Study TipsStudy Tips

Some tips to help you succeed in Some tips to help you succeed in Biology (or any other) class.Biology (or any other) class.

Note TakingNote Taking

Remember that notes can be your biggest asset Remember that notes can be your biggest asset or your biggest waste of time.or your biggest waste of time.

Its all in how you make them and use them.Its all in how you make them and use them. More time doesn’t necessarily make your More time doesn’t necessarily make your

notes better.notes better. More thought is what makes notes better.More thought is what makes notes better. Think about the material, and how to arrange it Think about the material, and how to arrange it

to help you understand.to help you understand.

Note TakingNote Taking Follow these steps when making notes.Follow these steps when making notes. 1. Read the textbook first. No notes at this time just 1. Read the textbook first. No notes at this time just

read it.read it. 2. During your second time through take notes.2. During your second time through take notes. 3. Review your notes. If any part of them does not 3. Review your notes. If any part of them does not

make sense return to your textbook and redo them make sense return to your textbook and redo them until they do.until they do.

4. Add to your textbook notes with any material 4. Add to your textbook notes with any material presented during class or lab.presented during class or lab.

5. Study your notes until you’ve mastered the 5. Study your notes until you’ve mastered the material.material.

Note TakingNote Taking

Notes should not be material copied from the Notes should not be material copied from the text.text.

It should be a synthesis and analysis of the It should be a synthesis and analysis of the material in the text.material in the text.

If someone who doesn’t speak English could If someone who doesn’t speak English could pick up the textbook and reproduce your notes pick up the textbook and reproduce your notes then you are doing them incorrectly.then you are doing them incorrectly.

Notes need to show your own understanding Notes need to show your own understanding of the material.of the material.

Note TakingNote Taking

Notes can be in any format you like or that Notes can be in any format you like or that your teacher assigns.your teacher assigns.

The best notes are in multiple formats.The best notes are in multiple formats. Outlines, Cornell notes, diagrams, drawings, Outlines, Cornell notes, diagrams, drawings,

concept maps, tables, color coded lists, just concept maps, tables, color coded lists, just about any method of organizing information about any method of organizing information that helps you learn it is great.that helps you learn it is great.

What works for one person might not work for What works for one person might not work for others.others.

Note TakingNote Taking

If your notes aren’t helping you then Try If your notes aren’t helping you then Try Something Else!!Something Else!!

Albert Einstein once said that “Insanity is Albert Einstein once said that “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.”expecting different results.”

Don’t be insane….Don’t be insane….

TextbookTextbook

Your textbook is a storehouse of valuable Your textbook is a storehouse of valuable information that most students don’t know information that most students don’t know how to use properly.how to use properly.

Yes you should read your textbook.Yes you should read your textbook. In a perfect world you would read each chapter In a perfect world you would read each chapter

more than once before the test.more than once before the test. The pictures and diagrams in the text arent The pictures and diagrams in the text arent

there just to make it pretty.there just to make it pretty. They are there to pass on important They are there to pass on important

information. Study Them Too!!information. Study Them Too!!

TextbookTextbook At the end of each section of your textbook At the end of each section of your textbook

there are a few practice questions.there are a few practice questions. If you can’t answer them…. You need to If you can’t answer them…. You need to

reread the section.reread the section. At the end of each chapter there is a chapter At the end of each chapter there is a chapter

review that covers the main topics of each review that covers the main topics of each section.section.

Main topics are very important things (read Main topics are very important things (read between the lines and think “Main topics are between the lines and think “Main topics are often test questions.”often test questions.”

TextbookTextbook

Also at the end of each chapter is a test your Also at the end of each chapter is a test your knowledge section that is filled with practice knowledge section that is filled with practice test questions.test questions.

Make sure you can answer these.Make sure you can answer these. The trepidatious student then asks “But teacher The trepidatious student then asks “But teacher

how do I know if I can answer these if I don’t how do I know if I can answer these if I don’t have the right answers?”have the right answers?”

The teacher sagely responds “Ahh my pupil, The teacher sagely responds “Ahh my pupil, the answers are at the back of your textbook.”the answers are at the back of your textbook.”

Online TextbookOnline Textbook

Another resource that many of your are not taking Another resource that many of your are not taking full advantage of is the online textbook.full advantage of is the online textbook.

It has a digital copy of your textbook so you don’t It has a digital copy of your textbook so you don’t have to carry yours home at the end of the day.have to carry yours home at the end of the day.

It also has lots of animations, diagrams, and digital It also has lots of animations, diagrams, and digital activities to help you practice the topics covered by activities to help you practice the topics covered by the various sections of your text.the various sections of your text.

Explore it, the more time you spend with material, the Explore it, the more time you spend with material, the greater your familiarity with it, the better your greater your familiarity with it, the better your chances of succeeding on the test.chances of succeeding on the test.

Online TextbookOnline Textbook

To access the online textbook follow these To access the online textbook follow these steps.steps.

1. Go to 1. Go to http://www.phschool.com/access/campbell_bihttp://www.phschool.com/access/campbell_bio_concepts_5th.htmlo_concepts_5th.html

2. Choose Student Registration2. Choose Student Registration 4. Click I Accept at the bottom of the License 4. Click I Accept at the bottom of the License

Agreement page Agreement page

Online TextbookOnline Textbook 5. Access Information – 5. Access Information – * Create your username & password * Create your username & password Enter the appropriate access code below for your class: Enter the appropriate access code below for your class: SSNAST-PASHM-HAVEL-MANNA-SAPIR-CANES SSNAST-PASHM-HAVEL-MANNA-SAPIR-CANES

(Miller Pds 1,2)(Miller Pds 1,2) SSNAST-SCOFF-HAVEL-MANNA-JABOT-TAXES (Miller SSNAST-SCOFF-HAVEL-MANNA-JABOT-TAXES (Miller

Pd 5)Pd 5) SSNAST-SPADA-HAVEL-MANNA-MIMIR-GIBESSSNAST-SPADA-HAVEL-MANNA-MIMIR-GIBES SSNAST-CHUBB-HAVEL-MANNA-NOBBY-MOOSESSNAST-CHUBB-HAVEL-MANNA-NOBBY-MOOSE SSNAST-WHIRR-HAVEL-MANNA-PRATO-WWRSESSNAST-WHIRR-HAVEL-MANNA-PRATO-WWRSE SSNAST-QESHM-HAVEL-MANNA-CRUSH-CANES SSNAST-QESHM-HAVEL-MANNA-CRUSH-CANES

Online TextbookOnline Textbook

6. Account Information – complete or verify 6. Account Information – complete or verify your name & school informationyour name & school information

7. Confirmation & Summary – list of 7. Confirmation & Summary – list of websites where you can now loginwebsites where you can now login

Closing CommentsClosing Comments Remember that your teachers can and will teach but it Remember that your teachers can and will teach but it

is up to YOU to LEARN.is up to YOU to LEARN. Your teachers are your most valuable learning tool.Your teachers are your most valuable learning tool. If you don’t understand something go see them.If you don’t understand something go see them. A half hour with an expert is sometimes worth more A half hour with an expert is sometimes worth more

than hours and hours by yourself.than hours and hours by yourself. Study hard, learn well, and when you’re a rich and Study hard, learn well, and when you’re a rich and

famous business tycoon, doctor, lawyer, or inventor, famous business tycoon, doctor, lawyer, or inventor, don’t forget to send your wonderful teachers some don’t forget to send your wonderful teachers some cash, preferably lots. Well, letters of appreciation are cash, preferably lots. Well, letters of appreciation are okay too.okay too.