Study Notes on College Success Strategies

LEARNING GOAL

  • To equip students with a set of success strategies applicable in college for fast starts and continuous achievement throughout their college experience.

The Most Powerful Research-Based Principles of College Success

  • Four powerful principles highlighted by research on human learning and student development:

    • Active involvement

    • Use of campus resources

    • Interpersonal interaction and collaboration

    • Personal reflection and self-awareness

  • References:

    • Astin (1993)

    • Kuh et al. (2005)

    • Light (2001)

    • Pascarella & Terenzini (1991; 2005)

    • Tinto (1993)

  • Importance of these principles:

    • Practical application for establishing good habits for early college success.

    • Foundation for recommended success strategies throughout the text.

Four Principles Visualized

  • Visual representation suggested as a baseball diamond to remember the four principles of college success (Fig. 1.1).

Touching the First Base of College Success: Active Involvement

  • Key Insight: Active involvement may be the most powerful principle for college success (Astin, 1993; Kuh et al., 2005).

    • Quote: “Tell me and I’ll listen. Show me and I’ll understand. Involve me and I’ll learn.”

    • Components of active involvement:

    • Amount of personal time dedicated to learning.

    • Degree of personal effort expended (mental and physical).

    • Emphasis on learning with intensity, passion, and commitment.

Student Perspective on Active Involvement

  • “You don’t have to be smart to work hard.” —24-year-old first-year student.

Ensuring Active Involvement

  • Engage actively with the material to ensure high levels of effort and energy:

    • Writing: Write notes in response to material, rather than passively underlining sentences.

    • Example: Write notes while reading.

    • Speaking: Say aloud what is being learned.

    • Example: Explain concepts to a study partner rather than studying silently.

    • Organizing: Connect ideas systematically.

    • Example: Create outlines, diagrams, or concept maps (Fig. 1.1).

Importance of Time and Energy in Learning

  • Class Attendance:

    • Direct correlation between class attendance and performance as per numerous studies over 75 years.

    • Not attending class impacts grades negatively.

    • Reference studies: Anderson & Gates (2002); Credé, Roch, & Kieszczynka (2010); Grandpre (2000); Kowalewski, Holstein, & Schneider (1989); Launius (1997); Shimoff & Catania (2001).

    • Figure 1.2 demonstrates how attendance impacts final grades.

Coursework Outside the Classroom

  • Expectation for self-directed learning is greater in college compared to high school:

    • More hours spent on coursework significantly correlates with better grades (National Survey of Student Engagement, 2009).

    • Example:

    • Study of 25,000 college students showed:

      • Students working 40+ hours/week had nearly 3 times more “A” grades compared to their peers working 20-40 hours.

      • Those working 20 or less had nearly double the “C” or below grades.

Student Perspectives on Attendance and Studying

  • “My biggest recommendation: GO TO CLASS. You’ll be surprised what you pick up just by being there.” —College sophomore (Walsh, 2005)

  • “In college, you’re a dork if you don’t.” —College sophomore (Appleby, 2008).

Study Habits of Incoming Students

  • Less than 40% of beginning college students studied for over six hours a week in high school.

  • Only 1/3 expected to study more than 20 hours in college; approximately 10% anticipated two hours of study per hour in class, which aligns with faculty expectations.

  • Critical need for adjustment in study habits.

Academic Performance and Career Advancement

  • Higher grades correlate positively with enhanced career prospects post-graduation across all institution types.

    • Higher college grades lead to:

    • Increased annual salary

    • Better job status/prestige in first job

    • Greater career mobility.

  • Importance: Academic performance significantly impacts career success more than the prestige of the institution attended

Reflection 1.2

  • Consider how many hours were spent on schoolwork in senior year of high school.

Active Listening and Note Taking

  • Class performance relies heavily on lectures requiring careful listening and accurate note taking.

    • Research indicates most exam questions derive from lectures; better class notes correspond to better performance.

    • References: Brown (1988); Cuseo, Fecas, & Thompson (2007); Kiewra (2000).

Note Taking Strategies

  • Approach class lectures as a detective seeking information, recording insights actively:

    • Importance of listening and writing actively noted for reinforcement of retention.

    • Occupational approach to academic learning with proactive information gathering (Mortimer Adler, educational theorist).

Classroom Strategies for Successful Learning (Do It Now 1.1)

  • Attend every class to stay informed on crucial topics and receive pertinent information.

  • Preparation before class enhances productivity:

    • Organize material, tools, and seating arrangements.

    • Best position: front and center.

    • Maintain upright posture to support alertness.

Tips for Class Engagement

  • Arrive prepared, engage with questions, and contribute to discussions.

  • Participation influences grades positively and demonstrates commitment.

Reflection 1.3

  • Consider typical classroom seating arrangement habits for optimal engagement.

Active Reading Techniques

  • Connect writing with active reading to enhance comprehension:

    • Note-taking during reading promotes engagement over mere highlighting.

    • Advice on textbook reading tips available in Do It Now! 1.2.

Immediate Steps for Academic Success

  • Acquire textbooks immediately; prepare for rapid pace of assignments.

  • Development of effective reading strategies:

    • Essential tools: Writing instruments, notebooks, diction.

    • Usage of glossaries is encouraged.

Improved Reading Comprehension Strategies

  • Preview chapters with headings and summaries for conceptual mapping.

  • Convert headings into questions to enhance purposeful reading.

  • Focus on introductory and concluding sentences for core information.

  • Conclude reading sessions with quick reviews to reinforce learned material.

Touching the Second Base of College Success: Use of Campus Resources

  • Importance of utilizing campus resources for educational success.

    • Students who engage with resources report greater satisfaction and fulfillment.

    • Investments in services enrich the college experience at no additional financial cost due to tuition.

Key Campus Services for Success

  1. Learning Center:

    • Facilitates academic performance through tutoring and learning strategies, equipping students to adapt to course demands.

    • Engagement with academic support is significantly linked to improved grades and self-efficacy.

    • Usage is often lower among students who may benefit most, highlighting a need to redefine seeking help as a strength, not a weakness.

  2. Writing Center:

    • Offers support at all writing stages: drafting through proofreading, bolstering academic skills essential for overall performance.

Importance of Time Management

  • Crucial for achieving goals, especially for incoming college students encountering a new level of independence.

  • Transitioning from high school to college presents challenges requiring efficient time management to juggle responsibilities.

Research Insights on Time Management

  • Effective time management directly correlates with improved performance and satisfaction (Erickson, Peters, & Strommer, 2006).

    • Successful first-year college students highlighted time management as a topic of conversation; the struggling counterparts rarely mentioned it.

Time Management in the Lives of Adults

  • Significant for balancing work and personal life across all age groups (Harriott & Ferrari, 1996).

  • Enhances stress management.

Takeaways on Effective Time Management

  • Recognized as not merely a school success strategy but essential for life management. People managing time well report higher satisfaction (Myers, 1993; 2000).

Personal Experience in Time Management

  • Example of managing academic and family responsibilities effectively through a strict daily routine.

Key Strategies for Managing Time

  1. Analysis: Breakdown time and tasks into segments.

  2. Itemization: List tasks and deadlines.

  3. Prioritization: Tackle tasks based on order of importance.

  • Practical strategies outlined for effective time management in action.

Time Management Techniques Explained

  • Take a time inventory regularly, ensuring awareness of time allocations in daily life.

  • Lists serve as vital reminders for tasks and deadlines:

    • Use personal digital assistants (PDAs) for tracking tasks and deadlines.

    • Maintain a large calendar displaying due dates for significant tasks.

Prioritizing Tasks

  • Tasks should be ranked based on urgency and gravity, emphasizing an effective allocation of time to achieve maximum results.

Core Experience of Time Management Development

  • Real-life accounts illustrate the process of building a personal system for organization and focus.

Reflective Questions on Time Management

  • Self-reflection prompts related to the structuring of personal schedules.

Converting Time Management Plans into Action Plans

  • Implement a daily to-do list to track accomplishments and opportunities for growth.

  • Continuous reflection on daily objectives to assess effectiveness in managing time.

Addressing Procrastination

  • Concept of procrastination: putting off tasks unnecessarily, leading to performance anxiety.

    • Research suggests 80–95% of college students procrastinate.

    • Addressing common myths around procrastination is critical to overcoming it.

Psychological Underpinnings of Procrastination

  • Procrastination may stem from deeper emotional issues like self-handicapping and fear of failure.

Strategies to Combat Procrastination

  • Implementation of time-management strategies to cultivate productive habits (e.g., breaking work into smaller tasks).

  • Goal-setting and task arrangement optimize motivation and organizational effectiveness.

  • Understand that organization and workspace play significant roles in preventing procrastination.

Summary of Effective Time Management and Procrastination Insights

  • Successful time management requires analysis, itemization, and prioritization of tasks.

  • Balancing work and play is critical to avoid burnout.

  • Developing and owning a time-management plan is essential for college success and life management.

Internet-Based Resources for Further Information on Time Management

  • Several websites suggested for students to explore additional time management strategies and tips.