During the ECN class on Thursday, the professor announced that there was only two weeks from the mid-term exam. My first thought was: “Oh, my god! Only two weeks!” Then I realized that I could use the 20-Minute Test Prep-Adapted strategy to prepare for my mid-term exam.
This strategy is very good to prepare for ECN class as the focus of this class is facts and its pattern is definition and listing. So this strategy is just suitable for the review of the class as this strategy is based on a list of topics that will be covered in the exam.
So I just create an outline of the topics in the first place. As the PowerPoint is the major source of the information in ECN class, I create the list according to my PowerPoint. Here is my topic outline.
I write some questions to check my understanding of all these concepts in the margin. This list of concepts is a list of questions itself. As I read the list, I can quickly check whether I understand the definition. So it is very convenient to review these important concepts.
I also create study aid to help me with memorizing and checking. I create cards with the important concepts on one side and the detailed definition on the other side. I find these cards are very useful as I can carry them with me in my pockets so I can study whenever I have time. As there are definitions on the back of these cards, I can read them whenever I cannot remember them.
I find this strategy extremely useful for my ECN class, so I apply this strategy to my MAT course. I find the outline of topics still useful but not as much as the ECN course as there is more than concepts in MAT class. Here is my list of topics. I make it according to my class notes in MAT as the lectures are the major source of information for this course.
Then I find that only being familiar with these main points is not enough. The application of the theorems is much more important in a math course. So I collect previous exams and previous homework to create list a questions with different sections. I use this materials because I know the questions in exams are very similar to these in the previous exams/quizzes and homework assignments. I can use the list I create as a practical test before the exam approaching.
In general, the 20-Minute Test Prep-Adapted strategy is extremely useful for classes in which definitions or concepts are the major information that should be known. While for classes in which application of concepts is more important, one should use other strategies as complements, like creating a list of questions using previous exams. It is also helpful to create study aids while using the 20-Minute Test Prep-Adapted strategies like creating cards and outlines.
Viola,
ReplyDeleteyour blog is very creative, and well written. The pictures are very informative however they are difficult to see. I suggest enhancing the light when taking the photos just so they are easier to observe. But this blog is a fantastic piece of writing.
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ReplyDeleteviola this is very well done. it is so creative and descriptive
ReplyDeletekeep up the wood work :)
paul
I like the index you made. They must be very useful. I will try to do some for my AST course, since that course really emphasizes definition and some particular names. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteVery well organized. I find that I rarely use flash cards when studying for a test, however they seem to very effective here.
ReplyDelete