LEARNING STRATEGIES

Margaret J. Fehrenbach, RDH, MS at http://www.dhed.net

1. Designate a place and time for personal study.

2. Form study groups to go over information presented in class and in the test. Re-form group if necessary for your best interests. Beware of group members who use the group as their only source of study!

3. Read materials suggested before lecture. Make sure to read for comprehension:

• Use images during reading
• Take notes if necessary
• Look over all the pictures and diagrams until understood - this may be the way you process information
• Form questions after reading when information is not understood or further information would be interesting - use these questions during lecture to facilitate your learning
• Note all terms used in text
• Relate information in text to clinical situations.

4. Do all exercises given with the class individually to really see if you have understood the material without your notes and then go over exercises in a group to compare information using your notes.

5. Locate background materials if a certain topic seems completely new to you and the instructor considers it a review item. All basic science backgrounds are not similar and do not let yours get in the way of learning now.

6. Take notes during lecture in class. During lecture use some type of shorthand method for ease of note taking. Skip "and" and "the" or other extra words that are not necessary for comprehension. Use words or symbols such as "perio" for periodontology and = for definition or to denote similarities. Don't get upset if your notes are a bit messy! They are for you to work with. Star items that you need further background work later by you for full understanding. Write down the:

• Information written down by the instructor
  
• Information that the instructor spends a lot of time discussing
  
• Information stressed by the tone of the instructors voice
  
• Information not understood in reading of the text
  
• Information that is a summary of the topic being discussed
  

7. Look over your lecture notes as soon as possible after the class to complete them or to rewrite portions that confuse you upon reading them. The information will still be fresh in your mind. Remember - you do not have to completely rewrite them for beauty's sake.

8. Use self-testing methods using the text and your notes. This helps to determine what areas you need further study in. Great strategy is to use group study.

9. To lessen the test anxiety syndrome:

• Do not cram. Your patients may ask you the question on your first day of work!
  
• Read all test directions before proceeding on to the questions.
  
• Do not ask instructor questions before the test is given out. This jams your head, as well as others, with only one topic of material.
  
• Ask all questions privately during the test. Respect the instructor if they reply that to answer the question is to answer the item
  
• Answer only those items that you immediately know first, denote in some manner those items that need further analysis so as to allow for time for this.
  
• Allow time for a review of test before handing it in. Answer all the questions. Make sure your name is on the front sheet and initials on all pages in case you miss a page, or hand grading is needed on an item. However, many schools are not hand grading anymore!
  
• Use tests (usually quizzes) for learning the material later. Go over all items missed and ask the instructor to clarify them. You may not see the same item exactly again. But possibly there may be a future item similar to it or the item may build upon future information.

10. During study times, take a break every fifteen to twenty minutes.

11. Enjoy the learning process. However, make yourself the responsible agent for learning - not the instructor, your friends, or your (blank).

*National Institute of Education and myself (Margaret J. Fehrenbach, RDH, MS)

A BIG thank you to Margaret J. Fehrenbach, RDH, MS for her contribution of this article here to help students out. Please visit her Dental Hygiene Education site!

www.amyrdh.com

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