TOPIC THREE- STUDY SKILLS

Task #1 First, let's take a little inventory of your present study skills. Examine the list of study skills below. Next, choose one or two skills you would like to improve. In a short paragraph, tell which skills you chose and why. Post your response on your blog.

I have two skills on which i think i need to work on. The two skills are getting to class on time and getting started because i usually take a few more minutes before i go to class & when i get to class i don't start working right away because when i get in the class i get on the internet and get easly distracted by some other websites, so i don't start working right away. =)
Thats why i think i need to work more on those two skills.

1. Get to class on time -- it takes more of your time to catch up than to keep up. Vital instructions needed for the swift completion of your tasks are often given during the first minutes of class each day. Missing them means extra effort and wasted time.

2. BE PREPARED -- have pen/pencils, paper, pacing guides and assignments handy. Can't get things done if you can't get started or delay starting because you don't know what to do. Worse yet, ever complete a lesson in NovaNet you didn't have to do? Having the pacing guide handy can save you a lot of time and effort. Work smart; be prepared!

3. Take good Notes -- taking good notes doesn't necessarity mean taking more notes. On the contrary, writing less is usually more effective. Write down only key words. Use abbreviations for long words. Make up a shorthand or code for words (if you send text messages, you already have plenty of practice). You know, "formulas are your friends." Think about it. They are the ultimate shorthand. And, " a diagram is worth a thousands words." Put a date on each page of notes to make organizing them as simple a 1-2-3. As a result, you will be able retrieve facts quicker, cut down on study time, and learn more in less time.

4. Get Started -- it's easy to put things off "until tomorrow," but it's silly to wait three days to do an assignment that could only take you only 30 miniutes to complete. That's working harder not smarter. It's called procrastination. There are a lot of reasons why we procrastinate. Work on this skill. Get into the habit of starting tasks without thinking (and worrying) about them first. The sooner you start, the sooner you finish.

5. Finish - finish whatever you start whenever possible. It is much easier to take a few extra minutes to finish a task than it is to quit and restart. Just rebooting your computer and opening NovaNet can take longer than it would to simply finish a NovaNet lesson or test when you had the chance.

Task #2 Click here to open a website dedicated entirely to improving study skills. Here is a chance to work on improving two skills that most people ususally need to work on -- how to take notes and combating procrastination. You will complete this task in two parts.

Part a. From the main menu, click on the lesson Taking Notes in Class. Read the lesson, take notes, and then list 5 things you can do to take better notes. Post your list.

• Review notes from the previous class session.
• Complete all assigned readings before getting to class.
• Stay focused on what the teacher is saying.
• Write quickly to include all important information in notes.
• Check with other students to make sure important information was not left out.

Part b. Now, go back to the menu and click on the lesson labeled Procrastination. Again, read the lesson, take notes, and then list at least 5 things you yourself are willing to do to control excessive procrastion. Post your list.

• Commit yourself to completing a task once started.
• Work on a task you find easier after you complete a difficult task.
• Reward yourself whenever you complete a task.
• Eliminate distractions that interfere with working on tasks.
• Make a schedule of the tasks you have to do and stick to it.

Task #3 Blog Post: Service Learning Weekly Journal. Continue to write a one or two paragraph blog post that discusses your experiences thus far at your service learning placement. Be sure to write using complete sentences, proper capitalization, and proper grammar. You may want to include some of the following in your journal.

My working experiences at Master Cuts are great because, they make it seem like its a real job and they also teach what is need to be done. Like this past week i learned how to do the lip & eyebrow waxing. I am really excited with this learning expirience because there is alot of things i think am going to learn about how to run a hair salon while am in there. =)