How to Ace Dr. Russo’s
Chem 1001 Course:
Metacognition is the Key!
Dr. Saundra Y. McGuire
Director, Center for Academic Success
Adjunct Professor of Chemistry
2005 National College Learning Center Association
Frank L. Christ Outstanding Learning Center Award
The Story of Five LSU Students
Travis, junior psychology student
47, 52, 82, 86
 Robert, freshman chemistry student
42, 100, 100, 100
 Amy, junior organic chemistry student
54, 82, 76, 78
 Michael, senior pre-medical organic student
30, 28, 80, 91
 Terrence, junior Bio Engineering student
GPA 1.67 cum, 3.54 (F 03), 3.8 (S 04)
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Fall 2005
Chemistry 2001
Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
Final
Class
Average Student 1 Student 2 Student 3 Student 4
76
65
67
70
83
52
67
65
46
55
72
61
68
68
65
78
107
88
88
90
Date of Final Exam:
December 14, 2005
Meeting with Student No. 1:
December 12, 2005
Meeting with Student Nos. 2 & 4:
December 2, 2005
Meeting with Student No. 3:
December 8, 2005
The final was worth 100 points with a 10 bonus question.
What we will cover today
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Why university students may be inefficient learners
Metacognition and its role in learning
Learning strategies that work, and why
Barriers to using these strategies and how to
overcome them
Why 1001 is Harder Than Some Courses
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The course moves a lot faster
The material is conceptual, not solely
based on memorization
The problems require you to think
The tests are less straightforward and
require you to apply concepts
Combining information to
form a unique product;
requires creativity and
originality.
Evaluation
Synthesis
Using information to solve
problems; transferring
abstract or theoretical ideas
to practical situations.
Identifying connections and
relationships and how they
apply.
Application
Comprehension
Restating in
your own words;
paraphrasing,
summarizing,
translating.
Knowledge
Louisiana State University  Center for Academic Success  B-31 Coates Hall  225-578-2872  www.cas.lsu.edu
High School
Memorizing verbatim
information. Being able to
remember, but not
necessarily fully
understanding the
material.
Identifying
components;
determining
arrangement, logic,
and semantics.
Undergraduate
Analysis
Making decisions and
supporting views;
requires
understanding of
values.
Graduate School
Bloom’s
Taxonomy
This pyramid depicts the different levels of thinking we use when learning.
Notice how each level builds on the foundation that precedes it. It is
required that we learn the lower levels before we can effectively use the
skills above.
Example from Quiz 1
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The ion with 12 protons, 13 neutrons and 10
electrons is:
Ne+3
C+2
Mn+2
B+2
Be+1
Dimensions for our classroom are about
10’ x 30’ x 45’. The density of air is
about 0.0012 g/mL. The mass of air in
our room is:
a) 43 grams
b) 14,200 grams
c) 0.0043 kg
d) 460 kg
e) 1.42 kg
Which of the following are in the order:
element, compound, mixture, solution?
A) Milk, Mercury, Iced Tea, Orange Juice
b) Orange Juice, Cement, Oxygen, a piece of
lumber
c) Iron, sodium chloride, oatmeal, beer
d) Air, Water, Elmer’s Glue, 7up
e) Potassium, sodium bicarbonate, syrup,
pancake batter
So, What Can You Do Now?
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Spend more time studying chemistry
(at least 9 hours per week)
Aim for 100% understanding
Use the tutorial center and office hours
Use the Study Cycle and Intense Study
Sessions
Study Smarter for Chemistry
Using Metacognition to
Become an Expert Learner
Metacognition
The ability to:
 think about thinking
 be consciously aware of oneself as a problem
solver
 to monitor and control one’s mental
processing
Turning Yourself into an
Efficient Chemistry Learner
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Do “think aloud” exercises
Constantly ask yourself “why” and “what if” questions
Move your activities higher on the Bloom’s taxonomy
scale by comparing and contrasting, thinking of analogies,
thinking of new pathways, etc.
Always test your understanding by verbalizing or writing
about concepts; practice retrieval of information
Study Strategies Gold Nugget
 The
Study Cycle with
Intense Study Sessions
The Study Cycle
Phase One:
Phase Two:
Read or preview chapters to be
covered in class… before class
(Create chapter maps)
Go to Class. Listen actively, take
notes, participate in class
Phase Three:
Review and process class notes as
soon as possible after class
Phase Four:
Incorporate Intense Study Sessions
Repeat
Intense Study Sessions
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2 - 5 minutes:
Set goals for next 40 min.

30 - 40 minutes:
Read text more selectively/highlight
Make doodles/notes in margins
Create mnemonics, work examples
Create maps

5 minutes
Review what you have just studied

10 minutes
Take a break
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Repeat
Other Techniques to Try Immediately
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Concept Mapping
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Practice Retrieval
List Concepts and Practice “Teaching”
________ ______ _______
________ ______ _______
________ ______ _______
Get the Most Out of Lecture
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Arrive early
Actively participate
Review notes soon after class
Rework all example problems
done in class
Get the Most Out of Homework
 Start
the material early--the day it is
assigned
 Do not flip back to see examples; work
the problem yourself!
 Don’t give up too soon (<15 min.)
 Don’t spend too much time (>30 min.)
Get the Most from SI, the
Tutorial Center, and Office Hours
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Try to understand the concept or work
the problem by yourself first
Come prepared to ask questions
Explain the material to the tutor or
professor or study group members
The LSU Dental School First Year Class:
An Amazing Success Story!
Metacognition Discussion – August 13, 2004
 Histology Exam – August 23, 2004
 Previous class averages: 74 – 77
 Challenge to class on August 13: 84 average
 Reported average on August 24: 85!
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Challenge to Dr. Russo’s 1001 Class
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Metacognition Discussion – March 2, 2007
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Increase average over quiz average
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Reward: To be determined by Dr. Russo
Writing Exercise
What behavior will you implement
between now next week?
If you don’t try it in within
the next 48 hours...
… you probably never will.
BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
TUTORIAL CENTER
113 E.B. Doran
Mon – Thurs: 11:00 am – 4:30pm
Fri:
11pm – 3 pm
ON-LINE STUDY STRATEGIES
WORKSHOPS
Time Management
College Reading and Note Taking
Managing Test Anxiety
Test Taking Strategies
Concept Mapping
INDIVIDUAL CONSULTATIONS
 Specific Study Strategies
 Concept Mapping
 Test Preparation
FABULOUS WEB SITE
WWW.CAS.LSU.EDU
Study Smarter Workshops On Line
 Weekly and Semester Planners
 GPA Calculator
 Great Links
Web Page Development
 Study Strategies Sites
 Graduate Exam Links
(GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT)
The Center for Academic Success
B-31 Coates Hall
www.cas.lsu.edu
Unlock your excellence
and ace Chem 1201!