How to Study PHY 101
By Those Who Have Been or Are Being Successful
Student # 1 (Fall 2000)
I mostly used the book and then paid attention in lecture for stuff I wasn't sure of. Here's how I study from the book:
1. I look at the big titles. I read ONLY ONE SECTION (usually only about a half a page long). Then I turn to the end of the chapter and I do the REVEIW questions (not exercises or problems) that are listed under the heading of what I just read. I do this for as many sections as I feel like at the time. When I get tired, I stop. (If I'm bored with something, there's no point in continuing because I won't retain it).
2. Once I have done this all the way through a chapter, then I sit down and do the exercises and the problems to see if I have remembered everything.
3. I attend the review sessions and I only write down the problems that I missed in my head before the answers were given.
4. I don't skip class. I've found that this is the worst thing I can do even if I think the class is a joke because often times if I pay attention and actively absorb stuff in class, I cut my required study time for a subject anywhere from 30 to 100% depending on the difficulty of the class.
I have found this effective because I don't really "study." I do a little reading and writing each night (like 45 minutes) or sometimes none at all and I'll sit down for a couple of hours on the weekend and do it for a whole chapter. This way, once test time rolls around, I pretty much understand everything and I don't study at all unless I don't understand something.
Student # 2 (Spring 2000)
The
first thing that I did was take advantage of the book. I read the material before it was covered in
class and several additional times before the test. In addition, I also looked over both the review problems and the
exercises in the back of each chapter.
Secondly, I took advantage of the information on the Internet. I copied all of the notes before coming to
class, and I frequently looked over the review questions at the end of each
section to make sure that I understood the answers. Next, I learned my notes backwards and forwards. My particular technique for doing this was
to write a term on one side of a note card and then write everything about that
term on the other side. After each
lecture, I created new note cards over the material we covered and went back
over all of my previously made cards.
Finally, I took advantage of the fact that I had a friend in the
class. At least a week before every
test, we got together and just discussed the material. I have often found this helpful in science
classes because you can help each other understand the concepts and clarify
your thinking. If you can explain
something to someone else, more than likely you can answer questions about it
on a test.
Student # 3 (Fall 2000)
I made flashcards
with the formulas, key concepts, and vocabulary to use to quiz myself. I also
watched each slide show through again and used the test bank to practice questions.
I went to the review session for a little while, but found that I had already
covered the information thoroughly enough to feel ready for the test the next
day. I also read the chapters and notes again, just to make sure the
information was fresh in my mind.
For starters, I write down more than what you put on the overhead. I actually listen to the lecture and draw parallels between what you say and the some of the technical jargon on the overhead. If I can create analogies and put the physics into very simple terms, often using your demonstrations, I understand the material better. Also, I make sure that I read the chapter sometime BEFORE we have finished discussing it in class. A lot of the time, the book contains a lot of technicalities that we don't go over in class. If something seems too difficult in the reading (a series of really confusing paragraphs), I often skim to the bottom of that section, where there is often a simple summary of the material. This usually coincides with what you are teaching. Also, I do all of the review questions for each chapter. However, I make sure to do them at least a week before the test. If I do otherwise, the giant mass of information jut gets confusing. Finally, to study for the test, I review my notes, go over the review questions, look over the demonstrations with your on-line notes, and finally, I do the on-line tests. I have found that after studying notes, review questions, etc., my grade on the on-line test will be equivalent to my grade on the real test.
First of all, I pay attention to the notes in class, writing down extra examples and wording that makes the printed notes clearer. After each class session, I do the review questions over whatever sections we cover, reading the sections and underlining additional information that would be beneficial to remember (besides just the answer to the question). The weekend before the exam (mainly Sunday) I skim each chapter and then look at my notes, re-memorizing any bits of information I may have forgotten. After each chapter review, I do the study questions on the net, and after that, I do the practice exams. I review the entire section of any question on the exams I miss to make sure I grasp the concept, and then do the exercises to make sure I can apply them. Somewhere in there I look over lab stuff and try to remember the basic concept applied in each.