This section includes:
Many college students discover that there is significantly more to read in college than there was in high school. Students frequently remark that they don't have enough time to read through all of their assignments during the week. However, many students have bad habits and suffer from reading myths. This page is designed to help you understand reading as an active activity and help you become a more efficient and effective reader.
The documents on this page are provided for downloading in Microsoft Word and/or Microsoft Excel format. You will need to have Microsoft Office 97/98, or later, to read and print them.
Some common reading myths:
The following documents explain in more detail some misconceptions about reading:
One commonly used approach to reading, which works well for texts, is the Survey, Question, Read, Review and Recite (SQ3R) Method. The main steps are as follows:
For more information on how to use the SQ3R method and other reading techniques, download one of the handouts below:
Where you read is a very important aspect of how you read. Be sure that you read in a place that is quiet, has good lighting and allows you to stay alert. For more suggestions, download the following handout:
Improving Reading Speed and Comprehension Speed Reading
Contact Collis Miniversity for more information.
Information presented in class often contains the most important course information and the material most likely to be included on exams. Yet, students frequently do not realize the importance of notetaking and listening. The following handouts provide tips on how to recall more information from your lectures through active listening and purposeful notetaking. In addition, lecture notes can be a critical tool for preparing for exams. Suggestions are provided for how to use your notes regularly to review.
The documents on this page are provided for downloading in Microsoft Word and/or Microsoft Excel format. You will need to have Microsoft Office 97/98, or later, to read and print them.
Listening is an essential learning tool, however, human beings are poor listeners. Research reveals that individuals only recall 50% of what they hear and that 20-30% is incorrect. The following documents outline ways to improve your listening habits and retain more information from class.
While many students view notetaking as an activity conducted simply in lecture, solid notetaking skills require preparation and practice as well. Your class notes can serve as an important tool for reviewing for exams and distilling key concepts. The following handouts provide suggestions on ways to take good notes and use them well. The key is to use a system:
The documents on this page are provided for downloading in Microsoft Word and/or Microsoft Excel format. You will need to have Microsoft Office 97/98, or later, to read and print them.
Although studying in a residence hall is convenient, it is often a poor place to learn. Your room has a variety of distractions including Blitzmail, Snood, your bed, video games, friends down the hall.
If you want to improve your concentration and efficiency as a student, locate a place to study that is just that - a place where you go to work on academics. The campus is full of good spots to study. Experiment with what works best for you. The handout below provides a list of common study spots on campus and includes rankings of noise level, cleanliness, and availability.
Many students are surprised at the differences in studying for college courses versus how they studied in high school. College midterms and exams which require knowledge and application of concepts rather than simple memorization of facts. Students frequently discover they need to adapt their study habits to the college setting. Here are some tips for getting started:
The following documents provide additional strategies for general academic success and for specific subject areas including the sciences and writing.
In order to combat forgetting, students should review course materials regularly and actively. The following worksheets provide specific strategies for staying motivated, improving your memory, and active review.
