NEW Strategies for
“Your” Academic
Success
Dr. John Michael Domino
Center of Academic Assistance
Florida Gulf Coast University
MOTIVATION
 Why do you want to
attend FGCU?
 What is motivating
you to try your best?
 What can possibly
motivate you more?
 What is keeping you
from being on top?
MOTIVATION
 Feel confident in your
abilities – Einstein Factor
 Don’t take undue criticism
– even from yourself!
 Forget about past mistakes
– focus on your success!
 Read words of Inspiration!
 FOCUS on FUTURE
LONG TERM GOALS!
 What are the most
effective time
management tools?
TIME
MANAGEMENT
 How many days
does it take to make Time waits for no one!
something a habit?
 What is the best
way to set
priorities?
* Imagine a Sandwich that is 30 ft. long.
*Would you be able to eat it all in one
afternoon?
 How many ft. could you eat?
 If you tried to eat all 30 ft all in one day,
how would you feel?
 Would you try to eat it two days or in two
weeks?
SOLUTION:
Cut the sandwich into several pieces and store the rest in the
fridge or the freezer so you can eat smaller, easier to
consume amounts another day. You would not want to jam
two or more weeks worth of food down your stomach in
one day!
* Why would you try to stuff two weeks worth of
information into your brain in one cram session?
“Inch by inch, life is a cinch, yard by yard life is hard.”
GOALS
What are your goals?
Yale Study: Students who
list goals are much more likely
to achieve success.
“You become and achieve
what you believe.”
Priorities
What would you do if you had a choice of the following four things to
eat over the next four days and you had no refrigeration?
A Pizza
A Hot Dog
A Hamburger
A Submarine Sandwich
What would you eat first, second, etc?
What would you save for last? Why?
PRIORITIES:
•
•
•

Have you scheduled study times by using day planner?
How long do you study at one time?
Do you give your self rewards after you study?
“Have FUN while you study and make it a
PRIORITY!”
Priorities
List priorities in order A,B,C, D, etc. in your daily planner.
Cross out or check when you completed an assignment. You
can also use colors – red for high priorities, then purple,
blue, green, and so forth…
Date: Weds, Sept 29th
A) Algebra
Test, Mon 2 Oct
B) World History
Test Thurs 5 Oct
C) Chemistry
Paper due Fri 6 Oct
D) English
Paper dueThurs 12 Oct
PROCRASTINATION
“DO IT NOW”
DONUTS
Hot, Fresh, and Tasty!
PROCRASTINATION
What happens to the same
donuts if they are left out after two weeks? .
In two weeks the donuts will become STALE and Hard to eat!
Old Stale Information
Two weeks old (or more)
 What happens to information
we learn today?
 On the same day it’s fresh!
But if we don’t take a bite of
the same information in a
few weeks it becomes fuzzy,
stale, and hard to recall.
 “Review information
the same day while it’s
still fresh and easy to
remember.”
MEMORY STRATEGIES
 Organize – List facts in
chronological order use
colors and numbers.
 Learn Actively – Don’t
sit - move around and
form a mental picture.
 Draw diagrams, charts,
cartoons, all pictures are
a memory enhancer.
MEMORY STRATEGIES
 Stay Healthy – studies
show proper diet &
exercise can increase
memory by 20%.
 Recite – reciting is
THREE times more
effective than reading.
 Reviewing – notes the
same day increases your
chances of recalling by
over 70%.
To Improve Reading
Capabilities
 Successful Readers – READ! READ! READ!
 Read with Purpose – What do you need to know?
 Use SQ3R METHOD
*Survey the information.
*Question – what you have read.
*Read - re-tell the information in your own words.
*Recite – important information and highlights.
*Review - readings and answer review questions.
CONCENTRATION
 Do you daydream
while you study?
 Does your mind tend
to wander off?
 Do you think of
things totally
unrelated to the
subject?
 Do you worry often?
Concentration
What can you do?
 PUSH - PUSH
 Prepare and Organize
 Use syllabi & study guide
 Study difficult subjects first
 Have a dedicated study space




Phone – turn it off
Use SQ3R method
Study subjects at peak times
Have a worry pad handy and
write down stray thoughts.
To Improve Writing









List facts by using an outline.
Separate information into categories.
Formulate paragraphs.
Formulate topic sentences.
Compose a first draft.
Proof read papers carefully.
Review papers with another instructor.
Review papers with a capable student.
Bring your papers to the Writing Center!
The Writing Center
 Located in Reed Hall
 Rm. 237
 Mon 9:00-5:00
 Tues-Thurs 9:00-4:30
 Fri 1:00– 3:00
 No Appointment
is necessary!
Studying For Exams
 Use the F-O-C-U-S method, make it a habit!
 Focus focus on the syllabus and study guide.
 Open open your text and your notes daily and
become familiar with the content.
 Condense condense notes to form study sheets.
 Understand review material you are unsure of.
 Study – study in a quiet place, with a partner, in
a group, and quiz one another.
“The most important
thing is to not stop
questioning.”
Albert Einstein
Super Success Strategies









Ask questions – get answers the same day!
Seek SI or a tutor- make it a habit!
E-mail – the instructor, SI leader, classmate, etc.
Recite your notes daily – take frequent breaks!
Use index cards, post notes, and color pens.
Recite out loud - walk around the room.
Limit TV and Internet games to 30 min.
Visit The Center for Academic Assistance
Come to our next Success Seminar:
FINAL EXAM
TEST TAKING STRATEGIES
Wednesday, 1 Dec. at 4:00PM
Student Conference
Room. # 217
I’ll see you then!