Monthly Archives: February 2018

First Impression Post Week 6

--Original published at Sidney's college blogs

For this week’s first impression post, I chose to write about how memory is related to study habits. For this first exam, I chose to go back through the notes from class and retype each of them. When I was finished typing those notes, I went through and typed the notes that I took that were not on the guide and put them where they needed to be. I did this in hopes that it would stick to my mind more with the repetition. Seeing the grade I received, this obviously did not work well for me for this exam.

For the next exam coming up, I plan to use the website Quizlet.com to create flashcards and use the learning techniques they have available. There is so much material that is learned in this Psychology course, so it makes it hard to narrow down what is needed to know. It also makes it hard to study all the information. Last semester I struggled in Biology, but I eventually found what worked better for me in that class. I would find videos online to watch about the different topics covered in class. I would then take notes on the videos as I watched them. I think I may need to find videos on certain things in this class as well to be sure that I understand the concepts. I also have a hard time associating people with their theories or experiments. I need to find a better way to remember those as well. I’m hoping that the flashcards will help me remember these better.

I’m ready to learn how to learn better for this class.

First Impression Post Week 6

--Original published at Melissa's Blog

I chose to respond to the first prompt about how memory is related to study habits. When I study I prefer to start several days before the exam date. Usually I set a goal to study 4 or 5 days in advanced for my exams, so I can gradually learn the material. This tactic helped me immensely throughout high school, and usually had promising results. In college this goal has been more challenging to achieve because I tend to be preoccupied with my assignments for other classes. During the first semester I had an easier time utilizing this study strategy compared to the current semester. Recently I have had many assignments and, thus, much less time to focus on studying for my exams. For instance, for this past psychology exam I wanted to begin studying 5 days before the exam date because it was the first one, but I was too busy with other assignments. Instead, I started studying heavily 2 days before the exam. Although I did retain a lot of knowledge studying this way, it was extremely stressful. I felt crammed and pressured because I didn’t have enough time to study as thoroughly as I wanted. For my future exams I am going to make sure I begin studying about 5 days in advance, so I don’t need to learn so much information at once.

When I use my preferred studying strategy I read over my notes once every day, but multiple times as the test date gets closer. Also, I try to quiz myself by writing down everything I know from memory on a white board. Writing down the information I remember makes me aware of what I am confident in and what I should study more. In addition, I find it helpful to study and review in groups. I benefit from discussing the material with others, as well as quizzing others. This strategy works well when I have time to put in the effort, but since time is scarce I need to start planning and better managing my schedule. Also, I am always open to new study suggestions and improvements.

First Impression Week #6

--Original published at Nadia's Blog

For this First Impression Post, I chose to write about my study habits and how i prepared for the first exam.  Going into the first exam I was extremely nervous and had no idea what to expect, and that seems to be common for every first exam with a new professor. Evidently I have come to realize it takes trial and error to find the perfect study method for each class.

My plan of action was to take in depth notes from the textbook to ensure I understood the material that we had learned in lecture as well as learnt the additional information that would be on the exam. Reviewing these notes with examples really helped me understand the overall concepts better. Along with the textbook notes, I read through my lecture notes many, many times. I would get together with a few people and read the notes out loud, slide by slide and discuss the major points. As we would get to the next lectures notes we would go back and ask one another questions from the previous lectures to better retain the information. Additionally I would re-write my notes, which I believe helps me stay focused when studying, and allows me to not slack. Occasionally I would write on the white boards and list the names important people and write all that I knew about them and go back and add more. I felt that this method was beneficial and allowed myself to be tested before the actual exam. By these multiple methods I felt prepared for the exam.  Lastly I took the chapter quizzes multiple times, to get practice on what types of questions may be asked.

My method was to definitely over learn, and although I felt confident with my method I am always in search of a better way to retain the information. My way of studying is very time intensive and it would be beneficial to have a less time consuming method.

First Impression Post #5

--Original published at JanellesCollegeBlog

For this first impression post, I chose to write about Option 1 of memory relating to study habits. The most common way that I use to study is by rereading all the notes that I have taken over and over again until they are put into memory. This is my fall back method of studying although I know that it is not the most effective way to retain information. This is why I have been trying to branch out in my studying techniques. What I do well when I study is reading the chapters, reading my notes and comments from lectures, and recently I have been writing out information on white boards to make concept maps or visually see the terms and names of individuals out in front of me. Something that I do not do a lot of but need to improve on is testing myself throughout my time studying. I need to think about the questions that I will be asked as well as other simple questions this way I get my mind into the answering questions mindset for exams.

In particular for the first exam, I took notes from the book for all the chapters, read those a lot, and reread all the notes from lecture. I also completed the study guide to see where I was having the most difficulty and went to the library to write out the names of all the psychologists and what they did on whiteboards. Finally, I tested myself with the practice exam and reviewed the answers. For the second exam, I would focus more on testing myself while studying. I know that I did this with the practice exam, but I should use the practice set questions on Canvas more. This would be a good way to get used to more complex questions. Also, I should go through the chapters in the book and answer the questions in there because they usually sum up the main ideas and definitions that provide a base for all the other information. This would make the information more permanent because I feel like if you get a question wrong and then dig into the question to fully understand why you got it wrong, the information is more likely to stick in your head.

I believe that I have a good handle on studying, but I am really interested in ways that I can improve my habits and make my techniques more effective.

Week 6: Memory

--Original published at Manda's College Blog

I haven’t been in a school setting since graduation high school in 2008 and even then I had very poor study habits. I didn’t really care all too much about my education back then due to having my future set by enlisting in the Army even before I graduated. I never really thought about my plans if I were to get out after I was done and now… here I am. Being older I want to mention I am now much more serious about pursing an education then I was when being 18, 19 years old. I believe if I tried college right after high school I would have dropped out and would be completely lost. Being much more serious about college now, I really want to succeed. My study routine was taking a bunch of notes and reading the material over and over again; not really understanding the material. For my first psychology exam I used flashcards, putting psychologists names and definitions on there trying to remember who, what, when, where and why. When I would take a practice exam, the questions that were asked didn’t match the generic definitions on my flashcards. So I learned quickly that you have to actually know the material to understand the scenarios that were presented. I kept retaking the practice quizzes and had my significant other ask my the questions out of the exam and out of the book out of order.

Though it was a good routine I still didn’t do so hot on the exam, I kept looking for keywords that I studied and the scenarios were so much different. So again I learned that I still don’t understand the material. As of right now I’m working with the Professor once a week to learn by visuals and hands on practice. A recent example is I printed out a picture of a cell and I told him honestly I don’t understand the picture at all. We sat down and he explained that whenever a sensory or motor neuron gets triggered it goes through the action potential. Action potential sends the Neurotransmitters that are in the vesicles and flows into the synapse and thats where the gila goes through to sweep up the NT that didn’t get sent into the receiving neuron. Neurotransmitters that weren’t received get sent back up into the vesicle through the serotonin transporter. And so now whatever sensory or motor neuron is triggered it can now be processed in brain and or muscle. So I’m hoping that this routine is helping me. That is my routine currently.

First Impression Post; Week 6

--Original published at marybraun99

I am choosing to do option one, which is the way that I currently study and how I believe that my current study habits should be changed. Currently, when I study I only tend to look over my notes, and skim through the chapters of the book. When I study, I don’t tend to try to answer questions and question what I know – I just try to absorb more information all in one period of time, rather than spreading it out throughout a week or two span of time. I try to squeeze in all of my studying all in one night, which I know is totally not the way to go about studying, however, I have a horrible concentration time, and I can’t switch back and forth between subject well. So, whenever I have two tests for different courses in the same week, I squeeze in and then the other, because my brain (I think) can’t retain information the way that I would like it to.

Now, I think that the correct way to study and memorize things is to spread it out little by little when you first start getting the content that is needed, and then when you are finally done, and doing the final study just do one last look over everything and question yourself, make a study guide with questions to answer, or have somebody else ask you questions so that you can learn what you actually do know, instead of looking over something and just assuming that you know the information.

For the second exam in this class, I have already started reading the book, and looking over notes that we have already taken, hoping that spreading it out little by little, even in between other courses will help me to maintain the information a little better, and the more I look at it, (hopefully) the more I will understand it.

Week 6 First Impression Prompt – Memory

Hand writing on a notebook

We’re back to the normal schedule for blog posts, so this first impression post will be due by the beginning of class on Monday, 2/19. The refinement posts for this prompt will be due Sunday, 2/25, at 5pm. Regardless of which prompt you choose, please use the Tag “Memory” on your post:

Option 1:

One of the topics we will discuss related to memory is study habits. For this post, critique your current study habits. Discuss what do you do well and what do you need to improve. In particular, I want you to discuss how you studied for the first exam in this class and share any changes you might make for the second exam to improve your preparation. We will see how closely your ideas reflect what the research says about improving your memory for learned information.

Option 2:

Not all memories are created equal. Some seem to be so powerfully etched in our minds that we can recall them almost perfectly later in life. For example, many people from my parents’ generation know exactly what they were doing when President Kennedy was assassinated. A more recent example would be what you were doing when you heard of the terrorist attacks on 9/11 in 2001. Then there are all the personal life events we remember “like they were yesterday.” Why do you think some memories are so much stronger than others? Explain your theory and propose a way to study how accurate these powerful memories really are.

I look forward to seeing what you write!

Header image: CC by Flickr user Caitlinator

Spotlight Blog 1 Prompts

Regardless of which option you choose, make sure to use the tag “Spotlight” on your post. Also include the tag listed for the option you choose below. The spotlight post is due by the beginning of class on Friday, 2/23.

Option 1 – Use the tag “Development”

As divorce has become more and more common in the US, the number of children affected by divorce has increased greatly. The effects of divorce on children are controversial and there are a number of opinions out there on just what is “best” for kids. If you select this option, I want you to find two credible sources that argue divorce is inherently harmful to children and two credible sources that argue children can come through a divorce without serious consequences. Make sure to assess the arguments and supporting data presented in each source, explain what makes the source credible, and state which side of the issue you think is correct based on your reading. Make sure to list all sources at the end of your post.

Option 2 – Use the tag “Learning”

The idea of learning styles has become very popular over the last 20 years. There are tests that claim to identify what type of learner you are so you can customize your learning and studying to maximize your retention. Educators have increasingly been asked to cater their teaching to be more inclusive of learning styles as students have been labeled as visual, auditory, kinesthetic, or other types of learners. While there are many proponents of this approach to education, there are also many people arguing this focus on one type of learning for students is problematic and potentially harmful. If you select this option, I want you to find two credible sources that argue learning styles are important to pay attention to and two credible sources that argue learning styles are a myth. Make sure to assess the arguments and supporting data presented in each source, explain what makes the source credible, and state which side of the issue you think is correct based on your reading. Make sure to list all sources at the end of your post.

I look forward to seeing what you write!

Header image: CC by Flickr user Thomas Hawk

First Impression Post #3

--Original published at KatiesPerspectives

This week, I chose to speak out on the topic of violence in the media. This is something that I have been openly against for years and passionately feel that there is absolutely no reason for the amount of violence there is in some video games. With the amount of blood, gore, and the graphics these video games have, there is no reason that these should be so easily accessible to the youth of today. Criticisms of such games say that the results could be catastrophic and potentially make children more violent than those who aren’t exposed to such games.  These are the video games that your kids will play if we don’t put some sort of age restraint on them.

When I furthered my research and reached out to other sources for statistics to support my argument, I realized how many people feel similarly about violent video games. The New York Times reminds us that scientists have been studying the violent effects of the media since the early 1950’s and video games in particular since that 1980’s. It is important to mention that both boys and girls play violent video games. In the end, the scientist can soundly say that playing violent video ages can and will “stir up some hostile urges” and produce some “mildly aggressive behavior in the short term.” It is also important to mention that youngsters who play video games regularly and asa habit so become more aggressive (as measured in clashes with peers.) It is not yet clear whether or not there is a direct correlation between children playing violent video games and them committing violent acts of crime (rape, murder, assault, massacre, etc.) later in life.

In my opinion, there really is no reason to have games with the level of violence. Some may argue that a raised age limit would suffice, but rules are only rules because someone once broke them. Who’s to say people would abide by this law? I think if ages were raised for violent games, people would still play them regardless of the age limit. If video games were permanently banned for being too violent, that could be a bad thing too. People would get mad about the lack of violent video games, and these same people might commit violent acts because they originally played these games. Overall, it’s hard to decide which is the better of two evils to I will sit on the fence.

First Impression Week 5

--Original published at Kate's College Blog

For this weeks first impression post, I chose option 2 about violence in media and video games. Many children grow up playing video games and over the past years there has been an abundance of growth and expansion in the technology behind video games. New systems are created with new games that have higher graphic details. For me personally, growing up with 2 older brothers, they would always want the newest x-box with the newest games. So some of the games they would play would have violence in them. However, they were also attracted to games that were not violent and revolved around sports like football and basketball.

I do not believe that violent video games are the caused source of children becoming more violent. I think that there are many factors that contribute to children being violent. There can be external factors like their environment and the way they grow up that influence them to have more violent behavior. There can also be internal factors such as biological or cognitive elements that can also influence the child. However, with the advances in technology and the graphic content, I do not think that young children should be growing up playing violent video games until they understand that video games are not reality and there are actual serious consequences to harming or killing another person or multiple people.

I think that calls to have violent video games permanently banned would not be beneficial. Gun violence and the use of guns are a reality and hot topic in our world today. Video games are played world wide and even though many teenagers play violent video games, there are also games that revolve around sports, which is another hot topic wherever you are in the world. Video games connect people world wide, so eliminating violent video games would just put a hole in the companies that produce those games and children would still play the violent video games that they already have. I also think that parents need to monitor the games their child is playing based on how old they are and the way they are acting as a result of playing.