20160309

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

Astronomy 210, spring semester 2016
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.
"Something that helps is going over example questions in class. Not only the questions but also going over how exactly we were able to get the correct answer."

"Actually reading the textbook would've helped me..."

"The flashcards. When we as a class get to answer a question I feel that it is helpful that we discuss it in class. As a group. So more of that, please."

"Listening to soundtracks when studying. No vocals."

"Going over notes I took in class."

"How is it possible to see a crescent upside down? I can't get it and my brain hurts when I try to think about it."

"The review in class was helpful"

"Our previous quizzes, because you mentioned that you will base it off of those."

"sleeping instead of studying doesn't help."

"A good study guide helps. If I have a clear map on what to study, I can go to the resources and learn the concepts and get a fuller understanding of subject matter."

"#solost"

"What helps me most is independent studying"

"READING the book! Study over a longer period of time, not the few nights before or night before, it always helps."

"You are doing a wonderful job teaching this course, I have learned a lot. I am just spread thinner than usual and any failing thus far are on me for not devoting enough time to studying."

"Something that helps me is being in a quit area with a group so we can focus on studding. I like studying in group because what I don't understand I can ask group members to help me understand. Something that does not help is being in a group where everyone is not focused and wants to talk about other things and want to fart around. picking a group that is serious about studding is really important."

"Practicing or testing myself with the practice quizzes online was helpful in getting myself prepared for the midterm, as well as going over all my notes from the previous online presentations and readings."

"Can we draw the answer and still get full credit?"

"The book is very helpful. I'm just worried about the short-answer questions that will be on the test. Can we draw the answer and mention a few words?"

"I enjoy the reviews and the quizzes put up on the website for us to practice with! And I'm happy about the study session before the midterm tomorrow!"

"The links on your website do help a lot. Some of the ones from old classes are a little hard to find but it did clear up some questions after I went over your presentations for chapters 1-4."

"Don't overthink it, study the quizzes."

"I think it'll help to go over the quizzes and studying the short answer topics in lots of detail!"

"I find the flipped classroom extremely helpful. It is also difficult because my way of doing so is doing the online reading assignments the night before class so that it is fresh in my mind while we go over it. I work until midnight however so I have to find other times to do them."

"Studying when you're super-hungry is generally a bad idea."

"I found it helpful to review past quizzes and go back and re-read the chapter if I consistently did poorly or needed more clarification on a specific topic."

"I find reviewing the lectures to be helpful."

"I like miso soup and know every time I eat it I will think of convection and planets cooling."

"Being on the baseball team does not help, especially when your game gets rained out on Tuesday and gets moved to Wednesday...right before the midterm."

"Where are the answer keys for the quizzes?"

"Something that helps during studying for this midterm is studying the in-class activities."

"Reviewing the quizzes."

"I wish there were answers to the practice questions somewhere. It would allow us to check if we are indeed doing the homework and studying correctly."

"What we did last Wednesday in class (reviewing some of the past short-essay questions) really helped, because it gave me an idea of what to expect and what kind of answers you're looking for."

"The practice midterm questions are very helpful study tools."

"I think the samples of the essay questions for the midterm help a lot, but only if the midterm questions are similar to them and I don't know that yet."

"I wish you posted the answers to the flashcard questions."

"Studying the quizzes and comparing our mistakes with the correct answers to see what and why we got the them wrong."

"If you're trying to remember the times of the moon directly over head you can just think of the bottom three and they are '3-6-9, damn you're fine,' like the song. Just a tip."

"If we were given an answer key to at least some of the flashcard questions it would help a little."

"Not studying."

"I think re reading your notes has helped while studying for this midterm because as I go back and re-read things, the material starts clicking. I understand it better then I did the first time reading it."

"Going to the study session before."

"Reviewing previous quizzes will hopefully prepare me."

"Astrology is not necessarily as we know it to be today due to the earth's revolution around the sun not being quite at the same rate as it was in earlier years."

"Practice questions and past quizzes are helpful for studying."

"Do not wait till the last minute. Study a little each and every day because that way you will be more prepared and also won't be stressing as much."

"Doing an exam review in class and being able to ask you questions regarding the midterm will be very helpful!"

"I have been re-reading the chapters and taking notes, along with viewing your slides and studying with a partner."

"Reviewing old quizzes seems logical."

"Trying to memorize the moon chart"

"Writing everything down; practicing by using methods taught in class."

"It's been helpful to re-read some of the material right before class, and right after."

"Going over the lecture slides and reviewing the quizzes."

"Sleeping well helps."

"Doing the example/old midterm questions is very helpful because it shows the style of question that you'll be asking and how you want it answered."

"It's doesn't help looking in the book. It's hard to understand what I'm reading because I'm a visual and auditory person."

"It's helpful to know ahead what the topics are on the exam and also the practice problems."

"I feel like better lecture slides would help! Just trying to study off of a textbook is hard sometimes"

"The –6 hours for rising and +6 hours for setting trick really helps!"

"Reviewing my notes helped, as well as going over the quizzes."

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