How to Ace Dr' Allens Chem 1201 Course: Metacognition is the Key

1
How to Ace Dr. AllensChem 1201
CourseMetacognition is the Key!

• Dr. Saundra Y. McGuire
• Director, Center for Academic Success
• Adjunct Professor of Chemistry

2
2004 National College Learning Center
AssociationFrank L. Christ Outstanding Learning
Center Award 
3
The Story of Five LSU Students

• Travis, junior psychology student
• 47, 52, 82, 86
• Robert, freshman chemistry student
• 42, 100, 100, 100
• Amy, junior organic chemistry student
• 54, 82, 76, 78
• Michael, senior pre-medical organic student
• 30, 28, 80, 91
• Terrence, junior Bio Engineering student
• GPA 1.67 cum, 3.54 (F 03), 3.8 (S 04)

4
What we will cover today

• Why university students may be inefficient
  learners
• Metacognition and its role in learning
• Learning strategies that work, and why
• Barriers to using these strategies and how to
  overcome them

5
Why 1201 is Harder Than HS Chemistry

• The course moves a lot faster
• The material is conceptually more difficult and
  cumulative
• The problems are more involved
• The tests are less straightforward and require
  you to apply concepts

6
This pyramid depicts the different levels of
thinking we use when learning. Notice how each
level builds on the foundation that precedes it.
It is required that we learn the lower levels
before we can effectively use the skills above.
Blooms Taxonomy
Evaluation
Graduate School
Making decisions and supporting views requires
understanding of values.
Combining information to form a unique product
requires creativity and originality.
Synthesis
Identifying components determining arrangement,
logic, and semantics.
Analysis
Undergraduate
Using information to solve problems transferring
abstract or theoretical ideas to practical
situations. Identifying connections and
relationships and how they apply.
Application
Restating in your own words paraphrasing,
summarizing, translating.
Comprehension
High School
Memorizing verbatim information. Being able to
remember, but not necessarily fully understanding
the material.
Knowledge
Louisiana State University ? Center for Academic
Success ? B-31 Coates Hall ? 225-578-2872 ?
www.cas.lsu.edu
7
Examples from Exam 1

• Which of the solutions below will NOT conduct
  electricity?
• a) HF b) KOH c) H2SO3
• d) CH3OH e) NaClO4

8
How many quantum numbers are necessary to
designate a particular electron in an atom?a)
1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4 e) 5

9
How many unpaired electrons are present in
ground-state Fe3 ion?a) 2 b) 3 c) 4d)
5 e) 6

10
So, What Can You Do Now?

• Spend more time studying chemistry
• (at least 9 hours per week)
• Aim for 100 understanding
• Use the tutorial center and office hours
• Use the Study Cycle and Intense Study Sessions
• Study Smarter for Chemistry

11
Using Metacognition to Become an Expert Learner
12
Metacognition

• The ability to
• think about thinking
• be consciously aware of oneself as a problem
  solver
• to monitor and control ones mental processing

13
Turning Yourself into an Efficient Chemistry
Learner

• Do think aloud exercises
• Constantly ask yourself why and what if
  questions
• Move your activities higher on the Blooms
  taxonomy scale by comparing and contrasting,
  thinking of analogies, thinking of new pathways,
  etc.
• Always test your understanding by verbalizing or
  writing about concepts practice retrieval of
  information

14
Study Strategies Gold Nugget

• The Study Cycle with
• Intense Study Sessions

15
The Study Cycle
Phase One Read or preview chapters to be
covered in class before class (Create
chapter maps) Phase Two Go to Class. Listen
actively, take notes, participate in
class Phase Three Review and process class
notes as soon as possible after class Phase
Four Incorporate Intense Study
Sessions Repeat
16
Intense Study Sessions

• 2 - 5 minutes Set goals for next 40 min.
• 30 - 40 minutes Read text more
  selectively/highlight
• Make doodles/notes in margins
• Create mnemonics, work examples
• Create maps
• 5 minutes Review what you have just studied
• 10 minutes Take a break
• Repeat

17
Other Techniques to Try Immediately

• Concept Mapping
• Practice Retrieval
• List Concepts and Practice Teaching
• ________ ______ _______
• ________ ______ _______
• ________ ______ _______

18
Get the Most Out of Lecture

• Arrive early
• Actively participate
• Review notes soon after class
• Rework all example problems done in class

19
Get the Most Out of Homework

• Start the material early--the day it is assigned
• Do not flip back to see examples work the
  problem yourself!
• Dont give up too soon (lt15 min.)
• Dont spend too much time (gt30 min.)

20
Get the Most from SI, the Tutorial Center, and
Office Hours

• Try to understand the concept or work the problem
  by yourself first
• Come prepared to ask questions
• Explain the material to the tutor or professor or
  study group members

21

• The LSU Dental School First Year Class
• An Amazing Success Story!
• Metacognition Discussion August 13, 2004
• Histology Exam August 23, 2004
• Previous class averages 74 77
• Challenge to class on August 13 84 average
• Reported average on August 24 85!

22

• Challenge to Dr. Allens 1201 Class
• Metacognition Discussion October 25, 2005
• Second Exam Average 64
• Challenge to class for Third Exam 78
• Reward To be determined by Dr. Allen

23
Writing Exercise

• What behavior will you implement
• between now next week?

24
If you dont try it in within the next 48 hours...

• you probably never will.

25
BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY TUTORIAL CENTER
113 E.B. Doran Mon Thurs 1130 am
530pm Fri 1pm 3 pm
26
ON-LINE STUDY STRATEGIES WORKSHOPS

• Time Management
• College Reading and Note Taking
• Managing Test Anxiety
• Test Taking Strategies
• Concept Mapping

27
INDIVIDUAL CONSULTATIONS

• Specific Study Strategies
• Concept Mapping
• Test Preparation

28
FABULOUS WEB SITE WWW.CAS.LSU.EDU

• Study Smarter Workshops On Line
• Weekly and Semester Planners
• GPA Calculator
• Great Links
• Web Page Development
• Study Strategies Sites
• Graduate Exam Links
  (GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT)

29
The Center for Academic SuccessB-31 Coates
Hallwww.cas.lsu.edu

• Unlock your excellence
• and ace Chem 1201!