The very first assignment we were given was a learning inventory self assessment quiz. For our final project we are to do the quiz over again and see how our results have changed.
Old vs New results: 1 most important, 9 least important.
OLD New
Critical thinking 1 2
Problem solving 2 4
Resource management- internal 3 8
Goal setting 4 7
Motivation 5 6
Metacognition 6 3
Resource management-external 7 9
Note taking 8 1
Attention and memory 9 5
My new list is completely different then my first list. I came into this class thinking that I perfected my learning strategies already. But by the end of this course, i came to realize that sometimes old methods are not always right.
Things i thought i didn't need work on, actually were hurting me, like note-taking. I thought i took great notes, but really was just copying word for word what the teacher had said and not really listening. Now i can take brief notes and go come and make longer more elaborate ones if i feel it necessary.
I have completely understood the importance of an appropriate study and homework area.
My motivation and goal setting has improve greatly after seeing my stress decrease when i plan and study properly.
I learned ALOT about my learning strategies and i feel that i have improved on alot and i will now carry my new habits into next semester!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Teaching to Learn
For this optional project we were to prepare a power point presentation and present it to someone. Since i do not know how to do power point very well, and my cousin needed help with his grade 9 math I decided to just help him out last night.
He actually called me about a week ago saying he was not doing well in his math class and needed me to help him so he can pass his midterm.
Preparation
I picked up his text book and the notes he had taken in class and took them home with me on Friday. Friday night and Saturday afternoon i looked over his notes and had to reteach my self so of the things I have forgotten since I was in high school. I made my own notes and wrote down some good examples and practice questions from inside the text book.
Teaching
I understand that everyone learns differently. Some people learn visually( by seeing demonstrations, diagrams...ect) and others can just listen to the explanation and understand. Dalenos teacher was teaching the class as more of an audit thing, so I decided to try a different method to see if he could grasp it a little better. I tutored him for about 2hours on Sunday night after my family dinner.
Outcome and Thoughts
Daleno is a visual learner as i suspected, so the one on one time he got with a "teacher" helped him get the extra explanations that he required. By the end of the session he felt more confident and we have worked out a schedule where i can help him at least once a week.
This optional project helped me take a broader look at different ways of learning. I already use different methods in different classes, my methods for math and my methods for English are totally different, but i now get the concept that if i am truly not understanding a class or a topic, i just need to look at it with a different view and try another method.
He actually called me about a week ago saying he was not doing well in his math class and needed me to help him so he can pass his midterm.
Preparation
I picked up his text book and the notes he had taken in class and took them home with me on Friday. Friday night and Saturday afternoon i looked over his notes and had to reteach my self so of the things I have forgotten since I was in high school. I made my own notes and wrote down some good examples and practice questions from inside the text book.
Teaching
I understand that everyone learns differently. Some people learn visually( by seeing demonstrations, diagrams...ect) and others can just listen to the explanation and understand. Dalenos teacher was teaching the class as more of an audit thing, so I decided to try a different method to see if he could grasp it a little better. I tutored him for about 2hours on Sunday night after my family dinner.
Outcome and Thoughts
Daleno is a visual learner as i suspected, so the one on one time he got with a "teacher" helped him get the extra explanations that he required. By the end of the session he felt more confident and we have worked out a schedule where i can help him at least once a week.
This optional project helped me take a broader look at different ways of learning. I already use different methods in different classes, my methods for math and my methods for English are totally different, but i now get the concept that if i am truly not understanding a class or a topic, i just need to look at it with a different view and try another method.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Test Taking
For an optional project were were assigned to read chapter 11, Test Taking, and asses our normal test taking strategies, evaluate them and then try some of the method and tips from inside the chapter.
Usual Methods
When ever i would have a test i would usually start studying 2 days before the test. I would sit down in my living room with my family while they watches TV and i would look over my notes. I am a memorizor, so i would just read the notes over and over again until I could recall them with out having to look at the text book.
Evaluation
I have always done fairly well on tests. But i find my stress levels are very high, due to going into test not knowing the material and understanding it, but just memorization. My confident would be very low. I decided to try a couple of new methods i got from the text book.
What I did
I decided i would try my new methods on my Biology test on December 7. I went home after each class and looked at my notes, which i learned to do from another assignment. I made my own notes, and wrote out potential questions that could be on a test from what we learned that day. I started studying on the Sunday ( my test was the following Friday). I would go home and relax for a bit so my mind had time to be calm and prepare to be in study mode, i would then go into my room and shut the door. I never once had the TV on but sometimes i would have very low music in the background. I would study for 30 Min's and then take a 10 min break, so my brain didn't over load. I used the questions i had made from my notes and answered them.
My Results
I felt less stressed because i was more confident. I knew the material because i took the time to teach my self the processes instead of just trying to memorize them.
I feel i did very well on my test.
For the future i know now the i am not unable to teach my self thing, i just need to take the appropriate amount of time and effort. I will also study in rooms where my attention will not be attracted somewhere else.
Usual Methods
When ever i would have a test i would usually start studying 2 days before the test. I would sit down in my living room with my family while they watches TV and i would look over my notes. I am a memorizor, so i would just read the notes over and over again until I could recall them with out having to look at the text book.
Evaluation
I have always done fairly well on tests. But i find my stress levels are very high, due to going into test not knowing the material and understanding it, but just memorization. My confident would be very low. I decided to try a couple of new methods i got from the text book.
What I did
I decided i would try my new methods on my Biology test on December 7. I went home after each class and looked at my notes, which i learned to do from another assignment. I made my own notes, and wrote out potential questions that could be on a test from what we learned that day. I started studying on the Sunday ( my test was the following Friday). I would go home and relax for a bit so my mind had time to be calm and prepare to be in study mode, i would then go into my room and shut the door. I never once had the TV on but sometimes i would have very low music in the background. I would study for 30 Min's and then take a 10 min break, so my brain didn't over load. I used the questions i had made from my notes and answered them.
My Results
I felt less stressed because i was more confident. I knew the material because i took the time to teach my self the processes instead of just trying to memorize them.
I feel i did very well on my test.
For the future i know now the i am not unable to teach my self thing, i just need to take the appropriate amount of time and effort. I will also study in rooms where my attention will not be attracted somewhere else.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)