NEW Strategies for

“Your” Academic

Success

Dr. John Michael Domino

Center of Academic Assistance

Florida Gulf Coast University

MOTIVATION

Why do you want to

attend FGCU?

What is motivating

you to try your best?

What can possibly

motivate you more?

What is keeping you

from being on top?

MOTIVATION

Feel confident in your abilities – Einstein Factor

Don’t take undue criticism – even from yourself!

Forget about past mistakes – focus on your success!

Read words of Inspiration!

FOCUS on FUTURE LONG TERM GOALS!

What are the most

effective time

management tools?

How many days

does it take to make

something a habit?

What is the best

way to set

priorities?

TIME

MANAGEMENT

Time waits for no one!

* Imagine a Sandwich that is 30 ft. long.

*Would you be able to eat it all in one afternoon?

How many ft. could you eat?

If you tried to eat all 30 ft all in one day, how would you feel?

Would you try to eat it two days or in two weeks?

SOLUTION:Cut the sandwich into several pieces and store the rest in the

fridge or the freezer so you can eat smaller, easier to

consume amounts another day. You would not want to jam

two or more weeks worth of food down your stomach in

one day!

* Why would you try to stuff two weeks worth of

information into your brain in one cram session?

“Inch by inch, life is a cinch, yard by yard life is hard.”

GOALS

What are your goals?

Yale Study: Students who

list goals are much more likely

to achieve success.

“You become and achieve

what you believe.”

PrioritiesWhat would you do if you had a choice of the following four things to

eat over the next four days and you had no refrigeration?

A Pizza

A Hot Dog

A Hamburger

A Submarine Sandwich

What would you eat first, second, etc?

What would you save for last? Why?

PRIORITIES:

• Have you scheduled study times by using day planner?

• How long do you study at one time?

• Do you give your self rewards after you study?

“Have FUN while you study and make it a

PRIORITY!”

Priorities

List priorities in order A,B,C, D, etc. in your daily planner.

Cross out or check when you completed an assignment. You

can also use colors – red for high priorities, then purple,

blue, green, and so forth…

Date: Weds, Sept 29th

B) World History

Test Thurs 5 Oct

C) Chemistry

Paper due Fri 6 Oct

D) English

Paper dueThurs 12 Oct

A) Algebra

Test, Mon 2 Oct

PROCRASTINATION

“DO IT NOW”

DONUTS

Hot, Fresh, and Tasty!

PROCRASTINATION

What happens to the same

donuts if they are left out after two weeks? .

In two weeks the donuts will become STALE and Hard to eat!

Old Stale Information

Two weeks old (or more) What happens to information

we learn today?

On the same day it’s fresh! But if we don’t take a bite of the same information in a

few weeks it becomes fuzzy,

stale, and hard to recall.

“Review information the same day while it’s still fresh and easy to remember.”

MEMORY STRATEGIES

Organize – List facts in

chronological order use

colors and numbers.

Learn Actively – Don’t

sit - move around and

form a mental picture.

Draw diagrams, charts,

cartoons, all pictures are

a memory enhancer.

MEMORY STRATEGIES Stay Healthy – studies

show proper diet &

exercise can increase

memory by 20%.

Recite – reciting is

THREE times more

effective than reading.

Reviewing – notes the

same day increases your

chances of recalling by

over 70%.

To Improve Reading

Capabilities

Successful Readers – READ! READ! READ!

Read with Purpose – What do you need to know?

Use SQ3R METHOD

*Survey the information.

*Question – what you have read.

*Read - re-tell the information in your own words.

*Recite – important information and highlights.

*Review - readings and answer review questions.

CONCENTRATION

Do you daydream while you study?

Does your mind tend to wander off?

Do you think of things totally unrelated to the subject?

Do you worry often?

Concentration

What can you do? PUSH - PUSH

Prepare and Organize

Use syllabi & study guide

Study difficult subjects first

Have a dedicated study space

Phone – turn it off

Use SQ3R method

Study subjects at peak times

Have a worry pad handy and write down stray thoughts.

To Improve Writing

List facts by using an outline.

Separate information into categories.

Formulate paragraphs.

Formulate topic sentences.

Compose a first draft.

Proof read papers carefully.

Review papers with another instructor.

Review papers with a capable student.

Bring your papers to the Writing Center!

The Writing Center

Located in Reed Hall

Rm. 237

Mon 9:00-5:00

Tues-Thurs 9:00-4:30

Fri 1:00– 3:00

No Appointment

is necessary!

Studying For Exams

Use the F-O-C-U-S method, make it a habit!

Focus focus on the syllabus and study guide.

Open open your text and your notes daily and

become familiar with the content.

Condense condense notes to form study sheets.

Understand review material you are unsure of.

Study – study in a quiet place, with a partner, in

a group, and quiz one another.

“The most important

thing is to not stop

questioning.”

Albert Einstein

Super Success Strategies

Ask questions – get answers the same day!

Seek SI or a tutor- make it a habit!

E-mail – the instructor, SI leader, classmate, etc.

Recite your notes daily – take frequent breaks!

Use index cards, post notes, and color pens.

Recite out loud - walk around the room.

Limit TV and Internet games to 30 min.

Visit The Center for Academic Assistance

Come to our next Success Seminar:

FINAL EXAM

TEST TAKING STRATEGIES

Wednesday, 1 Dec. at 4:00PM

Student Conference

Room. # 217

I’ll see you then!