Introduction – How to be Successful in General Psychology
Before/During Class
Before class skim through the material that will be covered to give yourself an overview, this will make it much easier to follow the class. During class do NOT try to write down everything the professor says! Pick out the important points but write enough so that your notes will make sense later ……. something like “studied rats” is not likely to help you remember the material a few weeks later but “rats able to remember maze for 24 hours” might.
After Class
Whenever possible you should review your notes a few hours after the class. If they don’t make sense now then at least you might be able to remember enough to improve them.
Studying for Exams
Exams will be much less stressful if you spread your studying out over a few weeks or at least a few days rather than just waiting until the night before the exam. Research has shown that reviewing material multiple times is a great way to help you remember it.
Learning Objectives
It is also VERY IMPORTANT to frequently test your memory for the material: flash cards, practice questions, explaining the material to a friend etc will show you whether you actually know your stuff!
Remember to ask your Prof. about the exam. What type of questions will be included (essay, multiple choice etc)? Are you expected to know names and dates?
Finally, when it comes to the exam – try to relax! Think of this as an opportunity to show off what you know.
Resources
You may already know how to take great notes but if not there is lots of help out there.
Taking Notes in Class provides a good introduction to taking notes in a classroom setting with some real-life examples of what to do AND what not to do!
Video Intro-1: Taking Notes in Class (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc5qyMTjO3k&feature=youtu.be). Uploaded by Indiana University Bloomington, Student Academic Center.
Once the semester gets underway you will probably find yourself with too little time and too much to do. Time Management provides detailed instructions on managing your time both as a student and in your non-student life!
Video Intro-2: Time Management (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q1KELLwaSk). Uploaded by Indiana University Bloomington, Student Academic Center.
Then, of course, there are EXAMS! Again, you may already have developed some great strategies for both revising for and writing exams but if not (or if you think there may be some tricks you’re missing) then help is out there. The video Preparing for Exams is short but to the point:
Video Intro-3: Study Skills: Preparing for Exams (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q1KELLwaSk). Uploaded by the Ottawa University Student Academic Success Service
FINALLY: Don’t ignore real-life resources such as your professor, other students, librarians, student services etc …… they can help and human contact is nice!
Psychology Specific Resources
Several great podcast series to dip into:
- Hidden Brain: for discussion on the unconscious patterns that drive human behaviour. (http://www.npr.org/podcasts/510308/hidden-brain)
- Tag: Arming the Donkeys: an advice column on psychology related issues. (http://danariely.com/tag/arming-the-donkeys/)
- Waking up Podcast: an exploration of the human mind, society and current events. (https://www.samharris.org/podcast)
- All in the Minda: a discussion on the brain and behaviour. (http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/)
The crash course series contains 40 short (10 – 15 minutes) lessons and covers pretty much the entire Intro Psyc syllabus. Start with the Intro to Psychology, Crash Course Psychology #1.
Video Intro-4: Introduction to Psychology: Crash Course Psychology #1 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo4pMVb0R6M). Uploaded by Crash Course.
References
American Psychological Association. (2018). Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/
Ariely, D. (2018). Tag: Arming the Donkeys. Retrieved from http://danariely.com/tag/arming-the-donkeys/
Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio National. (2018). All in the Mind – Podcasts. [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/
Crash Course. (February 3, 2014). Introduction to Psychology: Crash Course Psychology #1. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/vo4pMVb0R6M
Harris, S. (2018). Waking Up – Podcast. [Video podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.samharris.org/podcast
Indiana University Bloomington, Student Academic Center. (September 13, 2013). Taking Notes in Class. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc5qyMTjO3k
Indiana University Bloomington, Student Academic Center. (September 11, 2013). Time Management. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/9Q1KELLwaSk
National Public Radio. (2018). Hidden Brain. [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/podcasts/510308/hidden-brain
Ottawa University, Student Academic Success Service. (August 28, 2014). Study Skills: Preparing for Exams. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtube.com/khhjXkzXaZA
