Software Reviews - helping all @softwarereviewforall - Tumblr Blog

How to Take Notes from a Textbook

As I touched on in my previous blog post, How to Annotate, active reading is an important tool to have in your academic arsenal. I prefer writing notes over annotating texts, below are some of my most hopeful tips for effective notetaking.

Tip 1: Understand Your 3 Options: Outlining as You go, Summarizing Each Section, or Summarizing After You Finish the Chapter/Reading.

I, personally, prefer to outline as I read. The benefits of this strategy are that you don’t forget anything important, and this method can help people with focus and concentration. I recommend this method for anyone with ADD/ADHD or other learning differences (stay tuned for an upcoming blog post on managing ADD/ADHD in college).

Outlining after each section or even (immediately) after you finish the entire chapter is faster and helps you distill the information down to what is most important. It also helps with general synthesis. However, this is not an ideal method for people who struggle to remember details or focus on important information.

Tip 2: Decide Whether To Take Handwritten or Typed Notes

Once again there are advantages and disadvantages to both. Typing is better if you have handwriting problems, or need to take more extensive notes as it can be faster, but the notes may be harder to format. There is also some science to show that the act of handwriting helps the information stick in your memory better. Taking notes on the computer, however, makes them hard to store.

Tip 3: Read the Text Before Class, Take Notes, and Bring Those Notes to Class

When I started college, I was constantly confused by what date you were supposed to have read the texts by. Often syllabuses are written as “Week 1: Read Chapters 1-3″ but what does that mean? By the beginning of the week? The end? The lecture? The discussion? In general, it is a good idea to have read (and taken notes on!) any assigned readings before the first class meeting each week. Bring these notes to class to reference in discussion and impress all of your professors.

Tip 4: Highlight or Star Important Details in Your Notes!

This is especially important for people who take notes as they read. Highlighting is an excellent opportunity to review your notes and summarize what is important.

Tip 5: Use the Margins or Sticky Notes to Note Questions You Have About The Reading or Concepts You Are Still Not Understanding.

If these questions aren’t addressed in lecture, raise your hand and ask! (but if you’re feeling shy you can go to office hours too!)

I hope you found these tips useful! Don’t forget to follow for future blog posts with more note taking and tips for academic success.

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

howtosucceedinschool

How to Take Notes from a Textbook

As I touched on in my previous blog post, How to Annotate, active reading is an important tool to have in your academic arsenal. I prefer writing notes over annotating texts, below are some of my most hopeful tips for effective notetaking.

Tip 1: Understand Your 3 Options: Outlining as You go, Summarizing Each Section, or Summarizing After You Finish the Chapter/Reading.

I, personally, prefer to outline as I read. The benefits of this strategy are that you don’t forget anything important, and this method can help people with focus and concentration. I recommend this method for anyone with ADD/ADHD or other learning differences (stay tuned for an upcoming blog post on managing ADD/ADHD in college).

Outlining after each section or even (immediately) after you finish the entire chapter is faster and helps you distill the information down to what is most important. It also helps with general synthesis. However, this is not an ideal method for people who struggle to remember details or focus on important information.

Tip 2: Decide Whether To Take Handwritten or Typed Notes

Once again there are advantages and disadvantages to both. Typing is better if you have handwriting problems, or need to take more extensive notes as it can be faster, but the notes may be harder to format. There is also some science to show that the act of handwriting helps the information stick in your memory better. Taking notes on the computer, however, makes them hard to store.

Tip 3: Read the Text Before Class, Take Notes, and Bring Those Notes to Class

When I started college, I was constantly confused by what date you were supposed to have read the texts by. Often syllabuses are written as “Week 1: Read Chapters 1-3″ but what does that mean? By the beginning of the week? The end? The lecture? The discussion? In general, it is a good idea to have read (and taken notes on!) any assigned readings before the first class meeting each week. Bring these notes to class to reference in discussion and impress all of your professors.

Tip 4: Highlight or Star Important Details in Your Notes!

This is especially important for people who take notes as they read. Highlighting is an excellent opportunity to review your notes and summarize what is important.

Tip 5: Use the Margins or Sticky Notes to Note Questions You Have About The Reading or Concepts You Are Still Not Understanding.

If these questions aren’t addressed in lecture, raise your hand and ask! (but if you’re feeling shy you can go to office hours too!)

I hope you found these tips useful! Don’t forget to follow for future blog posts with more note taking and tips for academic success.

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

meetmeatthewhaleskull

How come there’s so much emphasis on human ecology? What’s the significance of it and how will it help us in the future?

Hi there. That's a pretty big question, here goes:

When COA was founded in the late 1960s/early 1970s, there were a lot of complex social and ecological issues at play: pollution and the birth of the environmental movement; racial segregation/discrimination and the civil rights movement; the Vietnam War and the antiwar movement; the list goes on. There was a sense for many across the U.S. that our government and systems (including higher education) were failing us, failing to generate the kind of holistic, humane, innovative decisions that would lead to a genuinely better world.

Enter COA and human ecology. The general idea behind human ecology is that by looking at humans as part of complex, interdisciplinary systems, we'll be able to come up with more thoughtful, nuanced ways to address complex issues. To be a little more specific: problems like climate change, food insecurity, and oppression of various kinds are not just social, economic, political, or environmental problems - they're problems that cross those different disciplines. To tackle these issues, to make our communities more humane and sustainable, we need a generation of leaders, thinkers, and doers who are flexible and versed in thinking about issues from multiple perspectives in order to develop more holistic solutions.

At COA, you might end up focusing most on one discipline, like biology or policy - but we want you to have an interdisciplinary perspective so that as a biologist, you're thinking about the ways that human behavior, policies, economics, development patterns, and culture (as a few examples) might impact that species you're interested in. There's more to it, and you can read some of that here on our website, but hopefully this helps explain why we think human ecology will help our students become the kind of people we need in the world today and for the future.

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

meetmeatthewhaleskull

when do we get our dorm/roommate assigned?

Hi there! Housing assignments are typically completed by the end of June. You’ll receive an email with instructions on how to log in to your student portal (this is different than your applicant portal) and then we’ll notify you when housing assignments have been posted to the student portal. So... stay tuned!

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

howtosucceedinschool

How to Utilize Note Cards for Studying

Tip 1: Decide Whether or not Using Notecards Is the Right Study Strategy For the Test or Topic

In general, I find notecards to be most useful or effective when:

a. a study guide with pre-determined terms and questions is provided by the teacher, professor, or T.A.

b. The test will be on individual definitions, theories, or equations. Tests like this are typically multiple choice, rather than essays.

Notecards are less effective:

For essay-based exams, for topics in which terms of events are interconnected (e.g., history), and for exams in which you need to practice how to use specific formulas. For these types of exams, I prefer written notes/ study-guides.

Tip 2: Look for Pre-Made Notecards

While there is some benefit from the act of writing out your own notecards, pre-made notecards can save a lot of time, and be a great last-minute study tool.

For college students, I recommend using Quizlet.

For high school students, Quizlet is generally less useful, but many test prep companies sell notecards designed for this year’s AP or IB exams.

*Pro-tip: Try searching for notecards not just by topic, but by University and class number.

Tip 3: If you do make your own notecards, carry them everywhere, and have an organizational system to keep them together

If using physical notecards, keep them in your backpack or purse, and use free time for quick reviews. Just make sure you have a note card holder, ring, or rubber band to keep them together!

Tip 4: Make Your Flash Cards Early, Not Right Before the Test

Flash cards are most effective when made well in advance, and reviewed on a regular basis. This also allows you to have your study materials prepped in advance which allows you more time to actually study at the end of the semester.

Tip 5: Use Spaced Repetition

Throughout high school, I typically used the idea of spaced repetition, by rotating my notecards as I got them right or wrong. I would start with a big stack, and when I got the notecard right, I would put it at the back of the pile (one time) if I got it wrong it would continue to go into the back of the pile repeatedly until I was getting it right consistently.

One option for spaced repetition is using the Leitner system. One of my favorite bloggers, Thomas Frank, has an excellent explanation of this system, and a series of modifications he has made to make it more efficient for the average college student.

Basically, there are five boxes, all of your notecards begin in box 1, when you get the card right it graduates to the next box, but if you get it wrong, it either remains in box 1 (if it was already there) or goes back to box 1. Box 1 gets reviewed every day, box 2 every other day, box 3 once/week, box 4 once/2 weeks, and box 5 during last minute studying/cramming.

Alternatively, there are websites and apps which rotate these cards through a spaced repetition system for you. The most popular app/website is Anki, but there are a number of others. Quizlet also offers this option, but only if you pay for a Quizlet subscription.

Good luck with studying this upcoming semester. I will definitely be adding spaced repetition to my study routine. Will you? Let me know!

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

howtosucceedinschool

How to Start Your Semester Off On The Right Foot

With the new semester upon us, it can be easy to quickly lose motivation and focus. Here are some tips on how to set yourself up for a successful semester!

Tip 1: Review all of Your Syllabi and Highlight Important Assignments and Due Dates.

Transfer these due dates to your calendar and planner. Special Note: I only recommend transferring the dates to your calendar/schedule once you have committed to taking the class. If you are unsure or thinking about swapping classes, you should still review and highlight the syllabus, but don’t bother transferring the dates.

Tip 2: Finalize Your Class Schedule

Once you have made final decisions regarding your classes you should make a timetable/schedule with your class times, extracurriculars, meal times, exercise, and self-care. For more advice on creating a schedule click here.

Tip 3: Gather Your Supplies

Determine what textbooks you need, and order them. Find out if there are any additional materials you need such as a specific model of the calculator, lab book, or an i-clicker. Also make sure that you have enough pens, pencils, staples, paperclips, etc. For more information on buying textbooks at the best price available click here.

Tip 4: Begin the work in advance

Last semester was the first semester where I bothered trying to get a head start on the readings. This made a HUGE difference in setting the tone for the remainder of the semester. It helped me with time management, and I was prepared for the very first lecture. Seriously, I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner.

Tip 5: Establish Your Study Routine

My last tip is to find your ideal study location and establish routine times you are going to study there. I prefer to study at the desk in my dorm room, but others prefer the library or coffee shop. If you aren’t studying at your own desk I recommend making sure your backpack is fully loaded with all the supplies you might need.

I hope these tips help you get off to a great start! Good luck on your new semester!!

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

howtosucceedinschool

How to Memorize Better: The Loci Method

Recently I have been researching how to memorize information better, and I came across the “Loci Method” also known as the “Memory Palace” method of memorization. The Loci Method has been around for thousands of years, and there is evidence it was used as a primary method of memorization by Ancient Greeks and Romans.

This method heavily relies on your familiarity with particular places, or locations, such as your home, apartment, or elementary school. The location you choose should be one you are able to thoroughly picture inside of your mind.

As you picture the location, you assign each distinct location one of the items you need to memorize. This method can be used to memorize both related terms, and unrelated terms. It is particularly helpful for items that need to be memorized in a particular order. Simply assign the items on your list to items or rooms as you approach them in your mind. The first thing you would see in the room gets linked to the first item.

The loci method works even better when you combine different senses. For instance you imagine walking into the kitchen and smelling pumpkin pie. Or you imagine walking through your neighborhood and feel the sun shining on you.

This method can be particularly effective for memorizing vocabulary and new languages.

I know the loci method might seem confusing, but it has proven to be one of the most effective mnemonic devices. I look forward to trying it this semester, and I hope you do too.

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

howtosucceedinschool

How to Memorize Better: Mnemonic Devices

Mnemonic Devices are an excellent tool to assist you in memorizing difficult information. I used to rely heavily on this strategy in middle school and high school, but use it less frequently in college and graduate school. None-the-less here are some tips and tricks to help you come up with your own creative and effective mnemonics.

Tip 1: Make it Rhyme

Studies show that our brains have an easier time remembering things that rhyme.

We all remember that famous mnemonic from our elementary or middle school days:

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

Or

i before e except after c

or when sounding like “a.”

such as neighbor and way

Unless you have a background in poetry, it can be hard to come up with mnemonics that rhyme, but its one of the most effective methods for making the information stick.

Tip 2: Convert Letter, Numbers, and Facts into words and/or sentences

This is one of the most common mnemonic devices out there, and it is extremely easy to implement and create your own mnemonics using this method.

Simply take the information you need to memorize and turn it into a one-word answer where each letter stands for something or an entire sentence.

Examples:

To remember the order of operations in math class, people frequently use the sentence Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally, which stands for parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, or subtraction.

In order to remember the order of the great lakes, people might use Superman Helps Everyone, which stands for Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario.

This method also works for remembering series of numbers, but using it for numbers frequently involves more effort and creative, so I don’t necessarily recommend it.

Tip 3: Draw connections

This method works best for me and the way my brain works. You connect words that sound or look alike.

For example, if you can not remember if longitude runs north-> south or east -> considering the fact that loNgitude has an N in it, and so does north. Therefore, longitude= north-> south

TIp 4: Make it a song

Songs are another effective tool for memory. Did you know the ABC song is a form of a mnemonic device? We have been learning mnemonic devices since we were babies!

Another example is the “Fifty Nifty United States Song.”

Does anyone remember the bone dance from Hannah Montana?

Tip 5: Make it funny, absurd or inappropriate.

Fun fact, when I was in 7th grade I had a test on the different explorers, and I could never remember what Magellan did, so my mom made up a super inappropriate mnemonic “Magellan got circumcised on his gellies” for me to remember that Magellan circumnavigated the world. At the time, she felt bad, because it was such an inappropriate mnemonic (especially for a 7th grader) but I never forgot Magellan’s contribution again!

I hope that you can use these tips to come upwith mnemonics that help you memorize better! What’s your favorite (or funniest) mnemonic? Let me know!

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

howtosucceedinschool

How to Make Professors Like You

Building relationships with professors, or at the very least ensuring they like you, is vital. Professors do have favorites. If you can become one of their favorite students, you will reap benefits in the forms of better grades, research opportunities, letters of recommendation, and potentially even potential future connections. Here are 5 practical tips for making your professors like you.

Tip 1: Show Effort and Enthusiasm in class

Do your readings in advance, volunteer answers and ask questions. Take notes in a notebook, rather than a laptop, so the professor knows they have your full attention. Do not work (and definitely do not get caught) doing work for a different class during the class time.

Tip 2: Come Before or Stay After Class

This shows that you are really eager to discuss the class work with your professor. However, it is also important to respect your professor’s time. If you sense they are trying to make a quick exit, or are busy prepping for class. Now is not the time to talk to them.

Tip 3: Schedule Meetings

If you are struggling at all with any concepts in the class, schedule time to meet with the professor. I always recommend e-mailing the professor in advance, even in a case where you are just planning on swinging by their office hours. Not all professors are always truly available during their publicized office hours. Plus, if you have a scheduled meeting and another student shows up, the professor is more likely to help you instead of them.

Tip 4: Always Thank Them for Their Time

This is a good lesson for life. Always thank people who take time out of their busy schedules to meet with you! I recommend thanking the professor at the beginning of a meeting, at the end, and again in an e-mail. This may seem like overkill, and it is important to rephrase each thank you, so you do not sound like a broken record, but showing gratitude makes them feel valued, and makes them more inclined to help you in the future.

Tip 5: Follow-Up and Maintain Connections

Once you have established connections and relationships with professors, you want to do what you can to maintain them. Write to past professors to update them on professional achievements. Read an article or book that pertains to the class you took? Send it to them! Maintaining these connections is important because these professors can serve as future references for you, and may one day be colleagues in your field.

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

howtosucceedinschool

Strategies for Working Smarter: How to Get a Return on Your Studying Investment

Becoming a better and more efficient student means prioritizing working smarter, not harder. I have done a number of posts on specific strategies for optimal studying, but today I really wanted to talk about studying in the most efficient way.

Many students view their assignment lists or syllabi, as a to-do list of assignments which must get done. Realistically, this is not the best strategy, because it does not prioritize more critical assignments, nor is it good for your mental health. Here are my top five tips on getting the maximum “return on investment” (ROI) when studying.

Tip 1: Review All of Your Syllabi Each Week, and Make a List of all of the Readings, Assignments, Homework, Quizzes, Tests, and Papers.

I like to review all of my syllabi on both a monthly and weekly basis, to make sure that I have all upcoming assignments recorded. As I do this, however, I make sure to check to see how much individual assignments are worth and to think through what my top priorities ought to be. I recommend highlighting these, or crossing out less important assignments.

Tip 2: Regularly Review Your Grades in Each Class, and Think About the Impacts That Different Assignments Might Have on Those Grades.

Let’s say you have a teacher of professor nice enough to offer 5 points of extra credit, but the extra credit assignment will take 2 hours to complete. If you already have an A is the assignment really worth the time? What if you have a B, but the 5 points won’t even give you enough of a boost to get to a B+? This is where you have to balance your priorities with the impacts.

Tip 3: Some assignments are worth turning in late, or not turning in at all.

If the assignment is not worth much, and you have a huge test or paper coming up next week, it may be in your best interest to take a percentage dock just this once, and either turn it in late or not at all.

Tip 4: Use computer grade calculators.

Admittedly, I am not very good at math, so figuring out how much certain assignments might impact my grade is not one of my strong suits. That’s why I like to use online grade calculators to crunch the numbers.

Tip 5: Stay Calm, Take Deep Breaths, and Check Yourself

Whenever you start to feel overwhelmed or stressed out by an assignment. Ask yourself “is this stress really worth it?” What is the worst case scenario? Seriously. Breathe in. Relax. It is going to be ok.

I hope these tips helped you with your prioritization skills, and with keeping things in perspective.

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

howtosucceedinschool

How to Absorb Your Textbook Better

Have you ever tried learning through osmosis? Chances are it probably didn’t work. Passive reading almost never works when you need to remember something long term.

Recently I learned about a method of reading called the SQ3R method and has been used by students since the 1940s. SQ3R stands for survey, question, read, recite, and review.

Survey:

When surveying one should look at the introduction, conclusion, abstract, headers, pictures, charts and graphs. The goal is just to get a basic preview of what you will be reading.

Question:

Next, you want to ask yourself the following:

1. Do I know anything about this topic?/What prior knowledge do I have?

2. Is this related to anything else I have studied/anything else in this class?

3. What do I hope to learn from this reading?

Read:

Now you do the full reading, and try to answer the questions.

Recite:

Reciting is when you read out loud. While not for everyone, reciting is particularly effective in slowing down students who read too fast, and in assisting auditory learners in their understanding.

Review:

Many explanations of SQ3R vary, but an important step to do (at some point) is record notes on the most important facts of the reading and any lingering questions you have. Many people prefer to do this as their “review” and pull the facts from memory (or from highlighted portions of the text). I prefer to take notes as I read. Either way, it is good to then review the notes you have written, pairing them down and expanding as needed. File these notes in a reliable system so you can review them later while studying for exams!

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

howtosucceedinschool

How to Focus When Completing Homework or Studying: 5 Unconventional Methods

Hey guys, as someone with ADHD, I get distracted REALLY easily. I am the queen of distraction, but that also makes me very knowledgeable about tips for focus that ACTUALLY work. These tips are designed to hopefully be helpful to all students, but there will be more ADHD-focused recommendations coming up in a future post!

1. Essential Oils

One method that works particularly well for me is using essential oils. I know many people view essential oils as a bunch of bullcrap and not worth the money. Trust me, I used to be one of those people, but some essential oils really do work! My concentration and focus have immensely improved by using essential oils, specifically peppermint and cedarwood oil.

2. Completely Disable Internet

I recommend working offline whenever possible. If you need to use a laptop or use the internet, consider using a website blocker or app to block access to sites that distract you such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I personally use Freedom but have an upcoming post about different apps and websites I have tried and used to improve my productivity.

3. Engage in Principles of “Deep Work”

In his bestseller “Deep Work” author Cal Newport explained why and how to perform “deep work” which basically is just an extended period of intense focus with NO distractions. Newport presents some interesting practical ideas such as shutting yourself in an empty distraction-free room for a few hours.

Newport says “To produce at your peak level you need to work for extended periods with full concentration on a single task free from distraction.”

4. Stay hydrated

Drink your water! Seriously. It is tough to focus and stay alert if you are feeling dehydrated. I recommend always having a full bottle of water at your desk/study space. Fill the bottle before you start your study session.

5. Write down things distracting you

If you have distracting thoughts when studying (which you more than likely will) write them down. If you think “oh I need to check the due date or send this e-mail to a professor” write it down, keep a list, and complete those tasks after the study session.

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

howtosucceedinschool

The 5 Day Study Plan

So admittedly, I don’t fully know where the idea of the 5-day study plan came from. I first learned about it during a work training, and it instantly made sense to me as it strikes a good balance between studying too far in advance and doing last minute cramming. As I have touched on in previous blog posts, I find the idea of studying more than a week in advance to be impractical and a waste of time as most people will forget most of what they have studied/learned unless they have pre-determined and implemented a really good system of spaced repetition (click here for my blog post on spaced repetition). At the same time, cramming does not work because it leads to unnecessary stress, panic, lack of sleep, and can undermine your confidence going into the exam. Furthermore, many studies have shown that cramming does not allow for long-term understanding/memory, which may or may not be necessary depending on the subject and your future study/career plans.

I prefer study methods that prioritize spending time on what you don’t know, or which designates different amounts of time to different subjects based on your knowledge level and familiarity with the subject. However, in the event that studying that way does not work for you, or if you are truly unsure of what you do and do not know, I recommend the 5-day study plan as detailed below.

Step 1: Break the material into four (relatively) equal chunks. This can be done in any way that makes sense to you. By chapter is probably easiest, but there are other ways that might also work, such as by lecture topic. It may be useful to look at the syllabus, or at your study guide when deciding on your four chunks.

Step 2: Plan to spend a minimum of 2.5 hours per day studying for this test, if its hard you might need more time, such as 3 or 4 hours, but make sure you prioritize the minimum of 2.5 hours per day for the five days prior to the test.

Step 3: Each day consists of two important steps: Prepare and Review. You should establish 2-3 prepare and review strategies that work best for you, and stick to these 2-3. Here’s a list of ideas to get you started, with my personal favorites in bold.

Step 4: Now you combine steps 1 and 3 to create your study schedule.

Here is an example:

*In order to maximize your 5-day study schedule I would recommend composing the parts/groupings in such a way so that the hardest material falls into part A, and the easiest into Part D. Technically all of the 5-day study schedule explanations I have read just randomly separate the topics into the parts, but smarter strategies would be separating them by difficulty level, or by how long ago you initially learned that material.

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

howtosucceedinschool

How to Do a Group Project Efficiently and Effectively

The vast majority of my classes in college have required at least some amount of group work or group studying. Where college and high school differ, is that in most of my classes in college we have been able to pick our groups, but not always. For this blog post, I will be focusing on group projects, and next week I will be focusing on studying with groups.

Tip #1: Choosing Group Mates (if applicable)

If your professor allows you to choose group mates, you don’t want to be the only one left without a group. The key to making sure this does not happen is to talk and interact with your classmates. Try arriving early, talk to the person sitting next to you. Learn about them, and most importantly figure out their full name so you can connect via Facebook. If you feel comfortable, you can also ask for their email or cell phone number.

You also want to try to pair up with people who will complement your learning style and knowledge. This can mean a few different things. My personal preference is to look for group members who I perceive are smart, hard workers, and good at writing. Once again, make sure that everyone shares their contact information.

Tip #2: Using Technology

In college, and even in high school, it can be very difficult to find a time when everyone is available. People have differing schedules, transportation problems, etc. etc. Luckily, this beautiful thing called the internet now exists. I recommend using the internet to organize the vast majority of your group work. I personally prefer to make a FB messenger chat for the group, but alternatives include slack and GroupMe. It is a little bit easier if everyone can agree to log on at a specific time to work on the project. However, if your schedules are too different, you can have everyone log on and give feedback at a time convenient to them.

Tip #3: Split Up the Work

The fastest most efficient way to get any group project or paper done is to split it up and have everyone be in charge of a different portion. However, there are some potential pitfalls in this approach. First, if you are writing a paper, you must take time to make sure the paper is cohesive, and transitions between paragraphs and sections are smooth. Second, everyone gets massively screwed if someone doesn’t do the work. Third, sources can get lost.

To mitigate this, I suggest working on a shared file (I prefer google docs) so that everyone can keep track of the progress and see what is being done. One approach I have used is to also assign everyone one section to edit (separate from the section they write) to catch grammatical errors. Alternatively, my preferred solution is to have one person can agree to edit the whole thing. The important things are a. someone agrees (in advance) to edit and b. that person is trustworthy and a good writer with a solid knowledge of grammar and citation styles. If you use one editor, this person should also be in charge of turning in the assignment upon completion.

Tip #4: Set and agree on a due date.

Ideally, this due date should be a week before the real due date. For short-term projects, the due date should be no less than a minimum of 48 hours in advance of the real due date. Decide on this due date right away (literally as soon as your group forms) and make sure everyone agrees to it and understands its importance. Having this due date allows for a tiny bit of “slush time” in the event that one of the group members does not do their job, and also allows time for your editor to edit and submit the project/paper.

Tip #5: Solving interpersonal issues

Group work is extremely stressful. I personally prefer not to work with friends because a. this can lead to distraction and b. this can lead to hurt feelings and potentially ruined relationships. Regardless of whether you are working with friends or random classmates, make sure everyone understands that having their work edited, or even completely changed, is not a personal affront. It is for the good of the group, and of the grade. You don’t want anyone to still be upset after the paper or project is turned in.

Tip #6: Be as flexible as possible

Being in a group, or on a team, means being flexible and compromising. I find it especially important to be flexible when it comes to the topic that your group selects, the exact portion that you are supposed to research or write, and scheduling group meetings. A time might not be ideal, but you should still agree to meet unless you absolutely cannot (and your reason is good enough to share with the group). You can explain that some times are less than ideal, but that you are a team player and willing to make one of those times work if necessary.

The things that I recommend standing your ground on are the due date before the real due date and the fact that the work should be split up in a fair way. Other than that, I recommend letting your group mates who need to have their way, have it their way. Go with the flow.

Last, but not least, I created two free printables to help you organize your group projects. Both are available in my new printable library.

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

howtosucceedinschool

Eisenhower Matrix

President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important”.

In Steven Covey’s book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, he first introduced a prioritization system which he based on this quote. He called this method, the Eisenhower method, or the Eisenhower matrix. The Eisenhower matrix is was one of the most effective time prioritization methods for both students and adults.

To use, the Eisenhower matrix, you need to understand the difference between “urgent” and “important”.

Urgency has to do with the time frame in which you have to accomplish a task, or how close the due date is for a task. Whether or not a task is “urgent” is a matter of opinion. I usually consider anything due within a week to be “urgent” and anything further out to be “not urgent.”

Importance has to do with the consequences and benefits that will occur from doing or not doing the task. Importance is also subjective, but I consider the following tasks “important”: assignments worth more than 10% of my grade, job applications, and any task relevant to my long-term goals and future career. I also use the Pareto Principle to determine importance, which I will be discussing in detail in next week’s blog post.

Now that you understand the difference between “urgent” and “important” you have to designate each task, a two-part label. The two-part labels are: urgent-important, urgent-non-important, non-urgent-important, and non-urgent-non-important.

Here is an example of my to-do list for this week:

For those of you that like color-coding you can also use that as a way to distinguish between the 4 types of tasks:

Or you could use a number-based priority system:

These numbers are actually the order in which I recommend doing tasks. You should do your 12 (Urgent and Important) first and your 4s (Not-Urgent and Not-Important) last. Those of you are more visual might find it helpful to use a drawing of the four quadrants.

Realistically, I disagree with the ideas of “delegating” and “deleting”. “Delegating” is difficult to do in college, because there are very few people to delegate to. “Deleting” leaves no time for fun activities that you enjoy doing. Therefore I prefer to just think of them as the order in which they should get done.

To help you get the hang of using the Eisenhower Matrix for prioritizing your tasks, I created a worksheet which you can find here (or here for the floral version). You will begin by listing all your tasks, and using the key, to label each task 1-4 in the little boxes. Then, there is an option to put those tasks into the respective quadrant. Check out my free printables page for more printables I created just for you!

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

howtosucceedinschool

How to Communicate with Your Professors

Making connections with faculty members is imperative to your success in college. The way you interact with them both online and offline sets the foundation for your relationship, which in turn determines things like your abilities to get letters fo recommendation, reputation amongst other professors, and even in some cases, your grades. All of that being said, here are some common mistakes that students frequently make in interacting with their professors.

1. Not using proper salutations and titles

Your professor has worked hard and spent many extra years in school to achieve their Ph.D. Be respectful of that! Your professor should always be referred to as Professor (last name) or Dr. (last name) unless they explicitly tell you otherwise. Even if you feel that your relationship is close enough to be on a first name basis, it is never acceptable unless the professor invites you to use their first name.

Furthermore, e-mail etiquette and salutations also matter. Never address an e-mail without a salutation, and never use words like “yo” “hey” or even “hi.” Instead, you should stick to using Dear Professor______: or Hello, Professor ______, Dear is better for professors who you have not yet established relationships with, whereas hello is more appropriate if your professor already knows you.

2. Lack of Boundaries

Showing respect for your professor also means respecting their boundaries. Boundaries are expressed, envisioned, and can be broken in a number of ways. Above, I illustrated how verbal boundaries play into the way you address the professor. Here are a few more boundaries to be cognizant of:

A. Personal Boundaries: Do not hug, fist bump, put your arm around, or touch your professor in any way, unless they have indicated it is ok to do so. This is a general rule which should be applied to interacting with anyone in your life, but it’s especially important not to make your professor physically uncomfortable/creeped out.

B. Physical Boundaries: Do not enter their office without knocking and receiving verbal permission. Even if it is office hours, your professor might have the door closed. Knock, but do not enter! They could be having a private or confidential conversation.

C. Emotional/Professional Boundaries: maintain professional boundaries during your time in school.

3. E-mailing a Professor or Going to Office Hours to Ask if You Missed Anything “Important”

If you miss class, follow your professor’s syllabus policy as to whether you should notify them. However, if they do ask that you e-mail when you miss, e-mail them to notify them, and be super polite. Do not, however, ask the professor if you missed anything “important” or if they can meet with you to discuss missed material. It’s up to you to make up the work you missed. The only exception is if you had a prolonged absence, in which case asking/arranging to meet with them is not only acceptable but probably necessary. However, you still should never use the word “important.”

4. Not allowing a minimum of 24 hours before sending another e-mail.

It does not matter how important the e-mail is, you should always wait at least 24 hours before sending a follow-up. Professors have lives and families too. They don’t check their e-mails 24-7. Also, this rule doesn’t count for weekends. If you e-mail a professor over the weekend, you need to wait until at least Monday evening/Tuesday morning before checking to see if they received it. Ideally, if the e-mail is not super urgent, you should wait a few days before sending a follow-up.

5. Not honoring office hours and meetings

If you have arranged to meet your professor at a specific date and time, honor that appointment. Treat it like a doctor’s appointment, not like a casual plan to meet up with a friend. If you get sick or stuck in traffic, or something happens, notify the professor as soon as you know that you won’t make it or will be late. If you are going to be more than five minutes late, you should offer to reschedule, but also make it clear you are on your way/prepared to meet.

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

howtosucceedinschool

How to Plan Your Day Realistically: The 1-3-5 Rule

Have you ever planned a to-do list for the day, only to feel frustrated at the end by how few tasks got accomplished? Chances are, you overestimated the amount of work you could get done in one day. Heck, we all have overestimated our capabilities at one point. Some days we wake up and feel on top of the world! On these days, I feel like I can do anything! However, realistically, there’s only so much time in the day, no matter how optimistic or productive we are feeling. Recently I learned a new strategy for planning a productive day. This strategy is called the “1-3-5″ rule. It’s so simple and easy you won’t believe you never thought of it!

Step 1: 1- The One stands for one big task. Obviously, big, medium and small are pretty subjective. So it may take some time to figure out what tasks fall into these categories.

Here are some examples of “big tasks” in my life: writing a rough draft of a paper, studying for an upcoming test, completing an online training module for my job, cleaning my room.

Step 2: 3- The three stands for three medium tasks. I define a medium task as things that take significant time, but not the majority of the day.

Examples of medium tasks in my life: laundry, dishes, reading assignments, shopping and meal prep.

Step 3- 5 The five stands for five small, easy to accomplish tasks.

Example of small tasks from my life include: answering a quick e-mail, scheduling an appointment, taking out the trash, planning for tomorrow/next week, and papers less than 3 pages in length.

Basically, the goal is never to expect to accomplish more than 9 tasks with this breakdown. If you are in an optimistic mood, or have a surplus of free time and want to try to do more than 9 tasks, you can, but be careful of burn out, and also of any other negative feelings that could result from setting unrealistic goals for yourself.

softwarereviewforall

Business Strategy Game Report Essay (2023) [one time investment to succeed in College & business] {https://pin.it/326voze } A reflective report on Business Strategy Game (BSG) for Freebok Company. business strategy game, business strategy game report essay, business strategy game reflective, report pdf, business strategy game year 12 decisions, business strategy game cheat sheet, business strategy game reflective report, business strategy game athletic footwear,

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

Software Reviews - helping all