How We Process Information Before, During and After the Test
Different Types of Tests Last Minute Study Tips Test Anxiety
Cheating
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Dual route approach to processing information: Central
Peripheral
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Benefits Messages seem to be more accessible (easier to recall)
Messages are more stable and persistent Messages are more resistant
to change, challenges Attitudes adopted are more predictive of
attitude-relevant behavior Receiver of the message has more
confidence in attitudes adopted with the central route
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Factors affecting ability Intelligence Age Issue-relevant
knowledge schema Distractions (external and internal) Confidence in
ones own thoughts What are some situational factors that are
currently affecting your ability to process information?
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Factors affecting motivation Need for cognition low in need
means low in motivation Need for evaluation low in need means low
in motivation Openmindedness low dogmatics are more flexibile with
belief structure and are more willing to listen Interest Personal
Relevance Value Relevance
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Our brain creates pathways when think about something the more
we think about something, the clearer the path becomes Easier to
recall information that is grouped with similar information We
forget most material in the first 24 hoursreview quickly to
retain
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SQ3R: survey, question, read, recite, review With difficult
reading, outline as you survey and as a you read Make material
meaningful Apply general concepts to specific examples Break
material down by categories (logical, chronological, spatial) Make
it personalapply material to your own life experiences Create
pictures to connect ideas
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Recite (out loud) and repeat to create memory trails Write a
song and recite Imitate someone while reciting Repetitive writing
Overlearndo more problems than are assigned for class Review
multiple timesyou wont learn a new phone number without reciting it
repeatedly
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Know when you learn best Are you a sparrow? An owl? A sprowl?
Study in short chunks 2 hours of study + 1 hour of activity/break +
1-2 hours of study VS 6 straight hours of studying Keep the subject
interestingrelate it to your own experiences to curtail bad
attitudes Pay attention to your active listeningmake a mark when
your mind wanders to refocus Keep a to-do list or intention
statement to stop thinking about what you need to do
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Remember something else Example: if cannot remember note-taking
systems, remember note-taking strategies instead Notice when you
recall information hints at your learning style Use course
information frequently, such as through flashcard reviews Believe
that you wont forgetattitude predicts behavior
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Example: Peanut butter soda crackers. Problem, blame, solution,
consequences Activity: What device do we use to remember the colors
of a rainbow? What rhymes can you recall that helped you remember
information? Pick a topic from class and create a mnemonic to help
you remember it.
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Start preparing on the first day of class. Dont miss class, set
up a review schedule, keep up with reading. Time yourself when
reading for a class and use that to budget your time for future
reading Know expectations. Keep a copy of your syllabus, ask
instructors to clarify expectations. Ask questions in class. Raise
your hand in class, ask instructor for clarification. Dont assume
all of the lecture will cover the text.
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Keep up Manage your time; keep up with daily reading and
assignments. Review early and weekly Preview chapters before class;
review notes immediately after class; schedule an hour weekly to
review materials; use flashcards Final review The week before the
test schedule extra review time. Suggested two hours a day at least
three days prior to the exam.
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Create a sample test Pre-test yourself with questions created
from key concepts, notes, and chapter objectives. Remember to save
all quizzes and course materials for review. Study Group Share
notes and possible test questions. Be prepared on test day Bring
pencils, pens, paper, watch, and any other materials you might
need.
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Mind dump. Jot down formulas, key works, facts, etc. in the
margins or on the back of the exam. Read and listen to all
instructions. Take your time, read directions, and ask for
clarification. Determine which questions are worth the most. Spend
more time on questions that are worth the most.
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Answer objective questions. These questions may contain
information that will be useful in essay questions. Answer essay
questions. Spend more time on these questions because they tend to
be worth the most points. Answer remaining questions. Answer all
questions unless there is a penalty for guessing. Review Review
your exam before turning it in to instructor.
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Reward yourself. Analyze your performance. Confirm your
gradecheck to make sure the grade was calculated correctly.
Determine what types of mistakes you made was it lack of
preparedness or was it because you did not follow directions? Learn
what to do different for the next test.
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True/False Multiple Choice Matching Fill-in-the-Blank Open Book
Essay
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Read entire question before answering it. Pay attention to
detailsread names, dates, and places carefully. Watch for
qualifiersalways, all, never, and every. These questions are
usually false. Answer every question. Trust instinctif it doesnt
sound right, it probably isnt.
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Read the question carefully. Eliminate choices. Go from easy to
difficult. Watch for combinationsall of the above or none of the
above. Look at sentence structure.
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Read both lists carefully. Eliminatethis is the key to a
matching test. Cross choices out as you complete matches.
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Look for cuesif the word before the blank is an the blank will
generally start with a vowel; if the word before the blank is a the
blank will start with a consonant. Count the number of blanks.
Watch for the length of the blankthis will indicate a longer or
shorter answer. Answer the questions you know first.
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You still need to study. Focus on organizing your material.
Know what you can use and have it with younotes from class,
previous homework, etc. Key is to know how to find information
quickly. Use sticky notes to flag pages.
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Budget time wisely. Read the question carefully before
beginning to write. Create an outline. Your thesis should be in
intro. Use key terms and phrases. Write neatly. Re-read, edit and
revise.
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Focus on a few points. Decide what is the most important. Stay
positive. Dont panic and waste energy being negativedo your best
and move on. Review all notes.
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Definitionlearned response to stress. Everyone experiences test
anxiety. Symptoms Nervousness Upset stomach Sweaty palms
Forgetfulness
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Prepare, prepare, prepare!!! Practice taking sample tests. Get
regular exercisethis will help release tension. Eat a light,
healthy breakfast. Stay calmget a good nights sleep and take slow,
deep breaths directly before the exam. Get to class early. Dont
over exaggerate the importance of the exam. Get help if symptoms
become severe. Make your own!
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Looking at someones paper during an exam. Passing notes back
and forth. Getting notes from someone who has just taken the same
test. Stealing tests from an office. Using unauthorized electronic
devices. Having someone else complete the work online for you. Not
properly citing your resourcesi.e. plagiarism.