10 Guidelines and Thoughts for Academic Success
Successful students exhibit a combination of successful attitudes and behaviors as well as intellectual capacity. Successful students . . .
1. . . . are responsible and active.
Successful students get involved in their studies, accept responsibility for their own education, and are active participants in it! Responsibility is the difference between leading and being led. Active classroom participation improves grades without increasing study time. You can sit there, act bored, daydream, or sleep. Or you can actively listen, think, question, and take notes like someone in charge of their learning experience. Either option costs one class period. However, the former method will require a large degree of additional work outside of class to achieve the same degree of learning the latter provides at one sitting.
2. . . . have educational goals.
Successful students are motivated by what their goals represent in terms of career aspirations and life's desires. Ask yourself these questions: What am I doing here? Is there some better place I could be? What does my presence here mean to me?Answers to these questions represent your "Hot Buttons" and are, without a doubt, the most important factors in your success as a college student. If your educational goals are truly yours, not someone else's, they will motivate a vital and positive academic attitude. If you are familiar with what these hot buttons represent and refer to them often, especially when you tire of being a student, nothing can stop you; if you aren't and don't, everything can, and will!
3. . . . ask questions.
Successful students ask questions to provide the quickest route between ignorance and knowledge.In addition to securing knowledge you seek, asking questions has at least two other extremely important benefits. The process helps you pay attention to your professor and helps your professor pay attention to you! Think about it. If you want something, go after it. Get the answer now, or fail a question later. There are no foolish questions, only foolish silence. It's your choice.
4. . . . learn that a student and a professor make a team.
Most instructors want exactly what you want: they would like for you to learn the material in their respective classes and earn a good grade.Successful students reflect well on the efforts of any teacher; if you have learned your material, the instructor takes some justifiable pride in teaching. Join forces with your instructor, they are not an enemy, you share the same interests, the same goals - in short, you're teammates. Get to know your professor. You're the most valuable players on the same team. Your jobs are to work together for mutual success. Neither wishes to chalk up a losing season. Be a team player!
5. . . . don't sit in the back.
Successful students minimize classroom distractions that interfere with learning.Students want the best seat available for their entertainment dollars, but willingly seek the worst seat for their educational dollars. Students who sit in the back cannot possibly be their professor's teammate (see no. 4). Why do they expose themselves to the temptations of inactive classroom experiences and distractions of all the people between them and their instructor? Of course, we know they chose the back of the classroom because they seek invisibility or anonymity, both of which are antithetical to efficient and effective learning. If you are trying not to be part of the class, why, then, are you wasting your time? Push your hot buttons, is their something else you should be doing with your time?
6. . . . take good notes.
Successful students take notes that are understandable and organized, and review them often.Why put something into your notes you don't understand? Ask the questions now that are necessary to make your notes meaningful at some later time. A short review of your notes while the material is still fresh on your mind helps your learn more. The more you learn then, the less you'll have to learn later and the less time it will take because you won't have to include some deciphering time, also. The whole purpose of taking notes is to use them, and use them often. The more you use them, the more they improve.
7. . . . understand that actions affect learning.
Successful students know their personal behavior affect their feelings and emotions which in turn can affect learning.If you act in a certain way that normally produces particular feelings, you will begin to experience those feelings. Act like you're bored, and you'll become bored. Act like you're uninterested, and you'll become uninterested. So the next time you have trouble concentrating in the classroom, "act" like an interested person: lean forward, place your feet flat on the floor, maintain eye contact with the professor, nod occasionally, take notes, and ask questions. Not only will you benefit directly from your actions, your classmates and professor may also get more excited and enthusiastic.
8. . . . talk about what they're learning.
Successful students get to know something well enough that they can put it into words.Talking about something, with friends or classmates, is not only good for checking whether or not you know something, its a proven learning tool. Transferring ideas into words provides the most direct path for moving knowledge from short-term to long-term memory. You really don't "know" material until you can put it into words. So, next time you study, don't do it silently. Talk about notes, problems, readings, etc. with friends, recite to a chair, organize an oral study group, pretend you're teaching your peers. "Talk-learning" produces a whole host of memory traces that result in more learning.
9. . . . don't cram for exams.
Successful students know that divided periods of study are more effective than cram sessions, and they practice it.If there is one thing that study skills specialists agree on, it is that distributed study is better than massed, late-night, last-ditch efforts known as cramming. You'll learn more, remember more, and earn a higher grade by studying in four, one hour-a-night sessions for Friday's exam than studying for four hours straight on Thursday night. Short, concentrated preparatory efforts are more efficient and rewarding than wasteful, inattentive, last moment marathons. Yet, so many students fail to learn this lesson and end up repeating it over and over again until it becomes a wasteful habit. Not too clever, huh?
10. . . . are good time managers.
Successful students do not procrastinate. They have learned that time control is life control and have consciously chosen to be in control of their life.An elemental truth: you will either control time or be controlled by it! It's your choice: you can lead or be led, establish control or relinquish control, steer your own course or follow others. Failure to take control of their own time is probably the no. 1 study skills problem for college students. It ultimately causes many students to become non-students! Procrastinators are good excuse-makers. Don't make academics harder on yourself than it has to be. Stop procrastinating. And don't wait until tomorrow to do it!
Studying at a distance can be challenging, however, with a positive attitude and
dedication to your studies, you can achieve your educational goals. The tips
below will help you get started.
- Internet searching skills are essential.
Having the ability to search quickly and effectively on the Internet is essential. To learn effective research methods, see Online Research under Learner Resources at the left. If you need assistance citing online references, see Writing/Communication Skills under Learner Resources. - Be comfortable with written communication.
Because nearly all communication is written in the virtual classroom, you will be writing quickly and often. If you have limited writing abilities or are uncomfortable expressing yourself in writing, work on improving these skills before or as part of your online experience. Purdue University has an Online Writing Lab (OWL) that offers tutorials, workshops, study materials, conversations groups, a grammar hotline, and more. - Be self-motivated.
Because there is freedom and flexibility in the distance education environment, you need to be responsible and self-disciplined. Distance education requires a commitment. Be prepared to spend as much time per week as the course requires—usually 12 to 15 hours per week per course. - Take control of your learning experience.
There are many resources available to help you succeed, both on the ICN Web site and at your Home Institution. It is up to you to take ownership of your learning experience. - Get your own email address and check your
mail frequently.
Email is the most common way to communicate with your instructor(s), your advisor, your ICN campus coordinator, and other students. If you do not currently have your own email account, free accounts may be obtained from www.yahoo.com, www.excite.com, and www.hotmail.com. Most colleges and universities provide their students with a free email address; however, you will still need to obtain a local Internet Service Provider (ISP). If you don't have Internet access at home or at your place of work, you can use the equipment at your local learning center or library. - Advising is important.
Without an academic advisor to review your plan of study and the courses you have taken so far, you could accidentally register for a course that won't count toward your program. Only your academic advisor can verify which specific courses will meet your degree requirements. If you are in need of an academic advisor, contact the ICN campus coordinator at your Home Institution. - Registration dates vary.
Registration dates and deadlines for distance education courses do not always coincide with registration dates for on-campus courses. Be sure to check the ICN Registration Time Tables prior to registering each semester. - The drop/withdrawal policy of your Home
Institution always applies.
When taking a course that originates from an ICN institution other than your Home Institution, the drop/add/withdrawal policies of your Home Institution always apply. - Participation is vital to your success.
Keeping up with your assignments and participating in your courses is vital to your success. Distance education courses have the same requirements as on-campus courses, and attendance may play a role in your final grade. - Notify your instructor about any problems you
encounter.
If you have problems with course content or the technology, notify your instructor so you can get the assistance you need to complete your course. Be sure to fill out the SUBJECT line in your email so your instructor will know the urgency of your communication. Allow a reasonable amount of time for your instructor to respond. And be sure to notify your instructor promptly of changes in your email address and/or telephone number. - If you need assistance, just ask.
Just as campus-based students have access to support services, as a distant learner, you have a variety of resources, including your instructor, ICN campus coordinator, and ICN staff who can point you to online resources as well as to a local learning center, where you will find coordinators who have experience helping distant learners.
EXAM SUCCESS TIPS
Being in college is hard in many ways: financially, academically, personally, socially, intellectually, physically. And most students question why they are trying to get a college degree at some point during their college experience
WE STUDY TO:
- Improve our personality
- Develop potential
- Acquire knowledge
- Get a career, money or profession
- Make us better
REASONS FOR DETERIORATION
- Lack of understanding
- Study methods may not have been good
- Deficient education at primary level
- Teenage crisis e.g. puberty
- Study atmosphere not conducive to learning
IMPORTANCE OF STUDY
- Gives capacity to reflect, judge and discern
- It cultivates the mind thus gives more fruit
- Develop our personality through the practice of virtues
- Gives knowledge and wisdom to know why and how to do things
- Give satisfaction of acquiring knowledge, of overcoming ourselves, of finishing tasks, of solving problems, of achieving results
- Help appreciate what previous generation has passed on to us.
- Enables us to contribute to the progress of our family, society and mankind.
- Enables us to get a certificate, diploma, degree, career, job, money etc
WHY STUDENTS FAIL IN THEIR STUDIES
Lack of intellectual capacity
Lack of intensity in study
Not spending enough time in study
Lack of study skills
Not making good use of learning aids available
MOTIVATION TIPS
- Getting to know ourselves (our strong and weak points)
- Seeing study as a means of becoming a better person
- Finding conditions which can help us enjoy studying effectively.
- Avoiding bad habits e.g. passivity, untidiness, lack of effort
- Correcting mistakes which make studying a tedious exercise
- Finding friends who can encourage and guide us.
- Forcing ourselves to study by using our will power
- Trying new approaches and methods
- Finding things which stimulate us to study, such as feeling responsible for our future and improvement.
- Widening our ambitions and ideals.
- Starting time and again.
WHY I STUDY
- Because I enjoy it
- Because I want to pass
- God, my parents, teachers, friends, I, etc want me to
- If I don’t I will regret in future, and won’t be able to make a change as I would have.
- I want to achieve my goals.
- I want to make a difference.
STUDY HABITS
- Esteem
- Quiet
- Detachment
- Perseverance
- Self-discipline
- Patience
- Self-knowledge
- Order
- Attention
- Concentration
- Optimism
TO PLAN OUR TIME WELL
- Plan activities for the day
- Organize the timetable in advance
- Give more time to important tasks
- Important tasks should be done when feeling fresh and energetic
- Intersperse dull jobs with interesting ones, tiring tasks with easier ones.
- Clear desk of unnecessary papers etc.
- Do one task at a time.
- Set yourself to the task at hand.
- Allow time for leisure, relaxation and exercise activities.
- Allow time for social and family commitments
- Don’t keep on putting off decisions to do this or that. Try to solve them then and there.
- Do not postpone work just because it is difficult.
TIMETABLE
ADVANTAGES OF FOLLOWING A TIMETABLE
I. Does away with indecision
II. Acquire a regular study routine
III. Forces us to yield the maximum output
IV. Helps us to use time better
V. Helps us achieve set goals
Click here for Online Degree Programs
Disadvantage of Online Learning Communities
No Personal Interaction
Many online courses use message boards and chat rooms in order to hold
discussions based on the lessons. It takes away the personal interactions you
find inside a classroom between the professor and the students. In the
classroom, the discussions build on each other in a natural way, possibly going
into great detail. When you leave a message on a board, people do not respond
instantly. There may even be a day or two between posts.
Self-Discipline
Online learning may provide you with the ability to work on homework whenever
you want, but that is not necessarily an advantage. You need to be disciplined
enough to make yourself sit down every day and do the homework, post a message
or take a test. You may be more likely to procrastinate when you do not have to
leave the house in order to get to class.
Accredited Institutions
Some online programs sound too good to be true. Those programs may not offer
degrees from accredited schools. Accreditation is an across the board standard
that means you will have a quality education. This basically means that you are
getting the same degree as someone in another accredited school in the same
program. Be sure to look for the accreditation before making a commitment to an
online learning community (see Resources below).
"Rubber Stamped" Diploma
Some employers frown on degrees from online institutions. Many managers see
online degrees as "rubber stamped" diplomas, meaning you paid enough money so
that online program just handed you the diploma. This is similar to an
unaccredited program.
If you are finishing this degree in order to gain a promotion at work, or if
your company is paying for this degree, make sure to check with your boss before
you start.
Credits Might not Transfer
Several online learning communities do not allow any credits to be transferred
to another institution. They do this so you will complete the certificate or
degree program with them only.
Specific IT Requirements
All online courses require certain information technology needs. You must have a
high speed Internet connection, a fast browser and a certain amount of free
space on your PC. There are also courses which must be started and completed on
the same computer, so you would not be able to work at home and then work on
your laptop.
Not for Everyone
We all have different learning styles. Some people who are auditory learners
need to be inside a classroom in order for their brain to comprehend the
materials. Find your educational style before you unintentionally set yourself
up to fail.
Tangible Reasons to Get a College Degree
You'll make more money: figures range from several hundred thousand to a million
dollars or more over your lifetime. Regardless of the details, however, you'll
have more income.
You'll have a lifetime of increased opportunities. More job openings, more
chances at promotions, and more flexibility with which jobs you take (and keep)
are just a few of the doors that will be opened when you have your degree in
hand.
You'll be more empowered as an agent in your own life. You'll be better educated
about the things that have an impact on your day-to-day existence: knowing how
to read a lease, having an understanding of how the markets will influence your
retirement accounts, and handling the finances of your family. A college
education can empower you in all kinds of ways to be more in control of your
life's logistics.
You'll be better able to weather adversity. From having more money available
(see #1 in this list!) in a savings account to having marketable skills and an
education during an economic downturn, having a degree can come in handy when
life throws you a curve.
You'll always be marketable. Having a college degree is becoming increasingly
important in the job market. Consequently, having a degree now will open doors
for the future, which will in turn open more doors and make you more marketable
later ... and the cycle continues.
Intangible Reasons to Get a College Degree
You'll lead a more examined life. The critical thinking and reasoning skills you
learn in college will stay with you for a lifetime.
You can be an agent of change for others. Many social service positions, from
doctor and lawyer to teacher and scientist, require a college degree (if not a
graduate degree). Being able to help others means you have to educate yourself
to do so through your time in school.
You'll have more access to resources. In addition to the financial resources
you'll have access to through your higher income, you'll also have resources in
all kinds of unexpected and intangible ways. Your roommate from freshman year
who is now an attorney, your friend from chemistry class who is now a doctor,
and the person you met at the alumni mixer who may offer you a job next week are
the kinds of benefits and resources that are hard to plan for -- but that can
make all the difference in the world.
You'll have future opportunities in ways you may not be considering now. When
you graduate from college, you may have never even given a second thought to
graduate school. But as you get older, you may unexpectedly develop a strong
interest in medicine, law, or education. Having that undergraduate degree
already under your belt will allow you to pursue your dreams once you realize
where they are going.
You'll have a strong sense of pride and self. You may be the first person in
your family to graduate from college or you may come from a long line of
graduates. Either way, knowing you earned your degree will undoubtedly give a
lifetime of pride to yourself, your family, and your friends.
Others
Competitive motivation
In many fields, having a post-graduate degree will put you ahead of the pack.
From a practical standpoint, the advanced degree can open up vocational doors a
bachelor’s degree alone would not necessarily open. Some employers will see your
dedication and qualifications and may choose to hire you over an equally
qualified but less-educated job seeker.
Financial Gain
“Because you have an advanced degree, your employer will know that they will
have to pay you more money,” Dean says. While the initial cost of grad school
can be quite expensive, obtaining a master’s degree can give you a jump start
into a higher wage. Typically, the starting salary for a person with a master’s
degree is at least $10,000 more than for those with undergraduate degrees.
Knowledge and Perspective
Another benefit of pursuing an advanced degree is an expanded base of knowledge,
intellect and practical applications. “When you attend grad school, you become
an expert in your field and this also makes you more marketable,” . College grad
students have opportunities to conduct research, explore new technology, learn
new methods and study advanced information that the average person doesn't have
access to.
One Step Closer to a Doctoral Level
Some people set their sights on a doctoral level degree, and attending graduate
school is the way to get there. Often, people choose a Master's degree program
in a specialized area and continue with the field or choose to fine-tune the
area of expertise even further. Some fields, such as academia, require a
terminal master's degree or a doctorate degree before they will consider a
candidate for hiring.
Considerations
Before jumping at the chance to attend grad school, consider a few issues first.
Completing a graduate degree takes time and money. Some people have a hard time
financially through this period. You could choose to work part- or full- time
and attend graduate school part-time to make ends meet. Avoid going to graduate
school if you're just going because someone told you to or you don't feel ready
to enter the workforce. The choice should be yours and for the right reasons.
According to Howard Greene's book, "Making It Into A Top Graduate School", seeking a graduate degree is a legitimate pursuit when:
- A graduate degree is necessary for your desired professional field
- A graduate degree may improve your career
- A graduate degree may increase your options and professional prospects
- A graduate degree serves to satisfy your intellectual curiosity and spark passion
A graduate degree serves to satisfy your intellectual
curiosity and spark passion
Pursuing your intellectual interests or your passions through grad school may or
may not also include practical and professional benefits. Grad school can
provide you the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in your subject of
interest, which you may otherwise find hard to do outside of academia.
Regardless of the subject or field, as Erin Kane, M.S. Nonprofit Management,
shared in an interview about her grad school experience, "graduate school gives
you the space to be reflective and the time to carefully wade through
information—two things that are growing scarce in our society."
• ECCLESIASTES 12:12 STUDY WEARINESS
ECCLESIASTES 12:11-14
11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
HUMOUR
Here is a role model humour
No cheating please
This is a great Psychological Test and it is Extremely Accurate.
It's amazing what modern math can do these days
FIND OUT WHO TRULY IS YOUR ROLE MODEL..
DON'T SCROLL DOWN YET, DO THE
SIMPLE MATH BELOW, THEN SCROLL DOWN TO FIND YOUR HERO.
It's CRAZY how accurate this is
No peeking
1) Pick your favorite number between 1-9
2) MULTIPLY by 3 then
3) ADD 3
4) Then again, multiply by 3 (I'll wait while you get the calculator....)
5) You'll get a 2 or 3 digit number....
6) Add the digits together
Now ... Scroll down
With that number, see WHO your ROLE MODEL is from the list below:
1. Einstein, 2. Dalai Lama, 3. Prince Charles, 4. Genghis Khan, 5. Bill Gates,
6. Gandhi, 7. Ronald Regan, 8. Elvis Presley
9. "ME"
10. John F Kennedy
I know, I know....I have that effect on a lot of people. One day, you too, can
be just like me :-)
S.P.. Stop picking different numbers!!! I AM YOUR ROLE MODEL, JUST DEAL WITH
IT!!!!!!
WHY STUDYING IS USUALLY BETTER THAN SEX..
10. You can usually find some to do it with
9. If you get tired, you can stop, save & pick up from where you left off..
8. You can finish early without feelings of guilt or shame
7. When you open a book, you don't have to worry about who else has opened it
6. A little coffee & you can do it all night
5. If you don't finish a Chapter, you won't gain reputation as a book teaser
4. You can do it, eat & watch TV at the same time
3. You don't get embarrassed, if your parents interrupt you in the middle
2. You don't have to put your beer down to do it..
1. If you aren't sure what you're doing, you can always ask your roommate for
help...
A hungry lion was roaming through the jungle looking for something to eat. He came across two men. One was sitting under a tree and reading a book; the other was typing away on his typewriter. The lion quickly pounced on the man reading the book and devoured him. Even the king of the jungle knows that readers digest and writers cramp.
"Circulation of newspapers has fallen to all-time lows. They say newspapers are
becoming obsolete. I'll tell you how bad it's gotten. Today I saw a homeless guy
sleeping on a park bench with an iPad on his face." -Jay Leno
See also:
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