Profile of a Successful Student: Part 1

Profile of a Successful Student

Part 1

http://www.plymouth.edu/office/online-education/online-learning/profile-of-a-successful-student/

A successful student …

… takes responsibility for his\her own learning

Online learning can be a powerful, stimulating, engaging experience for the student who can work and think independently. However, since most—if not all—of the learning takes place on your own time, you will not have the kind of direct supervision you would in a classroom. Online learning therefore requires a significant commitment from you. All education comes down to what you’re willing to invest in the experience—this is particularly true in the online environment. Commitment, self-discipline and self-motivation are all key qualities to ensuring success in an online course!

… is comfortable and confident with written communication

Reading and writing are the basis of most online courses, so it’s critical that you feel comfortable with this form of communication. While some courses contain modules that include videos or other activities, all of them require significant amounts of reading. And nearly all of your communication with your classmates and your instructor will be in writing. If these are weak areas for you, you will want to address those issues prior to enrolling or while enrolled in an online course. The PSU Writing Center is available to assist you.

… is willing to be a member of an online community.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Successful Students: 7-8

Successful Students

7-8

7.  … understand that actions affect learning. Successful students know their personal behavior affects their feelings and emotions which in turn can affect learning.

If you act in a certain way that normally produces particular feelings, you will begin to experience those feelings. Act like you’re bored, and you’ll be bored. Act like you’re disinterested, and you’ll be disinterested. So the next time you have trouble concentrating in the classroom, “act” like an interested person: lean forward, place your feet flat on the floor, maintain eye contact with the professor, nod occasionally, take notes, and ask questions. Not only will you benefit directly from your actions, your classmates and professor may also get more excited and enthusiastic.

8.  … talk about what they’re learning. Successful students get to know something well enough that they can put it into words. Talking about something, with friends or classmates, is not only good for checking whether or not you know something, it’s a proven learning too. Transferring ideas into words provides the most direct path for moving knowledge from short-term to long-term memory. If you really don’t “know” material until you can put it into words. So, next time you study, you don’t do it silently. Talk about notes, problems, reading, etc. with friends, recite to a chair, organize an oral study group, pretend you’re teaching your peers. “Talk-learning” produces a whole host of memory traces that result in more learning.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Successful Students: 3-4

Successful Students

3-4

3.   ... ask questions. Successful students ask questions to provide the quickest route between ignorance and knowledge. In addition to securing knowledge you seek, asking questions has at least two other extremely important benefits. The process helps you pay attention to your professor and helps your professor pay attention to you! Think about it. If you want something, go after it. Get the answer now, or fail a question later. There are no foolish questions, only foolish silence. It’s your choice.

4. … learn that a student and a professor make a team. Most instructors want exactly what you want: they would like for you to learn the material in their respective classes and earn a good grade.

Successful students reflect well on efforts of any teacher; if you have learned your material, the instructor takes some justifiable pride in teaching. Join forces with your instructor, they are not your enemy, you share the same interests, the same goals -  in short, your teammates. Get to know your professor. You’re the most valuable players on the team. Your jobs are to work together for mutual success. Neither wishes to chalk up a losing season. Be a team player!

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Work Together:Part 3

Work Together

Part 3

Here are my final words of wisdom for students who want to get better grades in college: A big thing that not many will say is to ask for help if you needed it. It’s not a bad thing to not understand, it’s a bad thing if you don’t do anything about it. Plan you time out so you are completing everything that needs to get done and leave time to double check. Write things down and have a good time management skills. Ask for help is probably the biggest thing I can say though. If you don’t understand, go to office hours or find a classmate that does understand and is willing to help you. If you try hard, it will come to you. I find myself thinking that I would have to try harder to fail than I try and succeed. It is something that is within me to succeed. If that is not who you are, then hopefully things that I have done can show you that success is something that is amazing to find! Good luck!

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Work Together: Part 2

Work Together

Part 2

English, math, foreign language tips: For math, all I can say is do the problems assigned. It is the only way to practice and that’s really all it is for math. It’s the same for chemistry; if you do the practice problems you will understand the material so much better because those subjects are not just memorization like history, you need to be able to apply what you have learned in practical situations. As for English I am no longer taking it but I would say to leave yourself plenty of time to write essays and papers. They take them to get all the information out of your head and onto the page, so don’t leave them until the last second.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

WORK TOGETHER:Part 1

WORK TOGETHER

Part 1

I can and will work as part of the team as long as everyone in the team is willing to do his work. I don’t like having to pick up the slack, but I will if I know that my grade will be harmed otherwise. My greatest academic success was in my first semester when I had to write a 10-12 page research paper. It was the longest paper I had ever been assigned and I was a little scared. Also, it was the first paper where they were like, here you go, just write about something. I had to argue in favor of or against something, but it could be anything from the sky is blue to hypnotism. I wrote mine on hypnotism. I worked on this paper for weeks and weeks. Every night I would be doing research or writing. I put so much effort into this paper. I ended up being just under 12 pages but it was full on information. I turned it in and when I got it back a week or so later, I had received the first A+ of my college career. All my hard work paid off because I got the grade I deserved. I was really happy and proud of myself.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!