Learn 11 DLA:
Study Aids (STA)
If at any time, you have questions about how to complete any part of this DLA,
email them to: mdsc@lbcc.edu
The purpose of this module is to help you understand what study aids are, the importance of
using study aids, resources available on campus to help with your coursework, and how you can
create different types of study aids to help you in your coursework.
After completing this activity, you should be able to:
 Identify specific study aids.
 Demonstrate the use of a specific study aids.
 Create a study aid using college-level course material.
Instructions for navigating through the LASSI module website to complete this DLA:
 Go To: Click on the blue link on the left side of the page.
 Read: Read the text in the center of the page.
 Skip:
Do not read this section.
To begin this DLA module, click on STUDY AIDS from the menu on the main page.
Please note that you will be using the LASSI modules site (www.lassimodules.com) to access
readings but you will write responses to all your exercises on this DLA. It is important that you
follow the instructions on this DLA since it will guide you through which parts of the module to
read and which readings you may skip.
Materials needed for this DLA:


Any class syllabus
2 textbooks (can be checked out at front counter if needed)
Exercise #1: Answer the questions below before beginning reading in the module.
1. What do you know about using study aids well?
2. What do you hope to learn through completing this DLA?
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Introduction
Go To: Students who Use Study Aids Well.
Read: Characteristics of Students who Use Study Aids Well.
Go To: Learning from Research.
Read: What Research Tells Us About Students Who Use Study Aids Well
Go To: Students Who Use Study Aids Poorly
Read Characteristics of Students Who Do Not Use Study Aids Well
Go To: Learning from Research
Read: What Research Tells Us About Students Who Do Not Use Study Aids Well
Exercise #2: Of the characteristics of students who use study aids well and do not use study aids
well you just read about, write three (3) that you identify with.
1.
2.
3.
What Are Study Aids?
Go To and Read: What Are Study Aids?
Go To: Questions to Guide Your Thinking
Read: Questions to Guide Your Thinking As You Complete This Study Aids Module
Go To and Read: Analyzing Your Use of Study Aids.
Exercise #3: Answer the questions below by circling Yes, Sometimes, or No.
Y S N 1. When you are reading a textbook, do you use the headings, summaries, questions,
etc., that the book provides to help you learn the material and check your
understanding?
Y S N 2. When you are learning new material, do you create your own diagrams, pictures,
summaries, etc., to help you learn the material and check your understanding?
Y S N 3. Do you use outside resources like libraries, class chat rooms, related material on the
Internet, tutoring or review sessions, etc., to help you learn and understand new
information?
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Y S N 4. Do you use outlines, graphs, charts, or other materials that your teacher provides to
enhance your learning?
Go To: Important Points about Study Aids
Read: Study Aids Facilitate Meaningful Learning
Using Textbook Study Aids
Go To and Read: Using Textbook Study Aids
Exercise #4: Identify two (2) textbook study aids that you might use with your current textbooks
and why they might be useful to you.
Aid #1:
Why it is useful:
Aid #2:
Why it is useful:
Skip to and Read: Aids To Use For Pre-Reading.
Exercise #5: Your current textbooks can be used to extend your knowledge about study aids for
pre-reading. Use two of your textbooks to complete this section. If you do not have two of your
textbooks with you, use two of the sample textbooks at the front counter to complete this section.
1. Select a chapter from the first textbook and describe one aid from that chapter that you might
use before reading the text.
Aid:
2. Using a different textbook from another course, select a chapter and describe one aid in that
chapter that you might use before reading the text.
Aid:
3. Compare the different study aids from these two textbooks. Are the aids from these two
textbooks similar or different? In what ways are they similar or different?
Compare and explain:
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Go To and Read: Aids To Use During Reading.
Exercise #6: The textbooks you are now studying can also be used to extend your knowledge
about study aids to use during reading. Use the same two textbooks to complete this section.
1. Select a chapter from the first textbook and describe one aid from that chapter that you might
use during reading the text.
Aid:
2. Using a different textbook from another course, select a chapter and describe one aid in that
chapter that you might use during reading the text.
Aid:
3. Compare the different study aids from these two textbooks. Are the aids from these two
textbooks similar or different? In what ways are they similar or different?
Compare and explain:
Go To and Read: Aids To Use After Reading.
Exercise #7: Your textbooks can also be used to extend your knowledge about after-reading
study aids. Use the same two textbooks to complete this section.
1. Select a chapter from the first textbook and describe one aid from that chapter that you might
use after reading the text.
Aid:
2. Using a different textbook from another course, select a chapter and describe one aid in that
chapter that you might use after reading the text.
Aid:
3. Compare the different study aids from these two textbooks. Are the aids from these two
textbooks similar or different? In what ways are they similar or different?
Compare and explain:
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Creating Study Aids
Go To and Read: Creating Your Own Study Aids
Exercise #8: Read the paragraph below and review the sample study aid that was created from it.
"The field of educational psychology has four major sources of information:
journal articles, professional magazines, books, and monographs. All of these
sources discuss theories and research findings in the field (and all of them
were used to help create these modules). However, journal articles are the
major source for reporting original research. Professional magazines tend to
publish reviews, critical analyses and summary descriptions of theories or
research in the field. They also publish professional news, conference
announcements and job announcements. Books usually have one of two
purposes: to discuss major theories or summarize large amounts of research
around a common theme (such as the area of student learning in college).
Monographs are a specialized type of book. They are usually shorter than a
book and focus on a more restricted theme (such as student learning in math
courses). For those interested in applying this research to help students
improve their college performance and achievement, it is important to read all
of these resources."
Sample Study Aid #1
Educational Psychology Major Sources of Info:
 Journal articles
o Original research
 Professional magazines
o Reviews
o Critical analyses
o Summary descriptions
o Professional news
o Conference & job announcements
 Books
o Discuss major theories
o Summarize large amounts of research around a common theme
 Monographs (special book; shorter in length)
o Focus on a restricted theme
Go to and Read: A Sample Study Aid to see a second, visual study aid that was created from the
same paragraph.
Now that you have seen two examples of study aids, you will create your own study aid!
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Create a Sample Study Aid
Step 1: Read about creating Mind Maps and Review Charts, thinking about which one you may
wish to create for your sample study aid.
How to create a Mind Map
1. Start by writing the topic in the center of the paper and circling it.
2. Draw a line from the topic and write one major idea at the end of that line and circle it.
3. Continue with this process, connecting ideas to each other with circles and lines, showing
their relationship to the topic.
Example Mind Map:
Understand
the prompt
Check
grammar &
spelling
Entire statement
must be 100%
true
Look for
qualifiers
True/False
Essay
Test Taking
Strategies
Make an
outline 1st
Multiple
Choice
Watch for
negatives
Read all
answers before
choosing
Cross out
incorrect
choices
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How to create a Review Chart:
1. Start by writing the topic at the top, center of the paper.
2. Make a chart with two columns. Label the first column “Idea” and label the second
column “What is it?/Why is it important?”
3. Write the key points or main ideas under the first column and an explanation of what they
are and their importance in the second column.
4. Continue with the chart until you have finished writing down all the key points.
Example Review Chart:
Time Management
Idea
Make a “to do” list everyday
It’s okay to say “no”
Find the right time
Use a planner/calendar
Don’t waste time agonizing
Eliminate distractions
Keep things in perspective
What is it?/ WHY is it important?
Write important items 1st, prioritize, and cross off
accomplishments
Don’t overbook yourself; leave time for breaks
between study and work.
Find out when you are most alert; study and take
classes during those times (ex. Morning vs. night)
Write out short-term schedules and long-term
assignments; count backwards from due dates to break
down large assignments
Instead of worrying about something and
procrastinating, just do it! Reward yourself for
accomplishments and try to keep on schedule.
If you are distracted by the phone, computer, or TV,
turn them off while studying; don’t invite distractions
or means to procrastinate!
Set realistic goals (short-term & long-term) for
yourself; plan out the steps needed to reach these
goals.
Step 2: Read the STA DLA article (in this DLA packet) and underline or highlight the important
information that you think should be included in the study aid.
Step 3: Create either a mind map or a review chart on the page provided in this DLA.
NOTE: You only have to create ONE study aid for the STA DLA article.
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STA DLA Article
Article from: Environmental Science by George Tyler Miller and Scott E. Spoolman, 2008 ©
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Create your Study Aid here:
Why did you create this particular study aid?
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Using Available Resources, Part I
Go To: Types of Available Resources
Read: Available Resources
Go To and Read: Libraries
Go To and Read: Computer Labs
Go To and Read: Computers and the Internet
Go To: Instructors’ Office Hours
Read: Professor’s or Teaching Assistant’s Office Hours
Exercise #9: Answer the questions.
1. List one service the LBCC library provides for students. (Go to http://lib.lbcc.edu/ if you
don’t know of a service.) How could this service help you in your coursework?
2. Have you compared notes with another student, studied with your classmates, or
participated in a class forum or blog? If so, what was most helpful about this
experience? If not, which of these options would best suit your needs and why?
3. Do you have a specific email address you use just for school (communicating with
instructors and classmates)? Why might it be a good idea to have a specific email
address for school use?
4. Look at a syllabus for one of your courses. When is this instructor’s office hours? Have
you ever visited this instructor during office hours? Why or why not?
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Using Available Resources, Part II
Go To and Read: Review Sessions
Go To and Read: Study Groups
Go To and Read: Learning Centers
Go To and Read: Tutoring Services.
Exercise #10: Answer the questions.
1. Have you ever participated in Supplemental Instruction (S.I.)? If yes, explain your
experience. If not, go to this site: http://www.lbcc.edu/LAR/si.cfm and choose a
course that has S.I. that you might take in the future.
2. What are two advantages of participating in a study group?
3. Besides the Multidisciplinary Success Center, what are the other Success Centers at
LBCC?
4. Choose one subject for which you might utilize a tutor. Why?
Summary
Go To: Suggestions for Using Study Aids
Read: Suggestions for Improving Your Use of Study Aids
Go To: Good and Bad News about Study Aids
Read: Summary of the Study Aids Module
Go To: Suggestions from Other Students
Read: Suggestions from Other Students for Improving Your Use of Study Aids
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Exercise #11: Answer the following questions.
Which one suggestion from the readings can you apply immediately to your life or to your
coursework this semester?
How you will apply this suggestion this semester?
What did you learn about study aids in this activity that you can apply now to your coursework?
Congratulations! You have completed part of your study aids supplemental learning activity and
have learned how to identify, use, and create various study aids. To receive credit for
completing this assignment, you will participate in an online follow-up session with a Center
staff member. Go to the “Follow-up Sessions” tab on the Multidisciplinary Student Success
Center Online Supplemental Learning Assistance site:
http://www.lbcc.edu/SuccessCenters/mdsc/ to learn how to schedule your online appointment
with a Center staff member.
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