Academic Workshop
STUDY 101
Iram Khan & Chris Cachia
Agenda
● Getting to know us, you, and each other:
Self-Assessment Activity
● Introduction to Time & Task Management:
Time & Task Management Activity
● Keys to Academic Success (Stations and Digging
Deeper):
1. Critical Reading & Writing
2. Effective Study Techniques
3. Test Performance & Anxiety
● Resources and Contact Information
Getting to know us,
you, and each other
● What is a Learning Strategist?
● Self-Assessment Activity…
● As a group: Do you already know of any
strategies you use to maximize your strengths
and address your challenges?
Time and Task Management I
● 1. Scheduling: 4 month/term calendar; weekly
calendar
● 2. Prioritization: What am I scheduling? How am I
scheduling?
● Dump out everything that you feel you need
or have to do; dump out everything you feel
you would like to do or would enjoy doing
● Sift priorities…
●Try dumping and sifting for the week…
Time and Task Management II
● 3. Manage Interruptions: Ask yourself, is this
interruption an immediate task? Can it wait?
Does it help me reach my priorities?
● 4. Procrastination: recognize and figure-out WHY
● 5. Goal-Setting: Re-assess and revise to be
realistic
“Keys to Academic Success”
1. Critical Reading & Writing
2. Effective Study Techniques
3. Test Performance & Anxiety
Introduction to
Critical Reading
Reading to acquire knowledge
• Reading to increase
understanding
• Reading to critically analyze
information
• Reading skills
• Finding articles
•
Introduction to
The Writing Process
• Pre-writing
• Outlining or planning
• Drafting
• Writing mechanics
• Revising and editing
• Citation
Keys to Academic Success:
Critical Reading and Writing
● In groups, you will spend approx. 10-15
minutes investigating your critical reading folder
(red)
● Self-regulate working through supplied
resources
● As a guide, use the following “digging deeper”
questions…
Critical Reading & Writing:
Digging Deeper
How would you define critical reading and
critical writing? What is the difference
between descriptive and critical writing?
• What are the KWL and SQ3R methods of
reading?
• What are some pre-writing strategies you
can name and describe?
•
Critical Reading Strategy: SQ3R
• Survey – using objectives, topic sentences,
visual cues
• Question – based on objectives, topic
sentences, summaries, visual cues
• Read – to answer (and ask more) questions
• Recite – and write
• Review – in different ways (using effective
study techniques!)
The Writing Process Strategy:
Free-Writing
Write your topic at the top of the page
Start writing; write as quickly as you can
Write down everything that comes to mind
Keep writing, do not go back, do not
correct or cross anything out
• Build your stamina!
•
•
•
•
Introduction to
Effective Study Techniques
• Memory – flash cards, mnemonics etc.
• Self-test – practice questions, online quizzes
• Content support –
tutoring, TA, professor
• Visual Organizers –
charts, diagrams, mind maps
Keys to Academic Success:
Effective Study Techniques
● In groups, you will spend approx. 10-15
minutes investigating your effective study
techniques folder (blue)
● Self-regulate working through supplied
resources
● As a guide, use the following “digging deeper”
questions…
Effective Study Techniques:
Digging Deeper
• What are mnemonics and what is an example
of a mnemonic device? What are other ways
you might use to remember material?
• How might you create and review using flash
cards?
• What is a concept map? How might you use
concept maps in your courses?
Effective Study Techniques
Strategy: Concept Maps
Introduction to
Test Performance & Anxiety
• Approaching Questions
• Multiple Choice
• Short Answer/Essay
• Managing Stress
• BRAVO
• PEARL
Keys to Academic Success:
Test Performance & Anxiety
● In groups, you will spend approx. 10-15
minutes investigating your test performance &
anxiety (black)
● Self-regulate working through supplied
resources
● As a guide, use the following “digging deeper”
questions…
Test Performance
& Anxiety: Digging Deeper
• How might you approach writing multiple choice
questions and tests? How might you approach
writing essay questions and tests?
• What are the effects of cramming? How might you
avoid cramming?
• What are some common indications of test-related
anxiety? What are some strategies you can use to
manage test-related anxiety? What is BRAVO?
Test Performance & Anxiety
Strategy I: Types of Questions
• Multiple Choice: answer before checking
choices; mark possible answers; test answers
• Essay Questions: be clear on what is being
asked (analyze? contrast? discuss? prove?);
use a rough outline; make a clear point
(thesis? organizing statement?); be conscious
of weighting
Test Performance & Anxiety
Strategy II: BRAVO
• Breath – and have a pre-test routine
• Review – and plan before writing
• Answer – after actively reading the question
• Verify – that you followed instructions
• Oversee – and remember, this isn’t your last
test!
Resources:
Time and Task Management
4 Month/Term Planner:
http://www.ahutton.com/plncntrl/images/4MO-small-screen.jpg
Weekly Calendar:
http://studentsuccess.mcmaster.ca/images/pdf/academic_skills/onlineresources/weekly_schedule_template.pdf
Managing Time and Tasks:
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills_old/study/TimeTaskManagement
On Procrastination:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvcx7Y4caQE#t=50
Assignment Calculator:
http://news.library.ryerson.ca/assignment-calculator/
Resources:
Critical Reading and Writing
7 Critical Reading Strategies:
http://www.salisbury.edu/counseling/new/7_critical_reading_strategies.html
ON KWL:
http://www.studygs.net/texred3.htm
On SQ3R:
http://www.studygs.net/texred2.htm
Critical Reading Towards Critical Writing:
http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/reading-and-researching/critical-reading
3 Pre-Writing Strategies for Any Project:
http://blog.writeathome.com/index.php/2011/08/3-prewriting-strategies-for-any-writing-project/
What is Critical Writing?:
http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/writing/writing-resources/critical-writing
Resources:
Effective Study Techniques
Effective Habits for Effective Study (Self-Assessment Tool):
http://www.studygs.net/attmot4.htm
Memory Tips:
http://prc.housing.ubc.ca/files/brochure_-_memory_tips.pdf
On Flash Cards:
http://www.ryerson.ca/content/dam/studentservices/accesscentre/pdf/Memory%20Strategy
%20Step%203%20Flash%20Cards.pdf
On Concept Maps:
http://ctl.byu.edu/tech-tips/concept-mapping
How to Organize and Conduct Effective Study Groups:
http://ctl.byu.edu/single-article/how-organize-and-conduct-effective-study-groups
Resources:
Test Performance & Anxiety
Exam Success – Top Tips From Brilliant Blogs:
http://theuniversityblog.co.uk/2008/03/27/exam-success-top-tips-from-brilliant-blogs/
Test-Taking Advice for the Multiple-Choice Challenged:
http://members.shaw.ca/daprof/testtaking_advice.htm
Answering Short Answer and Essay Exam Questions:
http://www.uwlax.edu/biology/communication/answeringessayquestions.htm
The Exam Cram – Why Stress Can Hurt Your Test Scores:
http://columnfivemedia.com/work-items/course-hero-infographic-the-exam-cram%E2%80%94-why-stress-can-hurt-your-test-scores/
On Managing Test Anxiety:
http://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/stresstestanxiety.php//ubcounseling.buffalo.edu/stresstestanxiety.html
Our Contact Information
Iram Khan
iram.khan@ryerson.ca
Chris Cachia
ccachia@ryerson.ca
FCS Drop-In and Resource Centre
fcs.support@ryerson.ca
LIB 272K