Study Groups – DIY Homework

The Secret to Success: Tools, Teams, and Routines

February 4, 2019

Motivation, Parents, Procrastination, Productivity, Routines, Siblings, Strategic Advantage, Study Groups, Study Skills, Teachers, Teams, Toolbox

We all need three things to get things done effectively. We need the correct tools, helpful teams, and robust routines. When all three of these are in place we can accomplish a lot more with less stress. Tools The more tools students have in their toolbox the faster and more effectively they can study. Students who have access to a large number of study tools can be strategic. They can match the tool and their approach to the type of quiz,…

Filling Gaps: Overcoming a Poorly Taught Class

January 30, 2019

jessicafinnigan

Active Learning, Gaps, Getting Unstuck, Group Studying, Independent Learning, self-advocacy, Self-Care, Strategic Advantage, Study Groups, Study Skills, Studying, Teachers, Tests

Teaching is a very challenging profession, but we need to realize that some classes do not work for some students. The cause of these gaps can be stylistic, lack of access to resources, unclear lectures, or a combination of many interconnected issues. The solution is to figure out how to learn the material in the class independently. This is often hard for students because of the expectation in middle and high school is that learning will be directed by an…

Homework Help: Math and Science

November 7, 2018

jessicafinnigan

Homework, self-advocacy, Strategic Advantage, Study Groups, Study Skills, Studying, Teams, Technology

Do you ever get stuck on a math or science problem? Do you want to get it done quickly and accurately? In these situations, it can be so frustrating to know how to get help. One of the best resources I have found is Harvey Mudd College’s Free Homework Hotline. This hotline is free and helps students in 4th -12th grades. Watch the video to find out how the homework hotlines can help you get your work done faster with less…

Make it Stick- Chapter 5

October 10, 2018

jessicafinnigan

Book Review, feedback, Group Studying, illusions, Retrieval Practice, self-advocacy, Study Groups

Metacognition Metacognition is the technology that means thinking about our thinking. Thinking about our thinking is very important because our brains no matter how smart are prone leading us astray by letting us feel we know more than we do. Two Systems Metaphor In Daniel Kahneman’s book Thinking, Fast and Slow he outlines a model of how we can think about decision making in our brains. System 1 – automatic and fast and is more susceptible to the illusion System…

Take Advantage of Office Hours

February 27, 2018

jessicafinnigan

Habits, Productivity, Strategic Advantage, Study Groups, Study Skills, Studying, Teams

Sometimes it is hard to crack how to get better grades in college. Because there are so few graded assignments in college it can be hard to adjust our study strategies. To fill these gaps it is important to be more strategic. One of the great secrets of successful college students is that they take advantage of office hours. Office hours are often presented to students as an opportunity to ask specific questions and get help on assignments. However, what…