Succeed
Getting Along In Class
After you are enrolled, the real action begins. You have planned for the moment
when you would begin to acquire the subject knowledge you crave. But through all
the planning, counseling, and advising, no one has given you even the slightest
clue about how to do a class or how to get through a course. Let's change that
right now.
Course Objectives
During the course certain aspects of the subject will be assigned for you to
learn. An instructor will give a lecture, there will be a demonstration, and
then a discussion where you can clarify anything you do not understand. Then you
will be expected to demonstrate whatever technique is learned. These problems,
techniques, or subject skills are why you are in the class in the first place.
They are the objectives of the course.
Be sure you have a copy of the written objectives for each course before you
begin. An instructor will typically give you a syllabus. But objectives might
not be provided. Go to the department office and ask for a copy. Instructors
realize that you as a student would like to know what is expected from you right
from the start. If you get lost or suffer problems latter in the course and have
not asked for course objective, blame yourself.
Getting Along With Instructors
Instructors are people too. Typically they are dedicated to helping students.
There are exceptions. Ask questions of them only after trying to find the answer
yourself. But don't be afraid to ask for help. After all, the business of an
instructor is to help students get up to the proficiency levels of the course
objectives. The best time to ask an instructor for help is when the instructor
is not in charge of a group of people. At these times the instructor can take
time to help you. Before class is not the best time. An instructor is then
getting ready for the class and need s time to lay out course demonstration
materials and review notes. And break time during class might not be a good
time. Your instructor may want to take a few moments to go to the rest room. And
if you and other students ask questions, then the instructor may become
irritated.
The best time to ask questions is during office hours. Or when the
instructor asks for questions. Or during lab time when the instructor is moving
from student to student. Ask your question, then stop. Let the instructor move
on to other students. Avoid coffee time with instructors during office hours
unless invited. Other students may have questions also.
Tutors Available
When you discover that you are having difficulty with course work, then you may
need more than a small amount of help. Tutors are available to serve as a
private instructor for you and you alone at a specified time and frequency. The
tutor may help you with theory, calculations, and or practical applications of
manual skills. This extra help is often available without charge. Other students
may even be willing to help you. Regardless of who can help you, take advantage
of the help. Brothers, sisters, children or even parents can also help with
memorization. But if you feel you need professional help, contact your school
counselor or instructor. They can advise you of where to find help.
If you have a tutor that charges for services, that might be a great
alternative if you really need the help. Getting through a program of
instruction may take a little extra cash now and then for a tutor on a specific topic
or subject. That would be money wisely spent.
Help Other Students
If you are ever asked to help other students, jump at the chance. In the process
of helping them, you will increase your knowledge. Really. Infact, it is said
that a person never fully understands anything until they have to explain it to someone
else. Try it out. You'll be surprised.
Attendance
Missing a technical education class is like not going to work. The next day in
class you have no idea how to do the assignment. When progressively difficult
manipulative or cognitive skills are to be mastered, missing even one class is disastrous.
If you know you are going to be absent, try to go in to meet with your
instructor ahead of time and learn the skills you will be missing. But certainly
do not wait until the next class period to show up. Hook up with a fellow
classmate. Contact your tutor. Anything is better than nothing.
Character Types
If you find yourself in a lecture or lab section with an instructor that you do
not like, consider this: The character types of workers in the field you are
studying are probably represented by the instructors you have. After all, the
instructor is the sort that you will eventually work with. In fact your
instructor may someday be your employer. So if you don't like the type
instructor you have for most of your courses, then consider switching to another
area of study where you do like the instructor types. From time to time you will
have an instructor which you feel is difficult to tolerate. Nothing new in this.
But if all are a problem, move on. The best type instructor for you is one who
you would most like to become, yourself.
Write Out Definitions
An excellent habit to acquire if you expect to get through a technical program
of study is to immediately write down words, phrases, concepts, and theories
that are not known to you. Go to a textbook or dictionary. Look up the unknown
items. Read through the explanation. If the definition is appropriate to the
circumstance and/or context of your needs, then write out the definition
longhand. Even make a flash card for each word that is new to you so you will be
able to drill them into your memory.
Then regularly make a list of all words on another sheet of paper. Without
reference to the original longhand list, write out the definition again. Compare
the two lists. Make corrections and continue until you have mastered each item.
This habit can be helpful to see you successfully complete college technical
course work. Yet this habit will be essential when you have a technical job and
want to keep the job.
Use this link rack to go to the next step you would like to make at
technicianeducation.com.
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