Study Skills and Test Taking Tips

I am currently completing my fourth and final year of undergraduate studies and have learned a few things about studying and test taking, which I will now share with you. The study skills and test taking tips included in this sacred parchment are yours to use, but use them wisely.

Study Skills

1.) Be consistent: Once you create a set of study habits that work for you and stick with them. I prepare for all of my exams in a similar manner and always study in my room. Consistently studying in the same place makes it easier to stay focused and retain information.

2.) Don’t procrastinate: If you are like me you have heard this a hundred times before! While unavoidable at times cramming for exams is not the most effective way to study. Instead try to study several times for shorter periods of time in preparation for an exam.

3.) Create a schedule of your exams and due dates: At the beginning of every semester I write down all the dates I have exams and assignments due on a single sheet of paper and pin this to my calendar. This helps to keep me organized and prevents exams and assignments from ‘sneaking up’ on me.

4.) Pick a proper study environment: I always study in my room because it is free from distractions and quiet. Pick a location where you are comfortable and can do your best work.

5.) Listen to the prof: Many professors provide their classes with study guides or general ideas about what to study. Pay attention to these hints and guides they will usually give you a pretty good idea about what to expect on your exam.

Test Taking Tips

1.) Get a good nights sleep: I’m not sure if this is truly a test taking tip, but sleep is important. Sleep will give your brain and body a chance to rest prior to an exam.

2.) Eat and chew gum: Give yourself time to eat before exams. It is much harder to focus on a test when you are hungry. Chew gum? According to Dr. Phil, chewing gum during an exam can improve one’s testing performance.

3.) Carefully read the exams instructions: This is key! I don’t know how many times, after getting an exam back, that I have heard people around me saying, “$*%?, I didn’t know that’s what we were supposed to do.” But, if you take the time to carefully read the instructions on an exam it should be clear what the professor expects for your answers. Carefully reading an exam can mean the difference between getting an A or B.

4.) Follow your initial instinct: If you are unsure about the answer to a question follow your instincts and answer the way you initially felt you should. Do not second guess yourself. Your initial instinct is most likely correct.

5.) Have an extra pen or pencil: You never know when your pen will run dry or when your pencils led will break.

6.) Don’t be afraid to ask questions: If you have read the exam and are still unclear about something ask the professor. If you do not understand a question you can not answer it properly.

7.) Don’t spend too much time on any one question: Use your time effectively, if a section of the test is worth 40% spend 40% of your time on that section and move on. If you are stuck on a question move on to the next one and come back to the question you were struggling with.

8.) Don’t stare at the clock: Know how much time you have but do not become fixated on the time.

Supplementing your U of L Experience

Getting to know your profs: Developing a professional relationship with your professors is very important especially if you plan on pursuing Graduate Studies. Getting to know your prof’s allows you to observe their particular expertise, and it may turn out to be something you are interested in as well. An easy way to approach professors is to talk to them after class, or make an appointment to see them if you are unclear on some of the material being covered in class. Another way students interact with their professors is through the ‘‘Meet the Prof Night’’, where you are given a chance to mingle with the professors from your department at a dinner (usually pizza and beer). This is a good to do especially when you are just starting out at the University, as many of the professors you meet will end up teaching a class of yours at one point or another.


Independent Studies: Independent studies are a great way to expand your knowledge on a particular area of interest you may have. The studies may be taken for credit, and can be inside or outside your major, or in an interdisciplinary approach. Independent studies usually consist of conducting research, or doing fieldwork, and you can find information about these from your department or pick up a form from the Registrars Office. There is a limit to the number of studies you can do, so make sure to check your degree requirements.


Applied Studies: Applied studies offer students a chance to earn academic credit through employment or volunteer services. They are a great opportunity to gain experience in your related area of study. There are specific requirements in order to be able to take part in an applied study, and you can find out more information about this by visiting the Co-operative Education/Applied Studies office in B610, or drop by your faculties office.


Research: One way to gain experience in your particular area of study is to participate in research experiments. Many times professors will ask the class to participate in an experiment they are conducting, and there will sometimes be incentives, such as extra marks in that class, or even cash incentives. Sometimes students are asked to be research assistants as well, and they assist the professor in coordinating the experiment. This can prove to be very valuable as it is a way to observe how professors at the University conduct their work, and potentially what you could be doing one day.


Co-operative Education (Co-op): Co-op is a great opportunity to acquire paid work experience in a field that you are interested in. The program strives to link students with the University and employers so that students can take advantage of the diverse employment opportunities being offered. The program alternates academic periods with work experience periods to encourage individuals to be well rounded.
These are just a few of the benefits the Co-op program provides:

▪ It helps students develop skills valuable for future work experience or graduate school
▪ It enables students to experience the application of their discipline and make a more informed decision on their career direction
▪ It assists students in the making the transition from University to the workplace
▪ During a Co-op work term students maintain full time student status, with respect to financial loans and scholarships, the Student Union health and dental plan, and also registration privileges.
▪ Students who complete the program graduate with the Co-operative Education designation on their degree/transcript. This is extremely useful, as many times employers will select applicants who have this designation over those who do not. This is because the Co-op designation tells employers that you have more work related experience, which is very important in many professions.

More information about the Co-op program can be found at the Arts and Science Co-operative Education office in B610, by email, artsci.coop@uleth.ca, or check out the website at http://home.uleth.ca/bsc-cop/
The Management Co-operative Education office can be contacted at mngt.coop@uleth.ca

Strategies for Dealing With Uncivilized Roomies

For three years, I had the privilege of living with roomates who often got on my nerves. When I look back, as I live alone now, it was always nice to have the company and the laughs. Enjoy it while you can before you become an old fifth year student who prefers to live alone and only clean up after themselves :)

As poor university students, most of us have had to deal with the unruly habits of random and inconsiderate roommates. Whether you live in rez with your roommate of either choice or random luck, in aperture, or off-campus, there are ways of dealing with those dirty dishes, late loud nights, and inability of anyone but you to clean. Here are some strategies for dealing with uncivilized roommates:

• Make a cleaning/dishes schedule – Once this is done, no one will have to pick up after everyone else because the whole house will know whose day it is to do what.

• Get to know as many people as you can outside of your house – this will give you the opportunity to escape the household and get away from all of the little things that make you insane, even if it is just for a few hours.

• Buy earplugs – sometimes we just have to accept the fact that people like to go to bed later than we do and forget that they are living with anybody but themselves; earplugs is the key and will help you stay in that deep sleep when your roommate comes home drunk with all his/her friends at three in the morning.

• Get/borrow a car – although first and second year, or all of the years for that matter, can be a little tight in the money department, buying a car will give you so much freedom and independence from the house. Just being able to leave whenever you want, going to a movie, the mall, or getting groceries, will all give you an excuse to get out of the house should anyone be getting on your nerves.

• Get a job – This will ensure that you get away from the drama of the household and will give you extra money at the same time for that new pair of jeans you’ve been eying up.

• Find homework/study spots that are quiet and allow you to concentrate – just because you have homework doesn’t mean your roommates do too. Take responsibility and instead of always expecting them to cater to your silent needs, find somewhere else to do homework.

• Say something – if something’s on your mind, talk about it, don’t hold it in.

Top 10 Study Spots at the U of L

The following are my picks for the top ten study spots on the U of L campus.

1.) The Library has got to be number one. Aside from containing the books and journals that you will use when researching papers the library has 1096 individual study space (144 of which have log-in computers) and 17 group study rooms.

2.) The 24 Hour Study Center. This room is located in the Atrium of U Hall and is open 24 hours a day, equipped with computers and a printer this is the place to be working on a paper at two in the morning.

3.) The tables outside of L1050 and L1060. This study area is also open 24 hours a day and even has vending machines and washrooms – you never have to leave!

4.) The Group Study Rooms in the W500 area. On the fifth floor of U Hall there are several group study rooms open 24 hours a day.

5.) The leather couches behind (east of) C.J.’s. If comfort is your main concern when seeking the ideal study space than these couches are pretty dang good.

6.) The Curriculum Laboratory (aka the curr. lab). The curr lab is located on the 11^th floor of the library and is great for group projects as you do not have to be quiet. Plus there are bean bag chairs!

7.) The pool observation area. Located on the 2^nd floor of the P.E. building the pool observation area is a favourite study spot for many students.

8.) The concrete stairs outside the P.E. and S.U. buildings. When it nice enough these stairs are a great place to work outside.

9.) 5th, 7th and 8th floors of U Hall. There are always lots of quiet places to study in U Hall, usually outside offices on the 8^th and 7^th floors and outside the theatre on the 5^th floor.

10.) The Atrium. In between classes the atrium is usually pretty quiet and there is always a table available to study at.

Do you know of any other study spots on campus? Post a comment and let us here about them.

The Library is Your Friend

When you first start at the university, research papers and projects tend to become overwhelming and stressful. However, not knowing how to find resources and materials can make it even more stressful. That is why it is so important to get to know your way around the library and become familiar with this environment as you will likely be visiting it a lot throughout your university career.Here are some services provided to you by the library:

Library Tours

In September and January students are encouraged to sign up for a general library tour. Library staff emphasize the services that are offered, point out the location of basic services and provide some basic information on how to use the library.You can also do a virtual tour of the library at: http://www.uleth.ca/lib/virtour/

On-line Services

Not only is the library easy to use, but it is made even easier by the services offered on-line.Library privileges, renewals, on-line journals and articles, interlibrary loans, and getting call numbers of the books you want to find, can all be done from the convenience of your own home.It is all very user-friendly and links are easy to find. Plus, if you have any questions at all, the ladies and few gentlemen are so willing to help and really take the time to make sure you understand how to find what you need.
All of the information about fines, borrowing privileges and any other questions you may have about the library can be found at: http://www.uleth.ca/lib/services/display.asp?PageID=131

Other Privileges

It is definitely useful to be a member of the library here, because it offers you other services like a free Alberta Library Card, which gives you access to any library in the province, including the Lethbridge Public Library as well as access to the on-line library catalogues of Medicine Hat and U of C.

Curriculum Lab

This is undoubtedly one of U of L’s claims to fame. If you are in Education, the Cur lab is the place to be! The resources are endless and the individuals who work here are entirely selfless and willing to help with anything you ask. Even if you are not in Education, the Cur lab is somewhere where you are free to work with a group without having to whisper and be quiet all of the time. There are computers and classrooms there to use as well.

Computers in the Library

• 37 stand-up computers for Internet access


• 144 log-in computers (require UofL username and password) for access


• Network drives (e.g., P drive, S drive)


• CD burners


• Printing (provided UofL users have sufficient funds in print account)


• 4 computers designated for those with special needs


• Lethbridge Community Network Station (includes PC, scanner and CD burner)


• laptops for loan at the General Services Desk


• Laptop hookups available in carrels with yellow arrows overhead and in Group Study Rooms


• Wireless access for laptops
  

Study Spaces

• 1096 study spaces


• 17 group study rooms available on first-come first-serve basis


• 147 study carrels equipped with microcomputers


• Carrels equipped with listening and viewing equipment


• Computers with specialized software and devices to assist students, faculty and staff with special needs