Developed By: Blair Bobo
Revised: Spring 2002

Level: 9-12


The Skills of Studying

Standards
 
 


Learning
Expectations

 The following standards are addressed by this activity and are to help students:
1. Acquire Basic Skills for Academic Self-confidence, Learning and Success
3. Relate School to Life Experiences
The objectiveof this activity is to help students:
1.3 demonstrate effective study habits.
3.3 value lifelong learning as essential to seeking, obtaining and maintaining life goals.

General Approach		 The general approach is that the counselor will lead the students in a discussion of their study skills - how they have changed over time and how they can be improved.

Activity Steps		 Lead the students through a discussion of study skills:

How did you study for your first grade spelling tests?  Your first grade math tests?  Have the ways that you study changed over time?

Now imagine you have a big history test coming up: tell me one at a time the steps you will take to study.  Be specific.  Start with where you will go, what you will have, what you will hear, and what will you see?

What techniques did you hear from other people that might be helpful to you?  Do you study better with other people or alone?  Do you study better with noise or without?  Do you consider yourself a verbal learner or a tactile learner?  This activity we will do will help you answer some of these questions.

Place each student at a computer bookmarked to the page: http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/checklis.html

After each student completes the questionnaire, ask:
Are you 100% satisfied with the results of your present study skills?  If not, brainstorm some new techniques based on what you have heard or read today.  Pick one that you will try for your next test.

Time Required		 This activity will take approximately 45 minutes.

Resources Needed		 Computers with access to the internet.

Performance Indicators		 The students will learn from discussion and technology that people have different ways of studying, and that these change over time.  The counselor will evaluate students' identification skills by the completion of the questionnaire, and the counselor will evaluate the students' awareness of study skills by their responses to questions.