This chapter has great tips to help you ace your college courses, including an overview of the SQ#R method. It is a great way to help you understand and remember textbook readings.

You can practice using the SQ5R reading method for the article assigned at the end of this chapter.

Metacognition

Metacognition is kind of a big word. Let’s break it down:

• meta- means above, beyond; and, pertaining to or noting thinking that consciously references or comments upon its own subject or features—YOU!
• cognition means to think

So metacognition means to think about your own thinking

• When thinking metacognitively, YOU are the subject.
• More specifically, your own thinking is the subject.

Why do you need to understand metacognition? Well, when you can get to the point of thinking about what and how you are learning, that is when you have made a significant shift in your learning process.

Tips for Reading

You’ll be doing a lot of reading in college, and you need to learn how to read a college textbook. You might think, “Well, hold on. Come on now. I know how to read!” True enough. But, most writing in magazines, social media, and even in newspapers is written at a 5th grade level. No kidding. Not so in textbooks for college classes; writing in college textbooks is at college-level. 

Here are a few key tips:

• All required reading = an assignment.
• Complete required reading before you attend class. This prepares you to join in the class discussions. Participating in the dialogue will help you remember what you have read and learn.

Practice SQ5R

There are several versions of the SQ#R method using differing numbers of R’s. They are very similar. Use the one that makes the most sense for you.

Note-Taking Tips

Creating excellent note taking habits will help you become better educated and help you capture and master content that may be measured by important assessments (e.g., quizzes and tests). No matter what form your notes take, it’s essential that you understand what is being said by actively engaging with the content, whether that’s actively listening to the instructor or actively taking notes from your readings.

After you’ve captured the information, you will want to review your notes. Organizing your notes for review takes additional time, but it’s worth it because it will help you preserve the quality of your original listening experience and will provide an opportunity for you to reason beyond your initial listening and learning experience.

Explore this article on Reading and Note Taking to learn how to further improve your skills.

Test-Taking Tips

Performing well on exams is a 3-phased process:

1. Pre-exam preparation
2. Taking the exam
3. Post-exam review

We will be going into this in-depth later in the course, but if you want a preview you can read Chapter 6: Preparing for and Taking Tests or read Test-Taking Skills.

Time Management

College is not like high school. There are no set schedules for when you go to class, when to each lunch, or when to go home. Being able to effectively manage your time as a college student is crucial to your success. Be accountable to yourself for the way you spend your time. Organize your schedule and make sure you include time to attend to your mental and physical health.

Explore this article called Time Management for tips, resources, and how to guides.

Critical Thinking

We all have a tendency to share our opinion and make claims about a lot of things. How strong are our arguments? How strong are the arguments of others? What can we do to strengthen and support our claims so that they are stronger and more well received? Answering those questions requires critical thinking. But what exactly is critical thinking? It’s a skill you can develop. Here’s a preview of the concept:

How to Learn

Finally, take a minute to read through this graphic “How to Learn” from UVU’s Academic Standards website and adapted from Dr. Saundra McGuire’s “Teach Students How to Learn” for great tips on critical thinking, studying, and other learning concepts. Consider visiting UVU’s Academic Standards website to learn more about classroom & study skills, learning style preferences, and more. The Academic Coaching webpage can give you all the information you need to take advantage of UVU’s one-on-one coaching where you can partner up with a coach to set goals or an academic tutor to focus on a specific subject.

How To Learn