Ranking My Priorities

The strategy that I used this week is Ranking Priorities. I have done similar concepts before of creating a schedule, such as during the exam experiment when I was creating my schedule for the week, but I thought that I could maybe try it in a more organized fashion. I used it for my Earth Science class, and College Learning Strategies as well.

I used it for Earth Science because I knew I had a test coming up on Wednesday for this class, so I thought that it could help me ORGANIZE a bit, since that is the biggest task in college. Also, for College Learning Strategies, there's a couple of tasks that needed to get done, so that was a good idea as well.

Specifically, for Earth Science, I needed to study a couple days in advance for my test, and I have to study for other classes as well as writing an essay, so I thought according do the dates that ranking my priorities would be a good idea. For CLS, I knew that I needed to do my tech assignment, finish my exam experiment early so that I could maybe get some extra points added to it, and to skim chapter 7 and choose a mnemonic device I had never used & use it in another course.

I thought this was a good strategy considering that I am a visual learner, so seeing in front of my eyes what was most important for me to get done was a good idea.

I started by laying out everything that I needed to get done. I knew I needed to finish my exam experiment, hand it in early, do my tech assignment, skim chapter 7, use a mnemonic device, read an Earth Science chapter 12, and study for my test. I labeled them from A-> C as either essential, important, or optional. Then I more specifically grouped them with a number rank. After having my list, I attacked my tasks that I needed to get done. Studying my Earth Science study guide was just review after the other rankings, so that was only a B.

I did like this strategy a lot. It is simple, and takes not too much time to do. But it is efficient, and makes sure that you get done all of your tasks. If anyone who is a visual learner and likes to see what they need to get done right in front of their face, than I recommend this.

Earth Science 105

A-1 Finish reading Chapter 12 (so I know all the information on the test

A-2 Go to Office hours for Lucia (tuesday)

A-3 Create study guide for the test after I know all the information

B-1 Study the study guide

College Learning Strategies 105

A-1 Tech Assignment

B-1 Exam Experiment

B-2 Hand in Exam Experiment

B-3 Create mnemonic device

B-4 Skip chapter 7

Plug-in notes revised

This week I created an adaptation to PLUG-IN notes.

For my Design History essay exam that is approaching, I used plug-in notes as a study method as well as a note taking guide to understand the key concepts our professor is

looking to test us on.

Because my notes in class must be very straight forward and I know that I have no time to make

guides or organizers within the class, I only have time to write out the facts she tells us in lecture as simply as possible.

This is an example of the notes I take in class.

After class, I took the main ideas of each category given on our slide sheets to create a small list of the most important ideas my professor would want us to incorporate into our essays. This is a great visual for me because I can see the division between countries and compare how they differed in order to memorize the images with ease. I also included the test question that is repeatedly asked when we are shown a slide randomly chosen from the multiple slide sheets we are given. The question asks, "Why is this important to the History of Modern Design?". So, when writing out the main ideas I have this question in the back of my head to understand how I can relate each bullet to correlate to the question.

Instead of making a graphic organizer in my notes as plug-in notes describes, I use flash cards to study so I thought I could also use the flash cards to incorporate them into this study strategy. The image on the flash cards are my adaptation of a graphic organizer because on this essay exam we will be shown one image and asked to write about it by answering the test question.

For me, this is a great way to help me study and has been working so far. By understanding the main concepts and ideas I know that I will be able to succeed on this test and hold an understanding of what each style is a truly about. Instead of writing out test questions, I practice the flash cards and quiz myself on why each style is important to the history of modern design.

T-NOTES

This week we were allowed to chose our own strategy to blog about!

While I was looking through the book at ALL the different strategies,

I tried to consider ALL of the different assignments I have next week. I saw that I have a Hebrew midterm on Thursday and I needed to take notes in class that were going to help me study. I also saw that I have a presentation to do for my Writing class. I needed to take notes on reading and teach a class with a group of people.

I decided to try the T-NOTES strategy. In this strategy, I separated a piece of paper into two columns. One column titled formulas and one titled solutions. I then wrote notes next to the important words and starred them so that I know exactly where to look for important things when I go to study!

I tried the strategy for hebrew first. I wrote down different words I need to know under formulas and then under the solutions I wrote the words in plural. I need to know how to change a word to its plural for the test so this is an easy way for me to review.

I liked this strategy for hebrew because I am a visual learner and was able to see the word in singular and the word in plural next to each other. I was able to cover the formulas and test myself with the solutions and cover the solutions and test myself with the formulas. In addition, the stars helped me know exactly where to look for the words I needed to study the most.

I then tried the same strategy for my writing class. For my writing class, I don't have a test. Instead I have a presentation so I went about using the strategy in a different way. I used the strategy as under formulas what questions I can present or ask the class. And under solutions I wrote the answers or information I want to share with class from the reading. I also wrote different ideas under formulas that I want to share with the class. I found using T-NOTES very helpful because I will be able to see everything in front of me when I am presenting to the class.

I liked this strategy so much that I tried to do it for my math class. I decided to separate the material with lines in between so that I could read everything easier!

I decided that next time I do this strategy I'm going to use different colors so that words stand out to me! I know that each time I do it I am going to add changes to make it work better for me. I will definitely use this strategy again!

TART and Charlie Reads SmarT for Design History

This week I used TART and Charlie Reads SmarT for my reading assignments by Henry Ford titled, "Machinery, The New Messiah" in Design History. The assignments are more conceptual than definitive so I looked for repetitive words and phrases used in the readings to look over, define, and clarify.

When using TART, I took notes on the reading to summarize the argument and find interesting points. After rereading my notes, I then highlighted the key terms and ideas that I took from the reading. Many of these terms were repeated several times and indicated that they were significant to the idea behind the assignment. As a visual learner, I also used different colors to visually separate the information.

I also went back to my slide sheet handed out in class last week and am now able to predetermine how Fordism and The American System will be analyzed in class.Although we have not gone over this reading yet in lecture, I have these key terms highlighted and know that in class on Monday we will be looking towards the health and ways of new machinery in Fordism not only from this assigned reading, but also the syllabus stating

what our topics are for the following class.

By predetermining this information, I can find the ideas my professor will be looking for in our essay exam and create test questions using the key terms and ideas. On the back of my notes sheet I rewrote these and will be able to

conveniently

refer to them when I am making flash cards and study guides for my test.

When using Charlie Reads SmarT, my reading was very short so I was able to combine the steps to chunk the reading and summarize the key points. In order to chuck this reading, I created a title for each couple of paragraphs. The ideas of how these paragraphs relate to each other is visually incorporated as well. It was clear to see the ideas that Henry Ford voices his opinion about and the bullets show a visual summary of Ford's beliefs that we will be analyzing.

My next step was to relate back to the syllabus and slide sheets provided by my professor. I noticed that on the slide sheet, we will be looking at several slides from the Henry Ford Museum and focusing on "Fordism". Henry Ford's ideas will definitely be an idea I will see on my essay exam that is quickly approaching.

By dividing the reading into these ideas, I can determine the facts I will need to reiterate on my test by referring back to problems in the home, the food industry, personal health, and the American industry.

Overall, these two strategies were helpful in breaking down this reading and allowing me to comprehend the information I am taking in. I also am able to grasp his views on the american industry and relate them to any other designer we will be covering in class. Because the reading was short, I know that these strategies would also work better with a longer more intensive reading assignment.

Charlie... Reads... SmarT...

I used a strategy for something I never would have thought I would have used one for... READING. There are ways to organize your readings, break it up into pieces, so not only is it not going through one ear and out the other, you retain the information. The strategy I tried this week was Charlie Reads SmarT:

The courses I used Charlie Reads SmarT for was History 101 and Earth Science 105. This strategy helps organize your readings so you learn all of the information that you read. History 101 has a lot of external reading that it not direct information from a textbook. So it is difficult to grasp all of the information that I obtain. With this strategy, I can figure out how much I can really read without needing to get up or go on Facebook, and than chunk my readings into pieces. After that, I figure out the information that I am reading. Once I read it, I highlight and than summarize the information that I read. I decided to create on outline, since my chapter was about different characters and than was a good way to organize. After I do all this, I test myself on what I have learned with a couple of questions.

I am an AURAL learner, so reading is tough for me. This strategy is not aural, but helps me towards my other strength of learning through writing rather than reading.

Overall, I have quite mixed feelings about this strategy. I tried it for these courses, but I am not sure if I am going to use it again. I helped a little bit, but it takes way too much time to read merely a chapter, and knowing myself, I will not do all of this. Highlighting key information in the chapter is enough to help me. I can even read it a second time if I really need to. A lot of this strategy is repetitive to the other strategies such as 20 minute test prep, where you are just testing yourself on the information you are learning. If reading is a major weakness for someone, this may help you. But if you are like me and highlighting and some minor notes help you for your reading, than that may be enough.

TART

Terms

Attend

Read

Test

I decided to try the TART reading strategy. I wanted to try it because I have a difficult time with reading material and fully understanding what it is I just read. I needed a new way to read something, take notes, and study what I read!

I tried this reading strategy in two courses. I tried it in my Math 121 and Hebrew 101. I tried it in these courses because they both require knowing a lot of definitions and terms. Math 121 isn't a lot of reading, its more problem solving but Hebrew 101 is. I wanted to try this strategy in a class that required reading comprehensively (Hebrew) and a class that required reading/ skim or scan the pages (Math).

In Math 121, I generally do not read the textbook before class. I normally go into class having no idea what I'm going to learn about. I take a lot of notes in class and then don't review them again until the day before a test. My notes generally look like this and are very unorganized.

After I tried the TART strategy, my notes looked more like this.

I wrote down the definitions- abbreviations. I then went to class and reread my lecture notes. After that I read the chapter to make sure I understood the material and created test questions. This helped me a lot because I am a visual learner. I was able to see the terms I'm going to need to know for my test before I went to class, take more notes in class and understand the reading in the textbook after class. I was then able to test myself with the test questions I made up having all these terms in front of my eyes.

I did the same thing for Hebrew 101.

Notes Before Notes After

Test Questions

The strategy worked better for my math class because I could write down the terms, create abbreviations, read the textbook to understand everything and create test questions easily. I had to make substitutions when I did it for my hebrew class. I couldn't make any abbreviations for hebrew words and so instead I wrote sentences next to some of the terms so that I would understand the words better and it would help me remember the words when I answered the test questions I created. I think this strategy is better for a class that you don't have to read comprehensively in because you don't have to write as detailed notes as you would if you needed to read extremely cautiously. I would definitely recommend this strategy to someone who needs help with taking notes and understanding reading material for class!

ONE PLUS THREE NOTES

I decided I needed a new way to take notes. I was taking notes in class and continuously throwing them out! My notes weren't helping me at all. The notes I actually had, I would try to review them before a test and had absolutely no idea what I had written down!

In class, Dr. Blumin introduced us to a new note taking strategy- ONE PLUS THREE NOTES. This strategy looked like a good one for me to try. This is because I am a visual learner and if I have everything laid out in front of me, I will be able to study more efficiently. I was going to be able to take the same kind of notes as I did before hand and then add to them!

On one piece of paper, I took notes. I took them neatly with bullet points and titles, this way I would understand what I was reading when I went to study them. I then right after class, reviewed my notes and on the sheet of paper next to it, made a review sheet. I split up the review sheet into three sections: key terms/concepts, graphic organizer, and test questions.

When I went to study for my human sexuality final, these notes really helped me. I knew exactly what key terms and concepts to study and then looked at my notes on the page next to it for the information. I was then able to test myself with the test questions I wrote down. This strategy helped a lot and I will definitely use it again!

1 Plus 3 study notes for an essay style test

As Jacob illustrated in his blog about Plug in notes that visuals clearly helped him with his note taking this week, I also used a visual guide when using the 1 Plus 3 strategy. For my Design History class we have very limited time to record as much as we can about each powerpoint slide before our professor moves on to the next. This crunch for time does not allow for me to attempt plug in notes so after I completed my notes for this class I went back and did a 1 Plus 3 chart on a separate page.

Although our tests are essay style and ask the same question for us to expand on, the major point our professor wants us to comprehend are the BIG idea's and concepts of each time period. Zooming in on the American Arts and Crafts Movement, this strategy helped me to learn a lot about not only one designer in particular, but the movement as a whole. The set up for this strategy definitely helped me to get a good understanding on one topic I know I will be tested on. One negative I found when using 1 plus 3, however, was that it was somewhat redundant. I found myself re-writing the same ideas and words multiple times. If I decide to try this strategy again I will probably try to include a larger amount of information to avoid this problem.

Plugging In

The new strategy I tried this week is a note taking strategy, called Plug-in Notes. This strategy has multiple positives about it. For starters, when using this strategy, you know before you take the notes in your class that your going to be using this strategy, so you are more attentive to the notes. Second, this helps you organize your notes so you have the main ideas down pat and in your head, and understanding them better by rewriting them. Then, when you are done after class, you can strategize for the upcoming test, by writing down some questions to ask yourself, just like the Jeopardy strategy! Just merely writing the questions down and writing your answers get you more comfortable with the information. It helps a lot with memorizing terms.

Initially, I was not so sure about this strategy. I was thinking that I was not going to write the best review about it. But actually using it really helped. Most of the time, people write down their notes, and do not retain any of the information. This time, you have multiple ways to beat the information into your head, any the

y are all unique and interesting. Once you have the information, you can get ahead for the exam with the questions. I think everybody should try this. There is nobody that it will affect negatively, and will prepare you for the test.

My notes and readings were a bit unorganized in many different places. I decided to use the Outlining strategy. I used a combination of the Source and Topic outline. To me, these two strategies were very similar, and basically went hand in hand. They are both extremely useful, and maybe my most useful strategy yet! Except I think they should be combined into one strategy. But that was not a problem.

The outlining strategies helped me bring all of what I have learned so far together, and combine it in an organized fashion. Considering that I take notes on what the professor speaks of in the lecture, take notes of what we learn in the recitation, and learn from the readings as well, my mind was all over for my Philosophy 192 class. My syllabus was not very useful for this class specifically, but I was able to complete it without it anyway. I started by creating a chart for my outline. Each chapter in the book that we read, has a specific topic, and conveys the beliefs between four different view points. So knowing the structure of the class and readings, I created a chart that has each topic, and the points of view. I did the basic coverage of the points of view, and can go back to the readings since each chapter followings accordingly in the chart. I felt that each topic was equal has importance, so I decided to just study each section until I knew all of the information, before my upcoming test. I would recommend these strategies to anyone that has complicated classes that could use a little organizing.

Anticipating test ANSWERS

When creating strategies for exam preparation it was extremely difficult to relate to my own major. Being an art student, I have very few tests or quizzes and in the one class I do have an exam, it is essay styled questions with a very set, structured style of studying. In Design History we are tested on about 14 of the 80 designs we learn before a test, so memorizing each fact about each object is the best way to be prepared. Although this is extremely tedious and time consuming, it is expected to have studied at least 20 hours before a test and flash cards have proven to be the most effective for myself.

Choosing to use the anticipating test questions strategy was the most relatable to my situation. Although I already know the anticipated test questions because it is always simply stated, "How is this important to the History of Modern Design?" I can anticipate the answers to this question for each design that I study. My flash cards are my life line for this test. They have a picture of the object on the front and every fact possible on the back. While "Big Ideas" are the main concern aside from the memorization of names, dates, and places, these facts on the back all seem to relate to each other. I find this information from the syllabus.

The syllabus has a list of topics that we read in the textbook each week. These topics are "Big Idea" kinds of concepts that intertwine the relativity of each of the pieces we learn about in class. By understanding the "Big ideas", I am able to categorize, learn, and recognize where each of these 80 or so objects fit into.

Realizing that the syllabus had the "Big Idea" topics listed out by class was a huge help! Not only did I know that this was the reason I did so well on my first test, but it also made studying SO much easier. I will definitely utilize my syllabus to a much greater extent after seeing my exam score on the first test.

Source Outline and Topic Outline

I wanted to try a new strategy to prepare myself for my upcoming test. I never know how to study or how to plan out my time studying. I decided to make a source outline and a topic outline. A source outline allowed me to write out all the different materials I have to study from. I have an organized outline that tells me exactly what pages to study from in my textbook, what date notes I should study, and what topics. This helps me stay organized. When I started studying I knew exactly what materials to take out. I also made a topic outline. A topic outline helps me a ton! I wrote down the same topics I did in my source outline with the page numbers so I know what I need to study. I then wrote the sub topics so I know exactly what I need to study within the big topics. This is going to help me because I can check off each sub topic as I study them and then check off the big topics after I finish the sub topics. I also wrote the amount of time I need to study each topic so that I save enough time to study for my test.

I'm All Over!!!!

I'm back this week with a new strategy. This week, I tried the COST Strategy, which stands for Change Option Schedule Test.

My problem is that I have multiple assignments due at ALL times. Whenever I want to get started on an assignment, I do, but than procrastinate to start a DIFFERENT assignment!!! I can never finish one, and I lose track of the thoughts I previously had with the other assignment. For example, I had an essay to for Writing 105, and in the midst of writing the essay when I got a bit stuck, I found myself starting my Philosophy 192 homework. I tried to go back to t

he essay, and it took me tw

ice as long to do the second half of it as it did for the first half!!! I am tired of this problem, so I decided to try the COST strategy. I wrote it out on a piece of a paper, but I do not have the neatest handwriting, so I typed it up for all the people reading this.

Change:

Whenever I have an assignment to do, I start doing it, but than move onto a different assignment before I completed the other one. This stresses me out, and I want to organize myself to finish one assignment before I start the second one.

Option:

I thought of two different options I could try. My first option was to try the time audit strategy. I would write out each day what I should accomplish, and see if that helps me not to procrastinate. The second option I thought of was the target planner. This way I could break up an assignment, and instead of writing different dates that I would do of each one, I could write the time of the day. I ended up using the the target pl

anner, because I know myself and realistically, I would not follow a schedule of a day that had a task every hour of the day.

Schedule:

I made the schedule for the next day. I was able to see the results after one day.

Test:

The problem definitely did improve. I was able to complete each assignment before I started the other, so I accomplished my goal. The target planner was the right option to go with.

This strategy was a big difference maker for me. A had a problem, so I used a problem solving strategy. I tried the COST strategy, and it worked. If someone out there has the same problem as me, read this post, take my advice, and try the COST strategy.

Is vs. Wants and my weekend planner

This week I chose to use Is vs. Wants and through this problem solving strategy created my own as well. A big issue for me is lack of time and often I find myself in that frantic mode on Sundays because of the work that has piled up. Because I am in VPA with long studio classes there is little time on the weekdays to complete big projects due for the following week. To address this issue, I used this problem solving strategy in order to create a more desirable weekend.

With Is. vs. Wants I was able to write out this situation and develop a more desirable one instead. In order to create a stress-less weekend for myself, I mapped out what work I need to complete on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday so that I can evenly distribute the assignments throughout these three days. In this weekends homework plan I decided to do only one assignment on Saturday while there are three assignments I will complete on Sunday. Although this disrupts the balance I knew that Saturday was a busier day and realistically would not be able to complete more than one assignment.

This technique worked very well for me and was a great way to organize my assignments. I was determined and focused because I knew that if i fell behind schedule, my strategy and plan to create a more desirable situation would be ruined for that weekend. Is vs. Wants is a great way to motivate yourself and for other procrastinators like me I definitely suggest using this strategy.

Courtney Barich's Ranking Priorities

Ranking Priorities is an extremely helpful problem solving strategy. I tried ranking priorities because I was very overwhelmed with assignments. I have so many classes and a few assignments in each of them. I tried writing in my planner when I should do everything, but it was too hard not seeing everything I had to do at the same time. I was having a difficult time deciding which of my assignments I should do first and keeping track of what I needed to do for these assignments.

I decided to try ranking priorities. I first made a list and ranked my assignments in order of which are absolutely essential, important and optional. This way I won't have to think about which assignment I should do first and put the most effort in, right before I to do them. I then made an order of importance and what I needed to do first within these assignments. This helps me stay organized and helps me know what to do when.

I chose my learning strategies class first. I knew I had a few things due this week and needed to decide what I was going to work on first and what I was going to spend most of my time doing. I decided that my faculty interview project was my top priority out of my assignments in learning strategies. I put this under A. I then made a list of what I needed to do for the project, the first I needed to do as A-1 and on. I chose my next assignment that was important to do and put it under B. I put my optional assignment or least important as C. I found this strategy helpful because I got all my work done without feeling under pressure.

Key:

Classes

Assignments

Different parts of the assignments

Learning Strategies

A. Faculty Interview Assignment

A-1Annotate Syllabi

A-2 Syllabus Checklist

A-3 Interview Teachers- signed papers

A-4 Reflection

B.Tech #2

B-1 Ranking Priorities

B-2 Reflection

B-3 Blog

C. Homework- strategy

C-1 Chose Strategy

C-2 Try Strategy out

Writing

A. Essay

A-1 Bumper Sticker

A-2 Outline Essay

A-3 Write Essay

B. Homework Assignments

B-1 Read

B-2 Write notes and annotate

B-3 Answer questions