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Searching & Researching

In today’s world of the Internet and endless resources at your fingertips, knowing how to properly search the web and find what you’re looking for is a must.  Each search engine is different and if you are unsure as to how it operates, you could be making life much more difficult than it needs to be while you search the web.

One way to more accurately use search engines is by using Boolean logic.  This method allows you to retrieve more precise results when you are searching for a given topic.  By using key words like AND, OR, and NOT you can narrow the focus of what that particular search engine will return.  For example, if you search Ohio State NOT football, your results will contain pertinent information on The Ohio State University, just none of it will pertain to the football team.  Another trick you can adopt using Boolean logic is the use of quotation marks.  If you are looking for a specific phrase within your results, placing that phrase in quotations lets the search engine know that you want those words in that order and phrase returned as the results.  This can be particularly useful in weeding out the unwanted hits when you are searching for specific material.

Conducting research takes time and patience.  As mentioned above there are countless resources at your disposal waiting to be called on.  Sometimes the difficult part in research is sifting through everything you do not want in order to find what you’re looking for.  By implementing strategies such as Boolean logic, you can help make the process of researching less stressful, but more productive as well.

 

Web-Enhanced Listening and Viewing Strategies

In the modern age, we are seeing countless different transitions from classroom learning to online podcast style learning.  There are many advantages to this approach, however there are some flaws as well.  With this new approach to learning we require some new skill sets in order to be as effective as possible.

One of the biggest advantages to the new wave of online learning is the unlimited access to the material.  With a podcast, or some other version of online lecture, we are able to not only access the material at anytime, but we can pause the lecture and go back to review anything we feel we have not fully grasped.  This is huge because it allows each student to work at their own pace increasing comprehension levels.

On the other side of the coin there are some drawbacks to this new approach.  Many students need the face to face interaction that comes with sitting in front of a professor.  These kids learn best through dialogue and questions with their instructure as they work through the lecture.  With podcasts and online lectures we lose the exchange that occurs in a classroom.

While there are always pros and cons to every situation, the new push in online learning is allowing kids to learn in a way that better suits their learning style.

Improved Note Taking Skills

There are many different strategies out there for taking effective notes.  Odds are there is room for improvement in how we take/use notes for a class.  For some it is a matter of how you organize these notes, for others it is what you do with the notes after you have written them that makes all the difference.  Just writting notes down is never enough.  It takes reviewing, summarizing, and reevaluating these notes to gain a complete understanding of the topic at hand.  This can be incredibly tough to do if your notes are structured, and organized in a confusing manner that does not follow the overall flow of the lecture.  In the link below is a video that discusses ways to improve your note taking skills.  Not only does it cover different methods for taking notes, but it also discusses ways to review your notes, and steps you can take to better understand the topic being covered.  Some of these steps include things like get help early, talk to the professor, and summarize notes within 24 hours of the lecture when you are first exposed to them.  It is steps like these that help engage you in the material more making comprehension easier.  Hopefully this video can help you to improve your skills and make you a more productive not taker.

http://youtu.be/9gCrslHx7xA

Web Enhanced Reading & Study Strategies

If your anything like me, sitting down to read a school related document can be very difficult.  I seem to struggle to keep myself involved in the reading, as well as the amount of comprehension I take away from what I have read.  While this is something I have difficulty with, there are still strategies out there to help me overcome this obstacle.  If you do the right things before, during, and after you read, you will find your understanding is greatly improved.

Before you start reading it is always a good idea to prepare yourself for what you are about to read.  This may involve reviewing the syllabus for a course, or going over some notes you already have for the chapter.  While some may not need to review other materials, it is always smart to eliminate all distractions that may interrupt you, as well as get your mind ready to be engaged in the material.

While you are reading there are a few things you can do to help you retain more information.  To start with it is always a good idea to have a notebook beside you so you can write down any key points or questions you may have over a certain section.  Another point that often trips me up is to establish an appropriate pace.  Many times we don’t fully engage our mind in the reading and we focus on what we can do once we complete the material.  When this happens the reader more than likely is reading as fast as they can so they can finish.  If the pace is slowed the amount of retention will be drastically greater.  Finally, try and summarize each section of the material once you finish reading it.  This serves as a quick self test as to whether you comprehend what it is you just read.

After you have completed the reading it is always a good idea to reflect on what you read.  It is at this point that you attempt to answer any questions you may have written down, as well as those new questions that come to mind.  Taking this time to recap what you read helps your mind make better use of what you just exposed it to.  I view this portion in the same light as a cool down lap for a runner.  When the runner finishes the race they don’t just go sit, they cool their bodies down eliminating lactic acid and properly treat their muscles.  As readers we must do similar exercises for our minds.

Communicating & Collaborating

Everyone looks forward to going to college for many different reasons.  For some it may be the opportunity of finally having freedom and independence, for others the chance to learn new things is incredibly enticing.  Regardless of the reason we are excited for college, many things will change the second you decide what school you will attend.

One aspect of college that I had very little, if any, experience in was the new way of communicating and collaborating with others.  As a high school student I had an email account but it was only used for facebook and online purchases.  When I arrived to college I was immediately overcome by the wave of communication done via email.  Having learned the hard way, I realized there was a right and a wrong way to communicate and collaborate with others through email.

One of the most important lines of communication used via email is that with instructors and professors.  Whenever an issue or a question pops up while taking a course, often times the best way to get an answer is through an email.  However, when emailing a professor you should not construct your email as though you are sending a text message to your friends.  There is a form of etiquette,  some refer to this as netiquette, that should be used when composing these inquires.   You should always address your professor in a professional manner.  How you address them is the first thing they will read, and if you upset/offend them by calling them an inappropriate name, you likely will not receive the response you desire.  Another important part of communicating via email is having a precise yet complete subject line.  Let the reader know what you are about to discuss in a short description, but try not to leave them guessing either.  For example just putting chapter 5 as the subject line for an email regarding a certain topic in chapter 5 would not be sufficient.  My final point of advice regarding school related emails has to do with the body of your document.  This is where the meat of the email is, and you want to fully explain yourself.  With that being said overindulging can ruin an inquiry.  Again be precise in what it is you are trying to say, and be respectful.  It is never wise to use sarcasm or slang terms that could convey the wrong message.  A good tip I received in regards to composing a professional email was to write the email as though it were a formal letter to the president.  Keeping this in mind helps you make sure you remember to do things properly and that you type with thought.

With all of these tips for writing emails to professors, one still must keep in mind that sometimes an email is not the best avenue for communication.  Often times when you find yourself struggling to say what you would like, or you are just rambling on, the best option is to pick up the phone and call.  With all the incredible advancements in technology, people forget that talking to someone can be the best way to communicate.  There is no room for misinterpretation when you are speaking with someone, as opposed to reading an email.

Hopefully these few easy tips can help future college students compose emails and communicate with professors in a proficient manor.

Nick