Things You Should NOT Do In Class

You should always keep in mind the things that you should NOT do in class, in order to have a successful college/university year. Getting into the habit of good tips at the beginning of the school year will save yourself from having a potentially difficult year. 

Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to things you should NOT be doing in class: 

1) Fall Asleep – If you are going to fall asleep in class then really what was the point in coming? Yes you may score those participation marks (depending on your prof) but you miss on important pieces of information that your instructor is likely to deliver during the lecture. Getting to bed early the following night so that you are well rested for an early morning class is the smart way to go. Falling asleep can offend your instructor but also it looks bad on you so this is a very important thing that you should not be doing in class! 

2) Sit At The Back Of The Class – Sitting at the back of the class can often be harder for you to focus on what your instructor is talking about for the entire period. Not only can you get distracted by the actions of your fellow class mates, but it can be harder to hear clearly what your instructor is saying. Sitting closer to the front of the class room will allow for you to be more concentrated, as well encourage you to become more engaged. By becoming more engaged you will be able to retain what is being taught.

3) Not Take Notes – I know it can be a daunting task to take notes, but unfortunately if you are not taking good notes it is likely that study for big tests and final exams will not be a huge success. Professors will often emphasize and give hints on the important material, so if you can learn to master the skill of good note taking you will likely achieve better test scores. Also, skimming through class notes regularly is a great way to consistently keep the information taught fresh in your mind. 

4) Be Distracting or Disruptive –  This is at the top of the list among things you should NOT do in class. There is a fine line between keeping life in the classroom entertaining and being distracting or disruptive. There will always be a class clown or some loud and obnoxious individual in class. If you happen to fit this category have some respect other students in the class. Most of them have paid to be there and are probably more interested in learning rather than being distracted by YOU and your obnoxious behaviours.

5) Cheat/Lie – We all know cheating is unethical, in addition it really is not worth the sacrifice of receiving a zero, even worse expulsion when you are probably paying for your own tuition. Lying is also just as bad…professors really have heard it all.  Continually make up excuses for missing a big test or not having a major project done when it was due makes you look irresponsible. Watch out, it could bite in you in the behind because when a real emergency does come up your professor might have lost any sense of accountability in you. 

Do yourself a favor and make a mental note of things you should NOT being doing in class! The more things you can check off this list of things that you should not be doing in class the easier a school year it will be for you! 

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Know Your College Program and Be Familiar With Changes

To save yourself a lot of time and headache I would suggest getting familiar with the program that you are in or that you will be taking and learn the ins and outs. This also means being familiar with the changes as they occur. Whether you have started a program or you are in your last semester study other certificates or programs in your related area of study. You might find that you are eligible for a certificate that you would not have known otherwise.

As I began taking courses through Humber College I was constantly looking at my program curriculum and in other areas related to my program. This can save your substantial time in the future if you decide you want to continue with an education path. 

Bearing in mind that I was a part-time student, here are a couple of things I learned along the way just from constantly knowing my area of study...

1) By taking a Computer Applications course it not only exempted me from having to take Database Management in the Business Marketing program but I ALSO received my Business Marketing certificate! I was aware of this for some time because I took the time to learn my program inside and out. For example, what the course equivalents were and what the level of difficulty might be so that I could mentally prepare myself. 

2) The second advantage that I just very recently found out (literally about one month ago and bearing in mind I am in my final semester) is that I am also eligible for the Marketing Management Specialization certificate. I only figured this out because I was navigating around the Humber website for no known reason really...I thought I knew everything there was to know about my program already, so when I stumbled up this new piece of information I was exciting to know I would be earning one each piece of paper under my belt. I got on the phone and had Humber registration add the additional certificate on my student records.   

I realize that students all have different pathways in what they are doing, but if you are working as a part-time student (I know there are some students eventually end up working or there are other various situations that  unexpectedly change your plans that may already be set in place) then this is something that can work to your benefit. But by knowing your program and being familiar with the changes this really have an impact on you. If you are the person who is slowly chipping away at a program always be in the know; with technology advancing so quickly there are many changes being made to course within five years.

How to Study for Tests and Exams

Can you recall what your marks were on your last tests/exams? Did you do really well or not so well this time around? Your study habits can really impact the outcome of the mark you receive on your tests and exams. If you didn't do so well you probably didn't study enough or there is something you didn't quite understand.

Here are some tips on how to study for tests and exams in order to improve your test scores. If you didn't do so well for mid-terms there is still time to try out some of these methods for finals.

Repetition & Practice - The more you read your text and the material covered in class the more it will become absorbed in your mind (this also means taking good notes in class). Even if you can allocate half an hour to one hour a day on any given course you are falling behind on, the better your chances of getting caught up. Not only that but you will slowly become more familiarized with the content. Here is the way I see it...the first time you go through the material, you are being introduced to it; the second time around you are becoming familiar with it; and the third time around you might be able to intuitively recall terms and concepts that  you can explain with more confidence than the first time you were introduced to it. Be careful not to memorize what you are reading, rather you are able to understand the overall concepts. When it comes to test time all of that practice and repetition will hopefully prevent you from having a brain blockage.


Making Notes - For each topic covered, taking notes for each class and each chapter is important. Naturally the brain retains new information when things are written down. I routinely go back and forth between typing notes on the computer or just taking notes by hand. Using different highlighters to underline key concepts is a great way to know what to review when it comes studying for test/exam time. Try to refresh your mind by reviewing notes regularly so that the information does not slip away.

Make-up Practice Tests - Get prepared for your tests and exams by doing practice tests repeatedly. If there is a concept or something that you didn't understand get help at least a week prior to writing so that you can review, practice, and better familiarize yourself with the area of weakness. I like to keep on doing the tests until I get at least 80 percent or even sometimes perfect, that way I am getting the repetition I need.



By achieving high marks you have something to pride your self with, especially after all the time and effect you have put forth. Getting high marks does not come without making it a focus! You can be the smartest person in your class and ace your test without studying but if you don't do those major assignments you aren't going to get the greatest grade for that course.  

Make sure you are sufficiently setting a little bit of time aside everyday/week so that you can review and study for upcoming tests or exams. 

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Healthy Lifestyle Tips for Students

Eat, Sleep, and Breath…

 

Have you seriously thought about how healthy your lifestyle habits are, since the beginning of this semester? Are you the type of person that goes sleep deprived for days? Do you sometimes lose track of time that you forget to refuel your energy with something nutritious to eat? Do you engage in any sort of physical activity at all to help cope with the stresses of everyday life? If you answered ‘no’ to most of these questions, you might seriously want to think about what you are doing to your own well-being in the long run. 

I know it all sounds cliché, but you are probably doing yourself more harm than good when you don’t take care of your health. I’m no expert and I know individuals vary from one another, but have you already caught the ‘bug’ that’s been floating around school recently? When it comes to getting sick, I don’t mess around. I’m pretty sure I’ve been cold/flu free for about a good two years now…call it a strong immune system or whatever you like; I choose to believe I always do my best to do the following in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid getting any sort of ‘bug.’

Eat Regularly – Eating regularly (especially breakfast) is one of the smallest things you can do to get your brain going for those early morning classes. I always try and do my best to do breakfast (along with my morning coffee of course), however it’s not always possible. If you can get into the routine of having a little something to eat in the morning it will become natural to you over time. I also always try and pack a snack or two that I can munch on throughout the day when I notice I haven’t eaten anything for long period; this way I can quickly refuel. Did you know that in most cases when you are really hungry it is because you are dehydrated? For this reason, I always pack a water bottle so that I can keep myself hydrated throughout the day or drink it when I am feeling hungry all of a sudden. 

Don’t Deprive Yourself of Sleep – I know it is hard when you have got sooo many things due in the same day/week, but I think one of the worst things you can do is deprive yourself of sleep by going to sleep at exceptionally late hour, or pulling an all nighter. If you are NOT a PROCRATINATOR then there should be no reason to pull an all nighter. Of course, I might just be a little biased…

I have noticed that by getting sufficient sleep I am much more focused and energized the next day. If you constantly deprive yourself of sleep you are not having just a bad day but you are also setting yourself up for a rough week. 

Sleep is important for an overall healthy lifestyle, because not only will you be more energized and focused but you might also notice it is also better on the appearance of your skin! 

Find Some Form of Physical Activity – I know some people are just not into physical activity in any way, shape, or form but physical activity a few times a week will boost your overall energy and of course it is a better for your overall health. For myself personally, I just CANNOT do the gym…and when I go for a jog the same thing runs through my mind every single time “I absolutely hate jogging”…I don’t know why I still end up trying to convince myself that I actually like doing. My enjoyment in physical activity is actually playing on various sports teams. I personally like the social aspect, fun, competitiveness, and team dynamics that all come along with the game. So if you are like me and you have failed at every attempt to go to the gym, or some other type of physical activity, maybe you would prefer a team setting or vice versa. Maybe you might prefer to go bike riding, roller blading, or swimming in the summer months. If you can try to do something physical a few times a week you will be doing yourself a huge favor by maintaining a healthy lifestyle but you will also find that you are more energized overall. 

I know what it is like to be in bed with the flu and then falling behind, then having to catch up! I hope these tips might motivate or inspire you to change something in your routine that you know you should be doing in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and so that you don't put your own immune system in jeopardy. Again, don’t take for granted your own health. Maintain your stress levels, focus, and energy by eating properly, getting plenty of rest, and engaging in a physical activity a few times a week.