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Manual
Description
This on-line manual has been designed to provide nursing study
group facilitators and partipants with practical resources to
help strengthen students' academic skills. Links to different
internet resources are provided. The 8 sections look at key issues
addressing: learning styles, stress management, organization,
study skills, note taking, effective reading, and test preparation.
We encourage you to use these excellent internet resources as
well as to search for additional information that will be useful.
Enter the words "study skills" into your web browser and you will
find a wide array of resouces.
In addition to the on-line study manual, another excellent resource is the Study Guides and Strategies website.
Section 1
- Assessment Tools
Are you an Active, Reflective, Sensing, Intutive, Visual, Verbal,
Sequential or Global learner? Take the short on-line assessment
test and find out what your learning style is. This first section
of the on-line manual is dedicated to assessment. We have included
links to two self-assessment questionnaires. These are easy to
complete and should be helpful to students who are interested
in strengthening their study skills. Guidelines are provided to
help interpret the questionnaire results. Students should use
these results to begin thinking about areas of strength and those
they would like to work on a little more.
There are numerous strategies for students to try. Questionnaire
results may suggest some potentially helpful types of study strategies.
Students are encouraged to try those approaches that seem most
comfortable and logical to them. Some students have reported that
as their academic semesters progress, their study skills and needs
evolve. Remember to refer back to this website from time to time
to reconsider alternative and additional strategies.
1. Index
of Learning Styles
A description of learning styles and how they influence
learning and studying is also included along with a tool for scoring
the questionnaire. You can complete this on-line and access immediate
results, or print out and complete the questionnaire and scoring
sheet. Specific recommendations are included for students to use
to make adjustments in their study strategies to accomodate their
learning styles.
· Index
of Learning Styles Scoring Sheet
Scoring sheet for Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire
· Description
of Learning Styles
Description of different learning styles and strategies
for different learning behaviors
2. Study
Skills Checklist
Print out or answer along with "yes" and "no" to
21 statements and inventory your study habits and attitudes in
the areas of time scheduling, concentation, listening & note taking,
reading, exams, and writing skills. Follow up with the link below
on strategies to improve areas of difficultly.
· Study
Skills Self-Help Information
Access the on-line study skills workshop with strategies,
questionnaires, and tips for improving academic performance.
Section
2 - Working With Groups
Leadership...motivation...team player... These are all characteristics
that nurses need to have.The materials in this section cover a
wide variety of topics related to working with groups. The first
few on-line articles are focused upon understanding the concept
of groups process. Some helpful ideas about how to work as a team
leader are also included. Characteristics of effective teams,
team members, and team leaders are presented. Finally, some information
on group process andhow to be a good leader are crucial to the
success of this project. Explore the strategies provided and use
those that are appropriate for your group and seem to fit with
your personal facilitation style.
1. Team
Building: Developing a Productive Team
Article by the Nebraska Cooperative Extension on
how to develop a productive team. Article discusses characteristics
of good team building, team effectiveness, evaluation of team
development, focusing the team, the team leader, and various references.
2. Characteristics
of Effective Team Leaders
Do you have these characteristics? A list of characteristics
of effective leaders
3. Team
Motivation
Article discussing how to motivate people and factors
that influence team motivation.
4. Icebreakers,
Warm-ups, Review, and Motivator Activities
Got a group that won't talk? Consider using some
of these handy activities to motivate and energize a group. Another
suggestion... consider assigning each group member responsibility
for an activity to re-energize the group.
Section 3
- Managing Stress
Stressed out? Effective management of stress is important for
everyone. The following on-line resources offer simple explanations
of stress and a quiz entitled, "How stressed are you?" Most of
the articles provide simple and practical suggestions for managing
stress.
1. Stress
Test: How Stressed Are You?
Take this 20 question test and find out your stress
level.
2. Stress
Management: Ten Self-Care Techniques
Techinques to take care of yourself during stress
times.
Section 4
- Time Management & Scheduling
Poor time management and procrastination are pitfalls that affect
many of us. Of course that new TV show, or night on the town is
more appealing than spending the night with a textbook. However,
nursing students have especially heavy schedules, and poor time
management skills can be very problematic. It may be helpful for
students to review these sites early in the semester. It may also
be beneficial for to return to this section to review some of
the suggestions and tips as the semester progresses. Even if some
of the strategies that are available do not seem appropriate to
the student at first, they may seem like a better fit later in
the semester as the student's experiences and workloads change.
1. Time
Scheduling
Trouble organizing your time? This website offers
long-range and short-range planning strategies for university
students.
2. Time
Scheduling Suggestions
Many different strategies are offered for managing
time.
3. Time
Management Weekly Schedule
Print out this weekly time management schedule
to keep track activities and assignments.
4. Anticipating
and Planning Courses
This website has suggestions for planning for classes
before the semester starts.
Section 5
- In the Classroom
Taking notes is an important skill for college. The following
websites offer some practical suggestions about taking notes during
course lectures. There are also suggestions on ways to improve
concentration during class and cues for listening during lectures.
1. Note-Taking
and In-Class Skills
Strategies for note taking in a concise list.
2. Note-Taking
Skills
Outlines reasons for taking notes, guidelines for
note-taking, tips for finding major points in lectures, and forms
of note-taking.
3. Lecture
Note-Taking
Key phrases to listen for when taking notes are
included in this site.
4. Taking
Notes: The Cornell System
The Cornell System of taking notes is designed
to save time, yet be highly effective. Do it right the first time
around.
5. Notes
that Save Time
Can't get it all down? Not to worry, this article
shows you how to write down key points of a lecture.
6. Editing
Lecture Notes
Find out how to organize and review your notes
after a lecture.
Section 6
- Studying and Learning Skills
The websites listed in this section offer way to improve concentration,
memory, and the study environment. A selection is also included
that addresses how to identify gaps in knowledge. Finally, there
are several discussions of some creative ways to use learning,
organizing information, and teaching strategies such as case studies,
Venn diagrams, mind mapping, clustering, manifestation trees,
and puzzles.
1. Concentration:
Some Basic Guidelines
Need suggestions on how to concentrate better?
Look no further.
2. Improving
Your Concentration Skills
This site offers techiniques for staying on task.
3. Ten
Traps of Studying
Avoid studying pitfalls by reading this article.
4. *Mind
Mapping
Learn what a mind map is, and how to do one.
5. Clustering
Learn what clustering is, and how to do it.
6. Venn
Diagrams
Learn what a venn diagram is, and create one with
the on-line tool.
7. Case Studies
See how to use case studies to enhance learning
in nursing courses.
8. Identifying Gaps in Knowledge
How do you know, what you don't know? See this
short article and find out.
Section 7
- Reading
Nursing students spend a great deal of time reading for classes.
Many of the websites listed identifiy different strategies to
enhance reading effectiveness that students may find helpful.
Students are encouraged to review each of the strategies and to
consider trying some of them.
1. Reading
Your Textbooks
Not able to remember what you read? See what skills
you can gain from reading this article.
2. Survey,
Question, Read, Recite, and Review: The SQ3R System
Find out how to use the SQ3R System in your reading.
3. SQ4R
Method of Study Reading
Add writing and improve your SQ3R skills.
4. PQ4R
Method
More tips on remembering what you read.
5. Reading
Methods: PORPE
Predict, Organize, Reherse, Practice and Evaluate
- an approach to studying textbook materials.
Section 8:
Tests and Papers
Tests make most people nervous. This section lists sites that
may assist some students to improve their performance on exams
and tests. The information includes test preparation, test-taking
skills, strategies for taking essay tests, and how to get the
most information from a returned test.
Pulling together all of the relevant information when writing
a paper can be an overwhelming task. Included in this section
are materials designed to help students keep organized during
this process.
1. Survival
Strategies for Taking Tests
Strategies for before and during test-taking.
2. Checklist
for Essay Tests
Use this guide to review answers to discussion
questions.
3. Test
Anxiety
Strategies for dealing with test anxiety.
4. Reasons
to Review a Returned Test
The importance of reviewing a returned test, and
how you can turn it into a learning experience.
5. Procedures
for Writing a Term Paper
This is a detailed article on how to write a term
paper - from outlines to drafts to edits.
6. How
Not to Plagiarize
This site has samples of proper quotations, citations,
and referencing using the APA System, MLS System, and traditional
endnote/footnote system.
For More Information
For questions or further information about the peer facilitated
study group or becoming a facilitator
or a participant, please contact the Multicultural Affairs
(734-936-1615), Cathy Felder,
or Dr. Patricia Coleman-Burns,
Program Direct/PI.
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