Teach Students How to Learn
Why don't many of our students know how to study or learn effectively? According to the 2011 Higher Education Research Institutes Study [HERI], entering freshman report that studying wasn't necessary in high school. Of the first-year students surveyed, over 60% reported spending less than six hours a week doing homework in 12th grade, and half of these students say they graduated from high school with an A average (HERI, 2011). Moreover, these students are very confident; over 70% of the students surveyed report that they believe their academic ability is above average or is in the highest 10% among people their age (HERI, 2011).
Faculty can help students bridge the gap between what they experienced in high school and what they will experience in college by teaching them how to study, listen actively, read actively, and LEARN! How do students learn best? Meaningful learning is tied to previous knowledge (has relevance), can be applied to new situations, and can be used in problem-solving. Active learning is more lasting than passive learning, so engaging students is very important.
Here are some links to information about strategies for studying, note-taking, and reading. Providing students with these tools can help them succeed.
- The Study Cycle - Louisiana State University
- Active Listening, the TQLR Method
- Listen Actively and Take Great Notes - Princeton University
- The SQ3R Reading Method - Weber State University
- Active Reading Strategies - Princeton University
There are also good resources for students on academic success on the UTC Center for Academic Support and Advisement webpage.
Reference: Higher Education Research Institutes. (2011). Freshman survey. Retrieved from http://heri.ucla.edu/index.php.