Maybe it's been a while since you've been in an academic setting, or maybe you've just never had a knack for studying. Either way, this lesson will help you brush up on your study skills and hopefully provide some tools that will help you be successful as an online student!

What will we learn?

By the end of this Lesson, you should be able to:

• create a plan for studying success!
• locate and complete the ALEKS math assessment

Refer to the Activities page for more information on the assessments for this lesson.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please post to the corresponding Canvas forum or e-mail the instructor (if the question is personal in nature).

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Credit: Penn State World Campus
© Penn State University is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Resuming academic work after a hiatus can be tough. Maybe things have changed since the last time you enrolled, or maybe this is your first online course. Either way, there are some things you can do to help set yourself up for success in an online learning environment. We recommend the following three study habits that will maximize your chances for success in your online class:

1. Devote sufficient time and effort. Schedule several blocks of time during each week to study the text, to work on assignments, and to read and contribute to discussions. The typical recommendation is 1-3 hours per week for each credit. So, if you're enrolled in one 3 credit course, you should have 3 - 9 hours per week set aside to work on that course.
2. Communicate effectively. Post succinct, specific questions and comments with informative subject lines. Whenever appropriate, share questions and comments with the entire class (through the designated Canvas forum) rather than using private e-mail. Read others’ questions and comments and replies. Compose communications with the same care and skill that you’d hope your instructor or employer would devote to a letter of recommendation on your behalf. Be civil and respectful. If frustrated or angry, weigh your words carefully or wait until the next day to post a message if the timeline allows.
3. Approach learning reflectively. Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses as a learner. Students who develop strong “metacognitive” skills tend to be the most effective learners. Also, those who are able to relate what they learned to situations outside the classroom (real or virtual) are most likely to retain that knowledge (Bransford, J.D. et al. 2000).

Not doing so well on your exams? Feel like you're spending a ton of time trying to study all the information covered? Are you getting overwhelmed and frustrated when you study? There is a better way! Study smarter, not harder!

Click the image below to download PDF files of these Study Skills handouts.

Study Skills

Click for an accessible version of the handouts. (This will expand to provide more information.)

Study Smarter, Not Harder: What to focus on

What's covered on the exam?

Good courses build their assessments (assignments, quizzes, exams, projects) on lesson and course objectives.

Lesson objectives should support course objectives, and assignments, quizzes, exams, projects, etc., should align with lesson and course objectives.

Read the objectives to make sure you know what the assessments will cover. By engaging with the content and asking yourself questions as you read and study, the material will more likely stick in your brain:

• Do I understand what I am reading? Can I put it in my own words?
• How does what I am reading relate to the lesson objectives?
• How can I relate what I am reading to stuff I already know?
• How would I describe what I'm reading to someone else?
• Can I illustrate this material in a visual way - like a chart, a drawing, a table or diagram?
• What questions do I have that would help me understand the material better?

Study Smarter, Not Harder: Practice time

When should I start studying?

Do study soon after initial learning, though not immediately after class -- take a break (maybe 24 hours)before reviewing. Study again after another break and before the test. Do not wait for a long time (several days, or weeks) after initial learning to begin reviewing and then taking a test. Basically, Practice soon after class and don't wait too long before reviewing again.

Plan a Schedule for study and practice, just like you would for meal or gym workouts. Then stick to it!

Practice Take a practice test, use flashcards, pair up with a friend. Help each other or quiz yourself.

Take a Break Review information from each class, and get a good night's sleep before you review.

Mix it up! Studying more than one topic per study session helps you retain knowledge.

Make your Brain Work! Don't just re-read your notes - this won't stick! Instead, practice retrieving important concepts from memory. Go back and review material you can't remember or have questions about and repeat.

Study Smarter, Not Harder: Note taking for better learning

What is the best way to take notes?

Course content (books, web material, video instruction, lectures, etc.) plus active note-taking equals durable learning.

Taking good notes will improve your recall and deepen your understanding of any topic. Try dividing your note-taking space into sections: in a large area, record main ideas and important concepts in your own words. In a smaller space, capture keywords, questions, and vocabulary. In another space, summarize your notes at a later time.

Mind the Gaps When reviewing or revising your notes, identify gaps and work to clarify concepts. Ask questions, search the content, and check with others.

Create VisualsBuild tables to compare concepts, Map processes, Create a concept map, Draw diagrams, Construct timelines, Draw what you know from memory.

Credit: © Penn State University is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Resources for Further Investigation

Taking Notes

• Taking Notes: Crash Course Study Skills#1 (8:50 YouTube video)
• Cornell Note-taking Lined Paper PDF Generator
• Keep your notes organized with software (some free, others at minimal cost):
  • Microsoft OneNote (free to PSU students),
  • Evernote
  • Using Evernote in Amazing Ways
  • Google docs
  • GoodNotes (app for iOS devices, has built-in templates)
  • The Best Note-Taking Methods for College Students
• Oxford Learning:
  • Cornell Method (Best for understanding key ideas and relationships)
  • Mapping Method (Best for visualizing connected topics and ideas)
  • Outlining Method (Best for easily creating study questions for review)
  • Charting Method (Best for Reviewing lots of facts)

Flashcards

• Google slide/flashcards
  • Create a Flash Cards Action using Templates
  • flashcard template - Google Slides
• Quizlet Flashcards
• 8 Flashcard sites - Make your own!

Research Resources

• Example (blog post) Trying out 6 study techniques
• The Learning Scientists' downloadable materials
  • Spaced Practice
  • Retrieval Practice
  • Elaboration
  • Interleaving
  • Concrete Examples
  • Dual Coding

References

ALEKS

Maybe you love math, maybe you don't! Maybe it's been so long since you've used math, you don't know how you feel about it. Either way, ALEKS is here to help you figure out what math course is the best fit for you! ALEKS is our math assessment test that will help you better understand what math courses match your math skills. Completing the math assessment will ensure that you're not getting in over your head in a math class, thereby saving you money and stress, and hopefully preserving your GPA!

Math Pre-Course (copied from the World Campus Math Resources page)

Join the Math Pre-Course to start your course early. You can work in your Math 004, 021, and 022 courses by joining the pre-course. Your instructor will invite you to participate in the math pre-course about two weeks before the semester starts.

Tutoring

Tutor.com’s professional tutors are available 24/7 to provide free, online tutoring for students in select math courses, including Math 004, 021, 022, 034, 036, and 037.

Learn more about tutoring resources.

Guided Study Groups

Students in MATH 021, 022, 034, 037, 110, 140, 141, 220, 230, 231, 232, 250, 231, 252, and 486 may attend free weekly guided study groups. Study groups provide a great way to master new concepts. You can review notes, ask questions, and learn with your fellow students online. The study groups take place on Zoom and are recorded so that you can review them as often as you like.

Academic Support partners with Penn State Learning to provide guided study groups. Visit the Penn State Learning site for more information.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is an educational service created to support students through math tutorials in short lectures on YouTube. Some subjects include algebra, geometry, and calculus.

I know many of you are all too familiar with the sleeplessness that comes with a new baby...even if you haven't experienced parenthood, I'm sure you've got some great examples of silly things you did or events you've forgotten because of lack of sleep. I hear many people say that days/weeks/months/years were a blur, that they don't remember much about times when they were sleep-deprived. That's because your brain needs sleep to function properly! Sleep is more instrumental than you may realize! Not getting enough sleep can cause a plethora of side effects...eating unhealthy, forgetfulness, not to mention lack of attention and who needs that when they're trying to earn a degree?!

Sleeping

Check out the Learning Scientist's podcast on Sleep, Learning, and Self Care for some good info on why sleep and self-care affect your ability to learn!

Dealing with Stress

Credit: © John Stocker / Adobe Stock

Have you ever heard someone say that they're hangry? It's a real thing folks, just ask my husband. When I get snippy, the very first thing he asks is "when was the last time you ate something?" I can't focus when I'm hungry. And, it's so easy to eat poorly when I'm stressed or tired. Tiredness, stress and hunger...sounds like a trifecta for mass failure, doesn't it? Be aware and do your best to head these issues off at the pass. Set yourself up for success! You might not be able to control the amount of stress that comes in and out of your life, but you can definitely take control of your eating and sleeping habits!

Here's some additional reading on the topics, if you'd like to know more:

It's Hard to Study if You're Hungry by Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab

Record Numbers of College Students Are Seeking Treatment for Depression and Anxiety - But Schools Can't Keep Up by Katie Reilly

Theories of work-related stress by Dr. Sally Pezaro

Effect's of stress on college students' eating habits by Olivia Shackleton

Managing Your Time in an Online Learning Environment

Know your time limitations and plan accordingly when scheduling your classes. Sure, we all understand that you're eager to complete your degree and have it behind you as you embark on a new career - but you want to get your money's worth out of the courses you're taking, and you want to be prepared for whatever job you take when you graduate and, if at all possible, you should enjoy the process - so that means having some time to really devote to the class.

Know your other limitations as well. It's not enough to just have the time to complete the work for the class, but you also need the brain power. If you work in a particularly intellectually challenging job were coming home in the evenings means that you might not be mentally fresh enough to handle a 4 credit calculus course, another course, and still be with it enough to help your kids with their homework, then don't tempt fate - schedule accordingly! Your academic adviser will be happy to help you devise a plan for scheduling the courses that will help you complete the degree requirements in a way that doesn't overextend your ability to think about your courses! There is no “normal”. Some students take one course a semester. Some take a full load. Only you know what you can handle.

Set realistic expectations of yourself. And of your instructors. Your instructors recognize and appreciate that you're likely doing this work at odd hours throughout the week and may have limited pockets of time to complete assignments. That's why they all do their best to respond to inquiries quickly. But no one is completely tethered to their e-mail, so it's a good idea, even if you don't have the time to work on an assignment near the beginning of a week, that you at least look it over and anticipate any questions you might have.

Give yourself (and your family) a schedule. Let's say you decide to take two, 3-credit classes next semester in addition to working full time and having family obligations. Pick a time that you can devote to your coursework and try to stick with it. Maybe it's Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays after your kids are in bed, from 8-11 pm, and then finish up remaining assignments on the weekend. By setting a schedule, and communicating it to your family, you set expectations about the time you'll need to work on your classes.

The last minute can be pretty short. We've seen this happen multiple times in many different classes. DO NOT wait until the very last second to log in to submit something before the deadline. It's never a good idea to race against the clock to submit an assignment or exam. You're almost certainly guaranteeing that your computer will freeze, your Internet connection will fizzle, or that some other technical glitch will prevent you from submitting on time. You may find your instructors rather unforgiving and unwilling to waive point deductions for assignments that are submitted late - even if only by a few minutes. If it's due Sunday night at 11:55 pm, give yourself at least an hour's wiggle room, if not more, to ensure that your assignment reaches its destination before the deadline.

Seeing is believing. Canvas puts all the due dates for all of your courses on one calendar, use it.

Tools

There are lots of tools out there to help you set yourself up for success. Here are a few:

How to Create a Study Schedule by wikiHow

Click on the image to go to Wikihow's "How to Create a Study Schedule" website.

Credit: Creating Your Schedule by wikihow is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

You can also learn how to use your time wisely in online classes and develop your own study schedule by completin the ASK: Managing Your Time module. 

Click on the image to go to the Penn State World Campus Time Management page.

Credit: Penn State World Campus © Penn State University is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

We get it, you've got a ton going on. Everybody does! So, what can you do about it? Plan. Use the tools that are provided to help you get your school work done. Make appointments for yourself to focus on your coursework. Stick to those appointments. If you need to reschedule, then make sure you reschedule. It's the only way to prevent procrastination.

While we understand that school work may not be your first priority, it does need to be near the top in order for you to be successful. If you need help at any time getting a schedule set up, reach out to your adviser. We're always glad to help!