TOPIC 1: GETTING READY TO LEARN

Date: 7th June 2017

Time: 8:15 am - 10:05 am

Venue: Dewan Indera Segara

Conducted By: Prof. Madya Dr. Halil Bin Paino

          Assalamualaikum w.b.t. UED102's first meeting was held on 7th June 2017. Sadly, I was not there because I got into this university on 15th June 2017, same as other second intake students. I am glad I could get into this university. Even though I am not there, on the first meeting of UED102, I am glad because there are many friends willing to share the information they got.

          I am informed that first thing the students need to do is register into few groups for this subject.  And I am in group 1C. Besides, I am also informed that every week of UED102 will be held in different places. Here are the places we are required to go for each week;

     Week 1: Dewan Indera Segara
     Week 2: Al- Farabi
     Week 3: At- Tabari
     Week 4: Dewan Kuliah 1
     Week 5: Dewan Kuliah 2
     Week 6: Ibnu Hazim
     Week 7: Library

          Every students have to make e- portfolio (individual work). It should be done using Google+, wordpress or blogspot. We have to follow the instructions given by the lecturers respectively. The mark for e-portfolio is 60%.

          Besides, students also have to do an assignment (group work) . Each group has 10 people. The mark of this group work is 40%. So, every students have to complete the assessement given to them.

     The chapters/subtopics in the syllabus:

     1. Getting Ready to Learn
     2. Goals Setting
     3. Library & Campus Resources
     4. Time Management & Organizational Skills
     5. Memory, Learning & Improving Concentration
     6. Taking Lecturer Notes
     7. Academic Integrity & Perfomance

      Required Items In Our E- Portfolio:

     1. Learning Style Inventory
     2. Goal Statement - The Five Step Approach
     3. Notes On Library Tour
     4. Fixed - Commitment Calendar
     5. Job Task Analysis
     6. Prioritized To-Do-List
     7. Memory Strategies (Activity 4.7:Van Bierkom,2009, pg 90)
     8. Organizational Strategies (Activity 6.1: Van Blerkom,2009, pg 107)
     9. Concentration Strategies (Activity 6.1: Van Blerkom,2009, pg 144)
    10. Concentration Chart (Figure 6.4: Van Blerkom,2009, pg 161)
    11. Reading Text (Figure 12.3: Van Blerkom,2009, pg 309)
    12. Note-Taking Strategies (Activity 5.1: Van Blerkom, 2009, pg 116)
    13. Note Taking Exercise using the Cornell Method
    14. GPA Worksheet

          Now, let's talk about making transition from school to university. Is it important? Is it necessary? The answer is YES it is! The surroundings and situations between school and university is really different. Unlike school students, university students must be independent and have to do almost everything on their own. Making the move from being in a school to university is not an easy task. There is a need for students to make a new friends, find out new things and make necessary adjustments for them to feel at home in the new surroundings.

           LEARNING STYLES & CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS
    
          Next we are going to talk about learning style & characteristics of successful students. We must identify which learning style suits us the most so it can help us to study. So, let's see which learning style suits us the most!

    LEARNING STYLE INVENTORY

       

(photo taken from google)

        Many people recognize that they have different learning styles and techniques. By knowing which learning style suits you, you can improve the speed & quality of your learning. Here are some learning syles and the explaination:

      1. Visual (spatial)                : You tend to study using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
      2. Aural (auditory-musical) : You tend to study using sound and music.
      3. Vernal (linguistic)            : You tend to study using words, both in speech and writing.
      4. Physical (kinesthetic)       : You tend to study using your body, hands and sense of touch.
      5. Logical (mathematical)    : You tend to study using logic, reasoning and systems.
      6. Social (interpersonal)       : You tend to study to learn in groups or with other people.
      7. Solitary (intrapersonal)    : You tend to study to work alone and use self-study.

      Still can't decide which learning styles suits you the most? Don't worry! There are many quizzes online that can help you decide which learning style suits you ☺. http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml is one of the website that can help you decide which learning style suits you the most.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS

(photo taken from Google)

    These are a few of characterictics of successful students

1. Attend All Classes. One of the best ways to be successful in college is to attend all classes. Although you will be tested on material from the course text, most of the test questions will come from lectures.

2. Become an Active Learner. Unlike high school, in college, you can’t learn all the material just reading over it a couple of times. You need to write and recite the information to get it into long-term memory.

3. Participate in Class. If you feel a bit uncomfortable participating in class, set goal to either ask or answer one question during each class. Once you begin participating, you’ll feel more a part of class and will become more actively involved in the learning process.

4. Get to Know Your Lecturers. Take a few minutes and stop to talk with your lecturer before or after class or during office hours. Ask questions about the material or check on your progress in the course. If you get to know your instructors, you may feel more comfortable asking for help when you need it.

5. Stay Up to Date with Friends. Study groups are known to be very effective. However, make sure you include friends qho are serious about doing well in their studies, because only then they will contribute.

6. Stay Up to Date with Your Work. Many new college students have difficulty keeping up with all of the reading that’s assigned in class. If you get behind in your reading, you may never have time to catch up. The workload in  college just increases as the semester progresses. Never procrastinate!

7. Be Receptive to Change. If the strategies that you used in high school never working, ask your lecturer or tutor for suggestions for different ways to learn.

8. Work Hard This Semester. If you want high grades, if you work slowly of if you’re taking difficult courses, you’ll need more time to do your work well.

  That's all for this post. See you in the next post! ☺