Biology       STUDY TIPS

INSTRUCTOR'S EXPECTATIONS: What are you expected to learn ?

Where can you get this information ?

a.  Syllabus
b.  Hints during Lecture
c.  Reading Assignments
d.  Previous Quizzes
e.  Instructor
f.   Following Directions
g.  Objectives in books and lab handouts
h.  Chapter summaries and review questions at the end of assignments in text.
i.    Study guides

TIME MANAGEMENT

A. Study Time:

* Schedule 2 Hours Study Time Outside Class Per Week For Every Hour In Class. 
    Add or subtract time depending on course demands.

* Example: This class meets for six hours -- so you need to study 12 hrs/week.

* BUT if that isn't enough for you to feel confident about understanding the 
    material, then you need to invest more time. Do Not Give Up ! Study More!

* Study for 40-50 minutes at a time; take a 10 minute break; continue.   Spread
    your biology study time among several days throughout the week.  


B. Time for other Activities:

(1) Calculate your study time.
(2) Add it to the time you spend in class.
(3) Add sleep time per week (ex. 7 hrs/night x 7 nights/ week = 49 hrs /week)
(4) Subtract this total from 168 hours per week'
(5) The result is the amount of time you have left for eating, working, play 
      each week.


C. Get A Calendar !

* Plot all homework, exams, reading assignments, projects, and
    deadlines for the entire semester as early as possible.

* Maintain a weekly calendar with everything you need to do from first
     thing in the morning until bedtime.

* Start assignments as early as possible. Always set a personal deadline
     that's earlier than the teachers deadline. 

* Rule of thumb for estimating time needed to complete projects:

1. Add 25% to your time estimate if you've never done this before.
                    - OR -
2. Add 10% if you have done it before.

3. Add another 10% for unforeseen events that pop up.

Better to finish early than late...it allows you time to polish your work and 
ensures that your project will be turned in on time.


HOW TO STUDY:

a. Develop a GOOD ATTITUDE.

* Set goals. What do you want out of Life ?

* Believe that what you learn is going to help you achieve those goals. If you don't 
    believe that, believe that it is possible that this is true.

* Make learning a top priority !! If you begin to have difficulty in class, get help 
    immediately ! (Ask questions of me before, during, or after class, form a study 
    group with other students in class, use computer tutorials or work with a human 
    tutor in the TLC (Tutoring/Learning/Computing) Lab in Room I-201. The Biology 
    department also has a mini computer lab available in room L-

* If you come in to class with a positive attitude, then you will learn more easily 
    and have more fun. 

* Do your part to bring interest into the class. Read the assignments, mention 
    news items, TV shows you've seen, observations that you have made, places 
    that you have vacationed, things that you have done, etc. that are relevent to 
    the topics that we are learning about.

b. Reading.

* Skip the Chapter summary until later.

* In your first reading, skim through whole chapter so you to get a general idea of 
    what it is about. Then explain it aloud in simple terms.

* During the second reading go through the Chapter carefully, making a flash card 
    for every word you don't understand, words in bold print, and words in italics, 
    as you go along.
- Write the word on one side and the definition on the other side.
- Carry these cards with you and use them for review in your spare time.
- Place a check mark by any statements you don't understand. Be sure to look 
   up the definition of any words that you don't understand immediately. If you 
   still don't understand after reading it several times, you need to get a different 
   explanation...first, think of a specific question that addresses what is unclear. 
   Try answering it yourself in writing. Look up the material in the textbook to see 
   if it helps. Talk it over with a classmate, try another book, ask me, or see a 
   tutor. (When asking questions, be specific as possible.)

* The third time you read the chapter you will understand it very well.

* Now , close the book and write a summary of the chapter. Compare it with the 
chapter summary in the book. Next, take the sample test at the end of the section.

* Finally, have someone ask you questions about the reading. This will tell you 
    what you know and what you don't know...and need to restudy.


LECTURE

1. Stay awake in lecture: even if you are tired. Breathe deep, sit up straight in your 
    chair. Act interested and you will be interested. TAKE NOTES !!! 

2. Take Notes: in a shorthand that you understand. Edit them up after each class to
    make sure that you or anyone else will understand them later in the semester. 
    Review your notes often throughout the semester!! Before each new lecture, review
    your notes for all of the previous lectures

TEST PREP

* Be sure you study and understand lecture notes and reading assignments 
    and all of the vocabulary in both. Be able to explain the concepts and 
    vocabulary so clearly in your own words that someone who knows nothing 
    about biology can understand them.

* Pretend you are the teacher and make a list of as many good test questions as
    possible. Be sure that you can answer them. If you can't, then you know you 
    need to study that material. Chances are that you will come up with many of the 
    same questions as the teacher.

* Answer the questions at the end of the chapter in your text book.

* Use as many senses as possible when studying. Try tape-recording your notes. 
    This is an especially good strategy when you don't have a lot of time to study. 
    You can listen while you are commuting, cleaning, working out , etc. Make and 
    review flash cards. Use the computer study software available at school and in your
    textbook. Join a study group of students from your class. Create physical models of
    processes. Get help right away if you  don't understand something.


TEST TAKING
a. Attitude - Be positive !
- Even if you don't know an answer, use information that you do 
    know to help you eliminate incorrect answers and help you arrive 
    at the correct one.
- If you do guess, stick with the first answer that occurs to you.

b. Focus - Read the instructions carefully and follow them !
- Be sure that you understand the question and answer it 
   appropriately. I can only grade you on the answer that you 
   write, not on what you meant to write.
- If you have a question about a question ask me during the exam.

c. Prioritize - Go through the whole exam, answering the easiest questions first.
- On multiple choice exams, rule out non-answers by the process of elimination.
- If you must guess, stick with your first guess.
- Pace yourself. Keep track of the time you have to complete the exam.

d. REVIEW the Questions and Your Answers Before Turning in Your Exam !!

e. If you must change answers on a Scantron, ERASE COMPLETELY AND KEEP
     YOUR ANSWER SHEET NEAT.

OVERCOMING TEST ANXIETY

1. Study well before the exam.

2. Visualize taking the exam calmly, and doing very well on it.

3. Stop negative thoughts as soon as they begin and restate them in a positive 
    way.

4. Practice taking tests under similar conditions as those at school.
    The more you do it, the easier it gets. 

5. During the exam and at other times you do Relaxation Exercises:

a. Take long, deep breaths and concentrate on the air going in and out of your 
     lungs.

b. Scan your body for tension. If you find some, make that part of your body 
    more tense and then relax it totally. If your breathing is faster or shallower
    than usual, slow and deepen your breathing. This alone will calm you.

c. Be your own best friend. Talk to yourself in an encouraging way as you would if you
    were speaking to a friend.

d. Adopt the physical and mental attitudes you have when you feel strong, confident,
    successful, and in control.

e. Focus on the present. Concentrate on the exam. Read carefully. 
    Reject negative thoughts as soon as they enter your brain and substitute 
    them with the same thought stated in a positive way. Re-read each question 
    and answer to make sure that you choose the best answer before you turn 
    in the test. If something on the exam is unclear, ask about it during the 
    test...preferably before you answer the question.

6. At home 
a. make time to have some fun.
b. exercise regularly.
c. eat sensibly.
d. get enough rest.
e. use guided imagery to take a quick trip...
- Close your eyes, relax your body and imagine yourself in a 
    beautiful, peaceful, natural setting. Be as specific as 
    possible. Use all your senses. Hear the sounds, feel the 
    textures, smell the scents, see the sights, etc.

STUDYING FOR BIOLOGY LAB

I. ALWAYS READ YOUR LAB BEFORE CLASS. 

A. THIS WAY YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE TOPIC, VOCABULARY, 
     EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE AND PURPOSE OF THE LAB. YOU WILL 
     HAVE MORE SUCCESS AND LESS FRUSTRATION IF YOU ASK ABOUT 
     THINGS YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND BEFORE GETTING INVOLVED IN 
     DOING THE LAB ACTIVITY.


II. LEARN THE VOCABULARY.
A. BE ABLE TO DEFINE AND/OR DESCRIBE WORDS IN BOLD PRINT. 

B. LOOK UP ANY WORD YOU ARE UNABLE TO DEFINE.

C. LEARN THE FUNCTION AND LOCATION OF ANATOMICAL PARTS AND 
     ORGANS. 

D. LEARN THE TAXONOMY, DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS 
     (INCLUDING ANY SPECIAL ANATOMY, FUNCTION OF BODY PARTS, USE 
     BY MAN, CAUSE OF DISEASE, ECOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS, MODES 
     OF LOCOMOTION, TYPES OF REPRODUCTION, LIFE CYCLES, HABITATS, 
     EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIPS, AND EXAMPLES OF ORGANISMS 
     BELONGING TO THE GROUP BEING STUDIED.).


III. WHEN USING A BOOK THAT LISTS OBJECTIVES, USE THEM AS A STUDY 
     GUIDE. 


IV. USE THE LAB WRITE-UP, QUESTIONS WITHIN THE TEXT, AND REVIEW 
      QUESTIONS AS A STUDY GUIDE FOR QUIZZES GUIDE TO WHAT'S 
      IMPORTANT IN THE CHAPTER.

V. IF AFTER USING THE ABOVE GUIDES YOU ARE STILL UNSURE ABOUT 
     WHAT TO STUDY, ASK ME. 

VI. EQUIPMENT

A. FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH EQUIPMENT BEFORE USING IT. KNOW ITS NAME,
    HOW TO USE IT,   AND WHY IT IS USED.

VII. WHEN MAKING OBSERVATIONS UNDER A MICROSCOPE:
      * USE INFORMATION FROM THE READING IN YOUR LAB CHAPTER AND 
          YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC ATLAS TO HELP YOU FIND WHAT YOU ARE 
          LOOKING FOR IN THE MICROSCOPE. 
      * DRAW A SIMPLE DIAGRAM OF THE IMAGE.

      * WRITE THE NAME (SCIENTIFIC WHENEVER POSSIBLE) OF THE 
         ORGANISM BEING STUDIED, THE APPROPRIATE TAXONOMIC 
         CLASSIFICATION(S) AND LABEL THE IMPORTANT PARTS OF YOUR 
         DRAWING. NOTE THE TOTAL MAGNIFICATION USED. 


VIII. STUDY AIDS (LAB ATLASES, YOUR SKETCHES, & LAB REPORTS)
A.     FLASHCARDS

B.     TAPE RECORD YOUR NOTES AND LISTEN IN CAR, ON ERRANDS, ETC.

C.     STUDY WITH A GROUP. THIS MAY BE HELPFUL AND MORE FUN THAN
          STUDYING ALONE. 

D.     IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE LEARNING OR ON QUIZZES, GET HELP 
          IMMEDIATELY! 


IX. EXPERIMENTS
A.     BEFORE YOU BEGIN AN EXPERIMENT:

1.     BE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE TOPIC. IF YOUR LAB TEXT DOES 
         NOT EXPLAIN CLEARLY, LOOK IT UP IN YOUR LECTURE TEXT.

2.     BE ABLE TO STATE THE PURPOSE OF THE EXPERIMENT.

3.     LEARN THE PROCEDURE.

a.     IF IT INVOLVES SPECIAL EQUIPMENT, KNOW THE NAME OF THE 
         EQUIPMENT, BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN HOW IT WORKS.

4.     PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE INITIAL CONDITIONS IN THE EXPERIMENTAL
         SETUP AND MAKE A NOTE OF THEM.  THIS WAY YOU WILL BE BETTER ABLE
         TO TELL IF A CHANGE HAS OCCURRED LATER IN THE PROCESS. 

B.     DURING THE EXPERIMENT:

1.     APPLY THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD. RECORD YOUR HYPOTHESIS, TEST 
         PROCEDURE, OBSERVATIONS/RESULTS, ANALYZE THE DATA, 
         INTEPRET DATA, STATE WHETHER OR NOT YOUR HYPOTHESIS WAS 
         SUPPORTED.

2.     FOLLOW DIRECTIONS VERY CAREFULLY TO ENSURE PERSONAL 
         SAFETY AND A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT. 

3.     ASK YOURSELF WHY YOU ARE DOING EACH STEP. (REMEMBER TO 
         ANSWER THE QUESTION !) 

4.     KEEP DETAILED RECORDS OF THE WHOLE PROCESS DURING THE 
         LAB

5.     INTERPRET YOUR RESULTS. (WHAT DO THEY MEAN?)

C.      AFTER THE EXPERIMENT:

1.  REVIEW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE,  YOUR RESULTS,  AND THEIR
      SIGNIFICANCE.  RELATE THE CONCEPTS YOU LEARNED TO YOUR
      WORK.  HOW DO THEY COMPARE? WERE YOUR RESULTS THE ONES
      YOU EXPECTED?  IF THEY WERE DIFFERENT,  CAN YOU THINK OF ANY
      REASONS FOR THE DIFFERENCE(S) ?