Pay attention, this is important.

Pay attention, this is important.

While you are somnolently (that means sleepily) cruising through another day on Planet College, you may, while sitting in one class or another hear your instructor say, "OK. Pay Attention. This is important." While the temptation is to let this become a part of the endless ebb of sights and sounds of another school day you could be well advised to actually do what she says. That is, Pay attention.

Here's why.

While it is generally a given that students need to pay attention in class, that is why they are there, it is also a given that they don't. Don't usually pay attention. With this in mind many instructors have learned to highlight important material, material they regard as important, with the introduction at the top of this post.

Your instructor in this course has spent many, many hours of her life preparing to teach this course. Really. So when she determines something is important she is going tell the class, "This is important." What this means is that this lesson, presentation, set of facts, formula, author or whatever she is referring to is going to be on the test. Yes. That is why she is calling the classes' attention to it. Instructors are like that. They like to point out stuff they think is important.

There. That was important.

Zs Get Degrees, Or Do They?

Learning while you sleep is an appealing sounding method to acquire Knowledge. Various programs available offer 'sleep learning' usually meaning tapes. These recordings play while the learner sleeps and those available advertise results, sometimes described as 'amazing'. Customers they say have mastered subjects while sleeping and this mastery has assisted them passing difficult courses. One discussion of this subject declared," Z's get degrees." There was no indication whether the students took the test while sleeping.

Looking around any of your a early a.m. classes you will observe many students earnestly practicing another form of sleep-learning. Are these students sleeping? Definitely. Are these students learning? Possibly. Their grade will tell.

Only you can tell the best methods for you to acquire and retain the information necessary to pass any given course. If sleeping helps, well, sleep. What is more likely, though, is the need for you to bring your full attention to any subject you are attempting to master or at least pass. It is also likely that you need to be awake while doing so. Zs may help a student occasionally pass a class. Degrees are obtained through persistence, diligence and an organized approach to studying. And all of this means work. The lure of 'sleep learning' is the implied effortlessness which is in fact very appealing. But, most veterans on Planet College learn nothing worthwhile is achieved without effort.

Ok, now, go take a nap.

We'reeee Baaaack!

Avenue Q is much praised and awarded Musical which has run both on and off Broadway for several seasons. It features puppets and 'real' characters who together explore the dilemma a recent college graduate faces after graduation. Avenue Q was composed by college graduates (so people do actually graduate.) In honor of your return after a much too short winter break here is one of the songs performed by the original cast, I Wish I Could Go Back To College.

The link is here

Let's Go Surfing.

Planet College offers vast choices for learning. Here's an example.


Surfing:
How To Surf A Wave In One Day*

Surfing is just one of the many, many learning opportunities available on Planet College. For those students who don't happen to have a nearby ocean or any surfing class there is still much to be learned from this video.

Watch it again carefully. The instructor presents himself clearly as capable, capable of being the instructor for this course. He also states confidently that you can learn this sport. He then emphasizes preparation, essential to success in any class. Primarily preparation begins with the proper equipment. He also illustrates the proper approach, surveying the area where the skill will be accomplished, in this case the ocean. The instructor emphasizes throughout his course your safety. He illustrates step by step the basic steps, positioning, movements and approach. He has divided the subject into small doable steps. At each step he re-emphasizes the basics.
From this series of videos an average student could probably with some determination and of course, a surfboard, wetsuit and ocean, learn to surf.

An average student could also learn from this series something else. A student could learn an effective means to approach and learn any basic subject. Go over again this instructors approach. He introduces himself and establishes his authority to be the instructor. He emphasizes safety and proper equipment. He presents the subject in simple basic steps. He reviews what has been learned at the beginning of each new lesson. He encourages the learner frequently and presents each lesson confidently. He also presents the benefits of having learned to surf for the potential student.

This basically is an effective means to teach most introductory subjects. If you have had trouble accomplishing or completing any basic course it is likely that at least some of the components listed here have been missing.

Think back to that class you finally dropped because you just couldn't 'get it.' Review it carefully. Assuming you made a sincere effort you may recall the instructor did not adequately present the subject. At least not for you.

Most instructors teach subjects they care about and are sincerely interested in their student's success. Most but not all. Occasionally, as you have seen, an instructor may have been a little sloppy, unprepared, remote, obscure or disinterested. At other times instructors are "plugged in" as last minute replacements. Frustrating as this situation can be it need not be lethal.

Reviewing this video and the presentation of the subject you now understand the basics of passing a class. When you find you are a 'little lost' in some course you really need to pass it may be that some of the basic elements outlined here are missing or under emphasized. Now that you know what it takes to present a subject effectively you can ask for help in the unclear areas. If not from the instructor perhaps from the tutoring center or even someone in your building who has passed this same course.

There is nothing more dreadful than that vague lost feeling which starts to creep up a few weeks into the term. Perhaps these basic steps might help you surf the treacherous seas of Planet College toward your graduation.

*This video was found on videojugg, 11/16/2010 and may be subject to copyright restrictions.

What do I have to do to pass this class?

By now in the term your progress in any course you've been taking is pretty clear. Isn't it? That is you should generally understand what grade you can expect for each individual course. If you are not fairly clear about your standing, for instance, if your attendance has been spotty it is probably wise to talk with your instructor. When you do your intention is simply to find out for sure if you can expect a passing grade for her course. The procedure is simple. First find her office, if she has one and also find out her office hours. This is preferable to merely speaking with her right after class. If you feel your grade is iffy you made need a little more time. Once you find her office and hours call to make an appointment. This important because instructors time is valuable and this shows her you respect that. Remember, if you haven't spoken at all with your instructor you may have to introduce your self to her. When you go bring any class materials you may have questions about. And bring a pencil and paper. After you have established who your are tell her you want to know exactly what you have to do to get a passing grade in her class. It is likely she will have her grade book handy and will probably review it. What you want to know is are there any missing assignments still due. Also is there anything else pending that you will need to take care of for her class by the end of the term. Finally, ask her what grade you must receive on the final to assure a passing grade.

Carefully note by writing down the information she provides you with. This is your guide to a passing grade for this class. Then, follow through. Late or missing assignments, turn them in. Need at least a B on the final to pass. Study. If there is tutoring available for this course use them.

You don't want another D, F or incomplete. You don't want to have to take it over in summer school.

What ever it takes to get a passing grade go find out and do it.

Sleep late and still get to class on time.

This weekend the semi annual ritual of time confusion occurs once again. The shift is from daylight savings to standard which is scheduled for Saturday night. This means re- setting your time keeping devices, clocks, watches and even some computer. Moving the big hand back on hour will add an extra sixty minutes to your morning schedule, if you have a morning schedule. This means that you can sleep late Monday, ( of course, you're sleeping late Sunday) and possibly, for once, get to your eight o'clock class on time. Enjoy.

Easy A

Myths, dreams, rumors and gossip persist on Planet College. In fact they may be said to be the essential stuff of daily student interactions. One such persistent myth is the myth of the Easy A.

You've heard it. "Hey. It's an easy A." Maybe you've followed through. Was it? Safe bet there was a little more to it than "easy" might indicate. Still this myth is so sturdy that recently a film maker has chosen Easy A for a title.

Easy A. Catchy, seductive and fictional. The movie it self capitalizes on the myth of the Easy A to explore other areas of student interaction. Still more fantasy. Attractive, appealing, intriguing and diverting. That is what fantasy is for. Especially film fantasy. For a few bucks and a couple of hours we are taken away to yet another world even more fantastic than Planet College.

When it is over we resume the day-to-day drudgery of slugging out our schedule on the way to a degree, a career and dealing with student debt. (But that's another planet.)

Meantime this fantasy serves a useful purpose. But don't confuse movie titles with the facts of Planet College. There are very, very few Easy As. Very few.

Are there any questions?

Not long after you started attending classes you noticed the instructor often asked,"Are there any questions?" Being an average student you probably thought, "Not from me."

This tactic, avoiding anything in class which might prolong the agony of ,well ,being in class is often used by average students.

By now you may have not realized that the instructor's," Are there any questions?" isn't just to show off how much she knows. It is, in fact, a tactic instructors employ to make sure the topic under consideration has been covered adequately.

When there is a response from a student it is an opportunity for the instructor to explain, possibly in more depth, the subject. In short, student's questions are teaching tools.

Conversely, when there are no questions the instructor can assume that she has presented the material adequately and she can move on.

Armed with this perspective you might now consider actually asking a question in class. Even though for most of your career on Planet College you have avoided questions in class.

If you are still reluctant to raise your hand during class to ask a question here is a Planet College tip. When the instructor asks, raise your hand and for your question simply repeat back in question form the last thing the instructor has said about the topic.

In an American History class for example, at an appropriate time, having been paying attention, you might say," So, you're saying that the Battle of Gettysburg was the high tide of the Confederacy?"

This will accomplish something more important than the eventual answer to the question. It will establish your presence as an interested student. This simple procedure can also help you get the grade you seek in this course.

Try it. Just ask.

Pass What Class?

Before things get too far along this term it is important to take a minute or two right now to determine what class you are going to pass. All of them? Well by now you know stuff comes up on Planet College and as a student you often don't finish everything you start. At least not in the same term. So what class must you pass this term? This is important. Are you serious? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to pass this one class? If your answer is anything but yes you are probably wasting your time. And, it is your time.

What do you do when you got no class?

A great deal about negotiating Planet College is about all of the small things that add up to a student's day. When you are in class it is pretty easy to be a student. You know the drill. Sit there and look like your taking notes. Occasionally glance at the instructor in order to appear interested. By now you may even have perfected sleeping with your eyes open. If you feel particularly ambitious you may actually be taking notes.
That's class, by now you know how you do it.
What about when you are not in an actual class session. what do you do then? Most of your real student life is outside of the classroom.

What you do with your time and your life outside of the actual classroom will eventually add up to how much time you will spend on Planet College.

Well? Isn't it time you decided when you will get back to Earth? You can greatly help your own cause by focusing your out of class time on completing your degree.

It is up to you.

Cs Get Degrees

Somehow the idea of anything less than a 4.0 gpa is popularly thought to be unacceptable. At least for some people. Most students with any time at all on Planet College understand how difficult it is to complete a term with anything beyond a 2.0 if that. Few people realize that “average” in college has a completely different significance. All of the demands modern life imposes on most student mean college is very difficult. With these pressures in mind it is wise to remember that it is perfectly ok to be average. Those grades you’ve been getting, when you actually passed a course? They were Cs. A C is a passing grade. It is perfectly ok to get a C. You can progress all the way through your college experience and graduate and never get any grade above a C. Cs get degrees. They do. They really do. So stick with it. Show up for every class. Drop a loosing course when you have to and remember: Cs Get Degrees.

Too Cool For School

Eric was a student in an upper division major class. He almost always arrived late and slouched against the wall alongside the last row of desks. When homework was assigned he would bellow loudly, ’Homework. I didn’t know there was going to be homework.” He spent much of his class time on his cell phone or IMing buddies. Although he did attend most class sessions and even turned in the final project no one saw Eric the following semester or any time since. Makes one wonder. Why was Eric here? He always seemed to want to be someplace else. Was he too cool for school?
Is this you? Do you arrive late, leave early, skip assignments and even class.
OK.Here's a pop quiz about your life.
Where do you really want to be?
What do you really want to do?
It is your life.

You may be too cool for school.