Study Skills 101: Metacognitive Learning Strategies

We have al been there, we are ready to take an exam and we are stressed out and very anxious. It turns out that this is very common, and there is even a term for it "test anxiety." Today we will discuss what this is, and how to work around this so you can perform well on your exams.

Part of the challenge in University can be learning to actively take notes in class. In this episode we will discuss several different methods that have worked for students over the years. Ultimately it is up to you to choose what works best for you, but if you try a new method it might help give you that competitive "edge" for that higher grade in class.

Faculty have all different personality types, and they can range from "student hostile" to "student friendly." It can be hard to figure out how to talk to them and ask them for help when you need it. This episode, we will focus on how to talk to and address professors. There is a "good" way to do so, and this can save you a lot of headaches as you learn it.

Have you ever been told that you were stubborn? Well, it turns out that this can be a very useful trait in academics. Being stubborn is akin to being 'gritty.' Being gritty means that no matter the challenge, you keep working and keep trying. This is very related to success in academics and can be a great trait as you go after your degree.

If we realize it or not, our attitude plays a large part in our success in a class. If we avoid a difficult topic, and we decide we hate it, this will not help us conquer it. However when we embrace a challenge, take criticism well, and work hard to have a positive attitude, this can help us to do better in that challenging topic.

We may not know it, but a memory is a series of connections between our neurons called synapses that ultimately build networks in our brain. We build these networks through repetition and learning, and the more you use or review the information, the stronger the links and synapses become and the more likely you will remember it. Chunking is a way to link related new and old ideas together in those...

This week we will discuss how important it is to spread out your study time in small blocks rather than one big chunk. We will also discuss what order you should study your topics as we introduce a new concept of interleaving. Finally we will discuss the importance of frequent quizzes (even if you need to administer them for yourself).

Today we will be talking about the importance of office hours. Many times students do not feel they will benefit. However, going to office hours is like an investment. We get to know you, and we can then give you the help you need to do well in our class. I hope to see you soon!

Although there is no magic formula to getting top marks in University, research has shown that for people who sit up front, there is a potential pattern for higher success in their classes. This week we will discuss the benefits of sitting up front in your large lecture classes. This will once again be based on the research. Happy studying everyone!

Have you ever read a paragraph in your textbook like 5 different times and you still don't know what it says? Today's episode will focus on how to turn textbook reading into an active learning tool so you can remember what you read the FIRST time around!

This episode, we will discuss the best strategies to succeed on a multiple choice exam. Once again, this is based on the science, and I hope you find this helpful.

In this episode, we will discuss the importance of getting a good night's sleep before an exam. Scientific evidence has revealed that sleep and memory performance are tightly linked, which means in order to do well on your exams, you need to keep your brain healthy and well-rested.

This week, we will be discussing the scientific evidence as to why attending class live (in person) in addition to listening to recording will give you the best results.

Textbooks are incredibly expensive, and seem like a huge waste of resources and time. But according to the scientific evidence, reading them BEFORE you go to lecture can drastically increase your test scores! Join Charlie as we talk about the benefits (and evidence) of reading the book.