability.

It is possible to seek assistance anytime throughout the year.

Mathskeller Classroom Building room 63 (basement)

Mathskeller houses faculty and graduate student office hours

Open 9am-5pm Monday-Friday

No appointment necessary – just stop in!

Courses/Workshops to Improve Class performance: EPE 174 – Theories of College Student Success

A&S 350 – Personal Strengths & Your Career Development

Excel Workshops – Offered for some chemistry and math courses.

Study Smarter Seminar – The Study

Test Anxiety Workshop – Counseling and Testing

Career Assessment and Exploration Workshops – Counseling and Testing

*Ask your academic advisor for more information.

Required Activity!!!

Before proceeding. . .

There is one assignment sheets for Module 3B. Complete Assignment : Learning Style Reflection

Proceed next to the module(s) assigned to you by your advisor. Remember, everyone must complete modules 1, 2, and 5, plus any other modules assigned to you by your advisor.