Biology

							          Biology
How to study in a scientific subject
               area
     The Name of the Game
 Active  learning!!!!
    Reading is not studying (it’s a very

     weak form of passive learning), so
     reading the notes or textbook in
     hopes of passing a test is NOT a
     recipe for success!
 Instead: Turn passive learning into
  active learning!
        How Do I Do THAT????
 1. Stop frequently with what you are
  reading.
 2. Consider what you have just read and
  ask yourself:
      What is the concept being discussed?
      Put it in your own words
      Use post-it notes to jot down notes and affix
       them to the corresponding page in your
       reading
      Use your reading guides!
 Note Taking: A Key To Success
 Ifused correctly note-taking can be a form
  of active learning:
 Here’s how you do it:
 Don’t write down everything word for word,
  instead take the “Big Picture” Approach
Successful Note Taking Strategies
 Read    lecture material before lecture day
 Focus on the major ideas, then write it
  down once you understand it enough to
  put it in your own words
 Leave 3” on the margins to use as a notes
  section after class to amplify the major
  points or to fill in any gaps or details
 Review the topic before you attend a
  lecture on a new topic!
    Misconceptions & Lecture
 Understanding   a lecture does not =
  passing a test!!!!
 2 Reasons Why
 1. Tests require you to integrate the
  information from multiple
  subjects/categories into one major
  idea
 2. Questions are application
 Using the Big Picture Approach to
             Learning
 Steps:
 1. Summarize the info
 2. Relate new info to other info you
  already know
 3. Use compare contrast exercises to
  identify relationships
 4. Use thinking maps
 5. Study with a friend
             Peer Studying
 Here  are some suggestions for how to
  study effectively with a friend:
 1. Take turns explaining the material
 2. Explain a concept or process in a
  logical story that flows from point to point

 Teaching  is the best way to learn it!!!! Just
  ask a teacher!!!!
          Big Picture Continued
 6.  Take advantage of pictures and figures
  in the text! (Tests often contain them)
 7. Interact with the course material
  EVERY DAY!!!
 Make the most of lab exercises
      Provide practice on concepts in a non-lecture
       format
      Is a hands on activity
     Making the most of Labs
 Review  the exercise on your own and ask
  yourself the following questions. DO THIS
  BEFORE YOU ATTEND THE ACTIVITY!
 “What can I expect to learn?”
 “How will I be doing this experiment?”
 “What do I expect the results of this
  experiment to be?”
      Test Study Tips: A Review
   Visualize
   Use the text before test to clarify
   Make a realistic schedule and stick to it
   Pre-read
   Maximize hands on activities
   Sit in front
   Compare notes w/a friend
   Review material same day
   Don’t cram
   Maximize your class time
   A Six Day Plan for Studying
 6thday before the test
 1. break down the material into 3-4 major
  topics
 2. Circle/highlight anything in your notes
  you do not understand
 3. seek out a classmate, teacher or text to
  get clarification on the areas you don’t
  understand.
             6th Day Example
 Studying   cell division
 Topics
 1. Mitosis
 2. Meiosis
 3. The chromosomes
 4. Diseases
              On the 5th Day
 Studyyour first category subject matter
 Make note cards
     Should contain names, vocabulary, examples
      and pictures
             On the 4th day
 Quiz yourself on 5th
  day materials
 Make notecards on
  second category
 Study second
  category, stopping
  only when you know
  you would pass a test
  on that material
          On the 3rd Day
 Quiz  again
 Study the 3rd
  category
 Make note cards
 Reward yourself
  for being half
  way there!
           On The 2nd Day
 Quiz  on day 3 material or whole chapter (if
  you have no category 4 to study for)
 Study category four if you have one
 Go through whole set of note cards,
  setting aside only those that you do not
  know for further study
 Rehighlight notes, focus on what you still
  don’t know.
 Study with a partner today.
         Day Before the Test
 Make    a list of all highlighted material you
  still don’t know
 Study those and the little details you may
  have overlooked before. Review notes for
  last time.
 Sit back, relax! You are ready!!!!
 Remember to SLEEP! It is the most
  important factor for determining success
    Be careful on how you make note
                  cards
   Old way to make note cards-

 put term or vocab. on one side and definition on
  the other side. This is bad because it leads you
  to memorization and not a true understanding.
  You will not do well on my tests with this format
 Ex. Term- Active transport
      Definition-the movement of a substance
        requiring energy across a membrane
              Note Cards
 Better   way to make note cards-

 Turn the term, vocab. word, or concept
 into a question.

 Ex.   Explain the difference between active
        transport and passive transport?
             Note Cards
 You can see the answers between the two
 different formats will lead to more
 elaborate answers and a better
 understanding of the concept.

 Withyour note cards try to use more of
 “Whale” type of words in your questions
 vs. “minnow” type of words
              Notecards
 Minnow  Words- who, what, when, tell,
 where, describe, define, name, match, list,
 find, recall, state

 Whale Words- predict, infer, compare and
 contrast, classify, plan, apply, design,
 demonstrate, why, rate, explain, what if
    Ways to use the notecards for
      different learning styles
 Visual people- draw a picture on the notecard of
  the vocab. word
 Kinesthetic people -go into the garage or
  driveway, lay the cards on the ground, dribble a
  basketball while picking up and studying the
  cards. Game doesn’t stop until you can dribble
  by all the cards and you know the
  terms/concepts. Other ideas include putting the
  vocab .word note cards in one part of the house
  (downstairs) and place the definition note card in
  another part of the house (upstairs) and you
  have to match the two cards
   Ways to use the notecards for
     different learning styles
 Auditorypeople -talk out the vocab.
 meanings/concepts to someone else,
 stuffed animal, friend. Form study groups.

 Tactual-put the note cards on a table (one
 with meanings/def. and the other with the
 word) and play the “matching game” with
 them. Another idea is to simply eat while
 studying this way.
             Useful Websites
 www.flashcardmachine.com      (will let you
    make online study cards, and the files are
    shareable!)

    www.flashcardmachine.com?Machine/?re
    ad_only=3466&u=class&p=biology