Studying Tips
Home How to Succeed in BIOL102

SPRINGFIELD TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DIVISION OF MATHEMATICS AND NATURAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Principles of Biology I

Reading and Studying Tips:

You will probably find that reading and studying for science courses seems a lot different than when you are preparing for non-science courses. There are some specific tips below that you can use for reading science texts and studying science material. This list is by no means complete, but it should help you in thinking about how to start.

bulletStudy actively.  That means, be awake and be doing something physically in addition to reading.  For example, while reading, repeat some of the important information aloud or write it down or draw it.  Follow the links that you are given on our course web pages.  Take short breaks to stay alert and focused.
bulletFind a GOOD PLACE and a GOOD TIME for studying.  What do I mean by this?
bulletA good place:  Some people need to study in a library or quiet place, while I know that I prefer to study when there is a lot of noise around me, like in a diner.   Dedicate a place at home or near home or work as a study place to ensure that you will make some progress.  Be sure that whatever place you choose, you will be free from time-consuming distractions like the telephone, visitors, or children's needs.
bulletWhat time of day do you study most effectively?  I study best very late at night, but I can also do well first thing in the morning; my worst times for studying are the afternoons, when I just can't seem to focus as well.  Therefore, I would study most effectively and efficiently if I could pick the night times (or even morning times) for studying, but I would waste a lot of my time if I chose the afternoons as study times.   Pick your studying time so that you will be most successful!
bulletTake notes on what you read IN YOUR OWN WORDS! For most people, hours of reading might get them through the science text chapter, but they will have no idea what any of it means. Don't worry about getting through the entire chapter in one sitting. Instead, take notes IN YOUR OWN WORDS every section (or even every paragraph) as you go. Make sure that you understand what section #1 means before you start reading section #2.
bulletFlashcards can be useful, but will NOT work as your only studying device. What seems to happen is that students memorize specific definitions from flashcards.  In science, each new term has many ways that it can be defined and described, so if a student only learns one word-for-word definition, when asked about what the word really means and implies, the student will not be able to answer.
bulletYou should LOOK UP words that you do not understand as you read. This will help you to understand the meaning of the text.
bulletSTUDYING WITH OTHER STUDENTS is your best bet to learning science. You will find that you learn so much more when you meet with other students and ask them questions or answer their questions.  Often, people think that they understand science material, but when they discuss it with someone else they find little holes in their knowledge.  In this course you can talk with other students at any time of day or night by sending them e-mail!  You will find these techniques to be really helpful for you.
bulletAsk your PROFESSOR questions.  I have office hours that I will provide for you to come and meet with me in person or to contact me by phone.  Please feel free to ask me questions via e-mail any time!  I always encourage students to seek my help, no matter how silly they think their questions are.
bulletThe web pages for this course were written with the intention to be different from being another textbook. Part of how that was done was by including many links from my pages to other pages. You will need to VISIT THE LINKS given on those pages in order to better experience the material.
bulletYour textbook has units in our BlackBoard website, as well as questions at the end of most chapters.  Try these out!
bulletSpend time looking through the "Guidebook for Studying and Learning in STEM" that is in your BlackBoard website.

I hope that you have found something useful on this page. I welcome any ideas or links from you as I continually strive to improve this page.

 

© 2006 STCC Foundation Press, content by Dawn A. Tamarkin, Ph.D.

Last changed: August 20, 2011