Online reading assignment question: helpful/unhelpful Midterm 1 astronomy study tips

Astronomy 210, fall semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students have a weekly online reading assignment (hosted by SurveyMonkey.com), where they answer questions based on reading their textbook, material covered in previous lectures, opinion questions, and/or asking (anonymous) questions or making (anonymous) comments. Full credit is given for completing the online reading assignment before next week's lecture, regardless if whether their answers are correct/incorrect. Selected results/questions/comments are addressed by the instructor at the start of the following lecture.

Describe something notable that either helped or did not help with studying for this midterm. Selected comments may be discussed in class. (Graded for completion.)

The following are all of the student responses to this question, verbatim and unedited.

"pshhhhh who needs to study"

"Reviewing previous quizzes helps. Going to Magic Mountain does not help."

"I feel like it's difficult to grasp concepts in a solitary environment when we have been exclusively having group assignments."

"I found that reading the review cards in the back of the textbook help go over the main points and summarize the chapter sections to supplement the online blogs."

"Since i haven't been working on the flashcard questions i shpuld use those for review."

"Studying the quizes and using the flash card links for past quizes on the website."

"Diagrams, models, and pictures always help me conceptualize subjects."

"It doesn't help not having read all the material yet"

"The book really isn't helping me. or the fact that I'd rather be outside or eating ice cream right now."

"It's helpful that we have access to the classes power points and we get to keep some quiz practice to study"

"iagrams and pictures are super helpful. Even if someone thinks drawing the person on the planet is cheesy, it still helps me visualize it."

"reading in better detail helped so far."

"Using the in class review off the website."

"I think it would help to use flash cards for the astronomers and what each did/what kind of astronomer(mover or disprover) they were."

"maybe going back over all the different questions we have had on the powers of a telescope will help me with any questions that will be on the midterm that involve the powers."

"A study group. Much more efficient than searching through the book."

"Just talking with friends about the lessons"

"Something that helps for reviewing for the midterm is to look over lecture slides and scan chapters for vocabulary and key concepts, making not of what is especially difficult. It would help if we could have some sort of study guide and/or study group (two heads are better than one :). There are questions at the end of each chapter to help review, but it would help to have some sort of study group because one person might be able to understand/ explain a concept over another plus you learn more when teaching others."

"reading over the chapters and going over the quizzes helps me study for the midterm"

"I like the repetition of flash cards it helps me understand if i see it a lot"

"Most helpful is probably not being at home but in the library, which makes being home or around your phone or computer least helpful."

"Playing The Legend of Zelda distracts you from all the responsibilities of studying."

"What helps is having a summative test or quiz before the exam in which you can go over the answers and discuss them."

"Review and going over the material before the exam is usually pretty helpful to me. Separate Question: I hear Pluto has regained its planetary status. What are your thoughts about Harvard's debate on Pluto becoming a planet again? It would be nice to have a little more in-class practice using the starwheel to answer free response questions. Going over the thinking process in terms of using the starwheel to determine whether a situation is possible would help to study for this midterm."

"will there be a lot of flashcard questions on the test?"

"_____ really helped me study for the midterm. We had a study group."

"Drawing and redrawing any diagrams you may need that wouldn't be provided. That way it becomes second nature to draw and you know how to use it and when to use it."

"Flashcards help. Making notes in my own words help. Using previous quizzes posted. Talking with a friend who took this class last semester."

"Flash cards can be very useful"

"Flashcards!"

"I think reviewing the quizzes is helpful for studying for the midterm."

"Having examples of what the short answer questions will be like and sample multiple choice questions really helps with studying for this class."

"Going over the Quizzes brought back the material we learned!"

"I studied with about 5 people from the class and it helped so much. We could all throw out different things we each knew and teach each other."

"flash cards helps me. and the 'flash cards' that you make. although answers would be nice because i don't know if I'm correct or not."

"the practice midterm helped me understand what you are looking for."

"the flash card questions in class are doppppeeeeeee"

"Going over the quiz questions helps me understand them better and be more prepared for them on the test."

"Reviewing the old quizzes and midterm, but I wish I could see the right answers."

"Studying my notes and previous quizzes helps, however, I wish we had a study guide or something with practice questions"

"Memorizing phases and pictures will be helpful to me."

"Reviewing notes and quizzes always helps and visiting the professor during office hours with questions."

"Going over questions that will be on the test"

"The practice questions you put up help a ton."

"My book smelling like stale cigarettes does not help- I can hardly stand to read it."

"Reviewing old quizzes and looking over notes."

"it does not help to be drunk while studying for the midterm, or i mean maybe it does?"

"I'm studying for this midterm by going back over all of the quiz goals and flashcards."

"Practicing with previous quiz questions without an answer key to reference from makes it difficult to know if I'm right or wrong. So I'm kind of just guessing I'm right rather than knowing. Unless there is one and I'm stupid and need to just go sit in a corner with a nice pointy hat."

"Sitting outside looking at the stars with your laptop doing this assignment."

"The sun rises in the east and sets in the west."

"Making up little sayings about the questions has really helped me learn things and it's helped keep me on track."

"I really like the online presentations, the flash card quizzes...basically all the online material you provide assist's immensely!"