Consider the following strategies for your first few weeks of classes.
And remember to keep up your good practices!
First classes:
- Review course outline (syllabus).
- Know the course requirements:
- Schedule of assignments
- Test dates and types of tests
- Course grading system
- Exact title of text(s) and requirements
- Know faculty member’s name, office location, office hours, phone number, IUP e-mail address.
- Review instructor’s overview of the course, including major topics, terms, definitions, and order.
- Work to form concepts of the course.
- Assess your background and preparation for the course. If you feel it is inadequate, see the instructor after class or make an appointment to discuss.
First study session:
- Get acquainted with text.
- Look for organization of text, especially table of contents.
- Know features of text (glossary, appendix, graphics).
- Read preface of text.
- Get to know author’s point of view and purpose.
- Compare text with course outline (syllabus).
- Compare text with notes from overview lecture.
Second study session:
- Study/read the first assigned chapter according to the SQRRR system (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review). This step is to get a basis for an estimate of time needed for chapter survey/overview, reading of each section, and for reviewing notes and markings.
- Mark or make a list of terms, concepts, etc., you don’t understand.
- Make up three or four important questions you might ask in class.
- Think about your lectures for tomorrow; what might be topics and organization.
- Make a list of other things you need to do for this course.
Major planning session:
- Work out estimate of time needed for all assignments through first test.
- Use record of first chapters to estimate time needed.
Allow time for:
- Studying/reading
- Making study notes and/or underlining/highlighting
- Review of lecture notes
- Other class projects, readings, labs, etc.
- Test preparation
- Emergencies
- Integrate the work for each course into your master plan of what has to be done each week. Break out into a daily schedule two or three days ahead.
Supplies for your student success office
Having appropriate supplies in an organized location improves student efficiency. Use this as a basic checklist of what you have and what you should add to your supplies. In addition, you should have good lighting for your work and reading area.
- Expand file
- Formatted disks
- Glue
- Highlighters — assorted
- Large envelopes
- Lined paper
- Manila folders
- Markers — assorted
- Mechanical lead pencils
- Monthly planner
- Paper clips — small and large
- Paper punch
- Pens — black or blue
- Report cover
- Scissors
- Stamps
- Stapler
- Tape — clear
- White-out
- 3" x 3" post-it notes (yellow)
- 4" x 6" note cards
- 12" plastic ruler