My Study Tips:

If you are not happy with your grade, you need to change your approach NOW. Don't just hope that you will do better next time. Here are some important suggestions I strongly suggest for this course and any other college course you take:

• Pretend you are studying for an essay test. I want you to show me you understand the material.
  
  
• Look for a familiar word root, suffix or prefix.  I always try to point this out in class.  You can find meaning in the word by just looking at it sometimes.

• Be focused. It is not the amount of time you put into studying, it is the quality of time . You can study for a million hours and still fail the test. Make sure you are in a quiet room without distractions - turn your phone off and get away from friends! Make sure you are alert and "into" it. If you are staring at the notes and nothing is jiving, walk away, and pick it up later.. you are wasting your time. 

• Only highlight information that is new to you. Stuff that makes you go, "Mmmm. I did not know that!" Do not highlight common sense stuff. Students either highlight too much or too little. Look for the main idea - which is not always in the first or last sentence! That is a myth! Pull at least one main idea per paragraph. 

• Rewrite your notes. Yes, take notes on the notes! It forces you to think about it. Don't write the obvious. And write does the examples I give in class to help you remember. Make the material come from you. By physically re-writing (or re-typing) the lecture notes and textbook readings, you are actually encoding the material into your long term memory. Yes, it takes time to do this, but you will find yourself having to study less come test time... trust me.

• Know the difference between each concept. Although all the concepts are related, each concept has a slightly different meaning -or twist- that separates it from the others. Look for that difference. If you have the same information written for two concepts, go back and find the difference!

• Teach it to someone else. Try to explain what you just learned to someone else in your own words with your own personal examples. Use the "textbook terms" but put the definition in plain English! Don't use fancy textbook language to define these concepts. By saying it out loud you can hear what you don't understand (this is a well know technique called reciprocal teaching). Ask someone in the class if they want to get together and study? If you are shy, I will send an e-mail to the class and try to set you up with someone. Or teach this stuff to your hamster or childhood imaginary friend! Just say it out loud in your own words. 

• Create personal examples for as many concepts as you can. The more you elaborate (expand) on a concept, the more it will make sense and stick in your memory. Think of your crazy family and friends to apply this stuff - just don't tell them you are using them as an example for a psychology class!

• Don't memorize the material word for word. Be careful with the Note Card Technique... If you use this, don't memorize the definition... understand the definition. Using rote memory (memorizing information word for word) to learn actually takes longer and does not last as long as when you elaborate and apply the topic to your life. I don't ask definition questions on the test.

• Do not cram the material. Cramming only works when you are very familiar with the material or if it is very easy to learn. I try to make the information easy, but don't be fooled... it is a lot of information - too much to learn in one night. Trust me.. it will be overwhelming.
  

• Study at least one week before the test. Study in small doses (15-30 minute intervals) throughout the week. The more mental breaks you take between concepts, the more efficiently your brain will absorb it. If you overload the brain with too much information, it gets confused and meshes information.

• Do not miss class. Though I do not directly penalize you for missing class (I want you to want to be there!) it makes a big difference when you hear and see me present it. I do crazy enactments sometimes that help the information stick. Plus, I give examples that students tend not to take notes on. If you miss class, get the notes from another student (don't ask me!). 

• Procrastination is the devil! You need to be on the ball with this stuff. Think of me as your boss and learning this stuff is your job. A boss will not allow you to make up a scheduled meeting or project deadline. You'd be fired! Don't make me "Donald Trump" you from this class!

• Mark your calendar. Get organized. Notice all of the due dates... these are set in stone. 

• Note the deadline for each practice quiz. Take the practice quiz over and over before the deadline. It does not count against you. It is there to help you! From past experience, generally those who do well on the practice quiz do well on the test!  Just note there are different questions on the test, so don't waste your time trying to memorize the quiz answers.  Understand the answers.  

• Do the extra credit projects. They are there to help you! This is how you earn your curve! It helps you digest some of the material. Note the deadline for each topic.. it is set in stone. Hand it in early in case you are sick on the day it is due (plus if it is early enough I give you a second chance to redo it if you missed anything). Late submissions will not count - no matter what.

• Ask me if something does not make sense! Please, ask me in class, come to my office during my office hours, or send me an e-mail. If you have a question, other students probably do too! I will try to help you! 

• Go with your gut instinct. Don't over think it.
• Answer each question and move on. Pick something! If you do not answer anything, it will be marked wrong. 
• If you are not sure of your answer, circle the question number on the scantron. You can go back to double check your answers at the end of the test if there is time left over.
• Double check that you answered everything!
  
• Most students complete the exam within 30 minutes. You have a full 50 minutes!
  

• Are clear. There are no double negatives like "which of the following is not false"! All questions are to the point! And there is only one right answer!
  
• Are written in everyday language.
  
• Show me you learned something new. I do not ask obvious questions that anyone could get. Try to think like a teacher when you study.
• You will not be able to answer by guessing. People who did not study or have never taken the class will not be able to answer the questions correctly.
• Test you on the subtle differences between concepts. If two words or concepts look similar, you can bet I will ask you about the difference.
• Require you to apply the material to real life situations.  I usually give you an example and ask you what concept this demonstrates.

• Get a tutor! You can use one of our graduate assistants. Go to Old Main room 381 and make an appointment.  See me for a recommendation. Note: it is not a walk in service... sometimes it takes a week to get an appointment. OR you can sign up for a tutor at the Tutor Coordinator's Center in Beekey. Call 610 693 4207.  Think you have a learning disorder? Call the Office of Human Diversity 610 683 4108. They can help you get tested and set you up with a learning specialist. It is a free service. 

• Consider withdrawing.. it is better to have a W than an F on your transcript. Just make sure you maintain enough credits (12 credits) if you need to be full time for insurance, scholarship, or financial aid reasons.  See your academic advisor for more advice. 

• Withdrawal Deadline
• You must go in person to the Registrar's Office (Administration Building) to fill out a withdrawal form. 
• Week 1 - 6. The class will not appear on your transcript
• Week 7 - 2 weeks before Final's Week. The class will appear on your transcript as a W. 
• Two weeks before Final's week - end. You will receive a WF on your transcript, which is computed as an F.
• Note: if you do not officially withdraw from the class, you will receive an F on your transcript.