20170308

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

Astronomy 210, spring semester 2017
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.
"I feel like studying the diagrams really helps me. If you remember the diagrams you have an easier time picturing what you're reading. I also think it's helpful to look at some of the material each day versus all in one night. Lastly, don't miss review day. P-dog did an awesome job making sure we covered everything (even the types of questions that will be on the exam as well as the best way to answer them)!"

"I feel that going through the past class activities and quizzes will be very helpful. Also, studying with a friend would probably make it more fun, and they could help you clarify things that you don't entirely understand."

"What really helps me study is the pictures that you draw. Plus they're funny sometimes."

"Try not to stress! If you have questions ask them today!"

"I found the exercises in class for the short answer questions helpful, especially the tips on how to properly explain how we got our results."

"The book and slideshows helped me, especially visual learning. Most of the time the in class lectures help, but sometime they make it more confusing."

"Going over readings in the book from the past. Although I wish they had chapter summaries."

"It helps to have a list or study guide of sorts of what will be covered on the midterm. That way we know what to study for. I think it also helps when we do our review to do one problem of each category."

"A study guide."

"I think it would be helpful if we could do a couple individual practice quizzes in class on Tuesday. They help me test my knowledge on what I truly understand and don't."

"I liked the use of coffee and creamer to explain convection currents."

"Something I thought was notable that doesn't help--it's not having any question responses we can work on before the midterm."

"Something that has helped me study are flashcards and going into the quiz practicing and reviewing the ones I've missed."

"The quiz samples and in class activities help me a lot. I get an idea of what will be included in the test, with practice."

"Turn off everything while studying or doing homework."

"I'm used to doing flash cards and being able to memorize key words, but for this class, usually I have to draw pictures and go through notes/the online posts through the section."

"I think the most helpful thing is to go over the quizzes and make an effort to understand the questions that you missed and still review the questions you got right."

"The fact that I don't have all the in-class assignments in my possession does not help. Also the fact that I still haven't figured out how to read the answer key to the quizzes does not help. I honestly just wish all of the supplemental/homework/grading information was not in blog form. It just doesn't work as well as Canvas or Moodle does for me."

"It helps to find out what questions were missed on the quiz and to correct them. Having specific examples of the type of question you'll have on the midterm is extremely helpful. Without those or practice doing those I would not even know where to begin to study because there are so many different things. And practicing the problems are helpful because the more I do them the more I understand."

"Rewriting out information really helps me remember it and refreshes my memory. It also helps you reorganize your notes if a form that easier read and understand."

"I think it would help a lot if we had a study guide to go off of."

"Venus and Mars can be seen in the evening. Seeing them helps me with the planet location model."

"Repetition is an obvious choice to help prepare for any test."

"The study guide online."

"I am immensely grateful to have the probable essay questions and sample responses to determine a quality answer."

"Closing my eyes and picturing it as it would be."

"Studying on a laptop both helps and hurts when it comes to procrastination."

"Review is key, but I like all the real-life examples you use to draw in an understanding about how many things in astronomy work."

"Studying the quizzes helps me."

"Using the drawing with the snowboarder would help more if I understood exactly how it worked."

"Review everything! Practice the questions posted on the quizzes and the sample questions on the web page."

"I like to go over the presentations again that's what helps me personally the most."

"Having a study guide is always super-helpful."

"Reviewing the quizzes is an absolute must."

"I really like doing the in-class quizzes in groups and discussing the answers in a group setting."

"Going over the in-class activities at home."

"Looking over my previous quizzes and having the information and presentations so accessible makes it easier for me to study. The book can be kind of dry so it's good to look at your examples to get clarification and a bit of entertainment."

"Lol well I have work from 5:30am to 1:30pm then class from 2pm, till this class! So I am kinda scared, wish me luck. Don't work kids, stay in school."

"Reading the past quizzes."

"The previous quizzes and the class group work sheets."

"Taking practice tests of the previous quizzes. Many of the questions will cross over to the midterm."

"It helps to go back over the notes/handouts from class and study off of those. It gives me a broader understanding of what's going on. "

"Drawing pictures for sure helped because I'm able to see how everything connects to each other. When I try to answer the questions without making a diagram I usually get it wrong but when I can walk myself through the steps it becomes clear."

"Once again, the hypotheticals. They really test one's grasp of the concept."

"Telling us exactly what will be on the test is very helpful, and giving us example questions helps me feel prepared."

"Diagrams that I can draw make things easier for me."

"I must study the day of the test to help me on the test so its still fresh in my mind."

"Reading the material."

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