How to Succeed in Biology

1. Want to Succeed. Motivation is the single most important determinant of your success in this class, as it is in life. If you are not prepared to work in this class you can skip the rest of this page. 2. Come to class. Not surprisingly, there is a high correlation between class attendance and grades. If you miss lab due to illness or for some other valid reason talk to me as soon as possible; don't wait until the next lab. You might be able to make up the assignments and avoid the loss of a grade. 3. Spend at least 6 hours/week studying the material. It is more effective to set aside 1 hour per day than trying to do it all at once. Find someplace quiet to study and focus on the task at hand. Attending college is a full-time job, so 40 hour per week is not unreasonable. Time management is essential. o Review your notes on the day you took them and again before the next lecture. Add comments and questions to your notes while the material is still fresh in your mind. Plan to ask me about any points that are not clear. The University of Guelph has specific suggestions on effective note taking. o Study the material in the text before it is covered in lecture. You will then be able to assimilate and understand the lecture material much easier. If you have ever had the experience of reading a page and then realizing that you don't remember anything you just read then you know the importance of being an active reader. The SQ4R method is very effective and worth a try. o See the links below for more information on how to study. 4. Don't just memorize. At the college level you are expected to understand the material at a deeper level than might have been required in high school. In exams and writing assignments you often have to integrate, synthesize and evaluate material from different sources. Simple regurgitation of your notes and text is not enough. Don't fall for the "Illusion of Knowing." This is when a students mistakenly believe that they understand some material because they recognize it in a particular context (for example the textbook or lecture notes). Recognition is easy, understanding is harder and requires effort. Perhaps the best way to recognize this illusion for what it is is to try to explain the material to someone else (your mother, for example). 5. Ask questions. Ask questions in lecture if I say something that is not clear. The beginning of class is a good time to ask questions about the material covered in previous lectures. You can also come to my office or use e-mail. 6. Do not cram. Cramming is stressful and inefficient, and students that rely on this strategy are setting themselves up for failure. If you have been keeping up with your studies you should need only a few additional hours to prepare for the exam. 7. Improve your writing skills. Writing is an essential skill in science and many other professions. The IUP Writing Center provides one-on-one tutoring and word processing at no charge. 8. Get additional help. There are sometimes tutoring opportunities available within the Biology Department. Generally these services are offered by upper level biology majors and may be free. The IUP Learning Enhancement Center also provides tutorial help.

9. Teach each other. One of the best ways to learn something is to try to explain it to others. It might be beneficial to form a study group that meets once a week to discuss the course material.

Other sources of information on the web

 Some Hints on How to Study