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Helpful Hints for Succeeding in Biology 105

The Facts of Life is not a difficult course, but there is a lot of material to learn.  What
is the best way to learn this information? After the first quiz in this course, many 
students are surprised to find that the study habits and techniques that worked for
them in high school, or even in other college courses, are not sufficient to succeed  
in biology. I think all of us would like to be able to learn information efficiently--to have
a study plan that works so efficiently that we have more time in our lives for other
things. In reality, most of us study in such a haphazard manner that even though we 
spend long periods of time reading the assignments for a course, our grades do not 
reflect this effort. Most of us need to change the way we learn information so that we 
study more effectively.

A.  The Concept of Multisensory Learning

It has been said that we remember 20% of what we read, 30% of what we hear, 40% 
of what we see, 50% of what we say, 60% of what we do, and 90% of what we see, 
hear, say, and do. This concept of "multisensory learning" suggests that the more of 
our senses we use during studying, the more effectively we learn. Each of us has a 
"preferred sense" for learning, and you probably already know which of the following
learning styles is most comfortable for you. 

	Visual learners 
	Like to learn information by reading books and magazines and by drawing
	explanatory diagrams, charts and pictures

	Auditory learners 
	Like to learn by hearing the information spoken to them in lectures and as well as 
	by speaking the material out loud to themselves or listening to the information
	on tapes.

	Physical learners 
	Like to learn by doing physical activities such as writing, underlining, preparing 
    flash cards, and by walking around or exercising as they read or memorize.      

Try to utilize all three learning styles as you study the material, and thus aim to be a
"multisensory learner."

B. Linear learning versus global learning 

Some people like to learn information in a step-by-step manner, proceeding from first
 to last, and from simple to complex -- this method is called "linear learning." Other 
individuals prefer to first get the "big picture" before they look at the details -- this is 
"global learning." Because most science courses, including The Facts of Life, are 
organized in a "linear" manner, it is important to continually seek out the "global"
perspective--for example, by first skimming the chapter to get an overview and later 
by sitting back and reflecting on the importance of the chapter as a whole.

C. A suggested learning plan for Biology 105 

    1. Skim the assigned chapter to get an overview (visual learning). 

    2. Complete the exercises in the Study Guide (visual and physical learning). 

    3. Work with the material in various ways in order to learn it. This may involve 
        any or all of the following: 

        a. Re-read the difficult parts of the textbook, high-lighting the main points with
            a highlighter pen.

        b. Sit quietly and try to make a mental movie of what you have read. 

        c. Summarize out loud the important parts of the textbook and the Study 
            Guide. Be as dramatic as you can (perhaps acting it out using a foreign
            accent or even a whisper) because we tend to remember what's dramatic. 

        d. Organize the material on paper and then read it into a tape-recorder. Listen 
            to the tape as you are doing other things. 

        e. Re-write the important points in your own words, using as many examples 
           as you can. 

        f. Prepare flash cards with important terms on one side and their definitions on 
            the other. 

        g. Prepare post-it notes and arrange them according to concept on your wall.

      h. Get together with others in the class and go over the material. Ask each 
            other  questions or (even better) "teach" a concept to the group. There is a 
            saying, "To teach is to learn twice." When you teach someone else, not 
            only must you organize the material in your own mind, but the mere act of 
            talking helps reinforce the information. 

D. Other study hints 

    1. Practice good self-management by setting up a study schedule for each
        week. This is the key to success in this course! 

    2. When you sit down to study, prepare yourself mentally--that is, relax, be 
        positive and determined, and focus your attention on the material. 

    3. Memorizing information 

        a. When you memorize material, break up your study time into blocks of
            20-30 minutes.

       i. Most people find it difficult to concentrate completely for a longer period 
                 of time. 

             ii. Most people remember the material at the beginning of the study 
                session and also at the end of the session. Thus, breaking up an 
                uninterrupted 3 hour study session into nine 20 minute sessions results
                in 9 beginnings and 9 ends and thus increased learning. 

            iii. The break need be only 3-5 minutes. Get up and walk around; drink
                some water. 

       b. Most people find that visual memory is very strong. Thus, making diagram or
           a picture to accompany a particular concept usually helps learn the material.
           (A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say.) 

       c. Most people remember information that is organized, for example in an 
           outline or a list.

      d. Prepare a mnemonic device for appropriate parts of the material. 

       e. Use the material to write a song, a jingle, or a rap. Rhythm and melody help 
           reinforce the material. 

       f. Sleep is an important aspect of learning because it helps the brain process 
          new information. Thus, reviewing learned material briefly before bedtime 
          usually results in greater learning of that material. 

       g. Review the memorized material frequently, hopefully on a daily basis. The 
           key to learning material is to keep going over it in your mind. Once you 
           memorize a concept, you still have to "keep at it" on a regular basis. 
           Although this sounds intimidating, you will find that after a few review 
           sessions, the process goes faster and faster. In Biology 105, a student's 
           grade is usually directly proportional to the number of times the material is 
           reviewed. 

    4. If you have questions, don't hesitate to contact me in person, by phone, or by 
        e-mail.

Some of the above material is taken from the Accelerated Learning Action Guide by 
B. Tracy and C. Rose. Nightingale Conant, 1995.