Amy Godert

Finish the semester strong!

Posted on by Amy Godert

Finish the semester strong!

Great job with all of your hard work so far this semester!  Now, at the end of the semester, it’s time to access the resources you need to finish strong. Use the last few weeks of classes to catch up and keep up with your course work. Because you won’t have classes during finals, time management will be very important, creating structure for yourself and balancing time for sleep, rest, and good nutrition. Finals can be stressful and you’ll need to take care of yourself – this is a major part of preparing for any exam. Find tips and strategies for managing stress here.

The LSC is here to help you think through the steps that will work for you. Read on for resources, videos, and the top 10 tips from study skills experts and LSC tutors.

– Plan out the last few weeks of the semester using a “home-stretch calendar.” Calendars are an important tool for getting yourself organized and identifying and keeping on top of your crunch times. Block out time, especially during finals, to do things like eat, sleep, and exercise.

You may want to check out our Guidelines for Creating a Study Schedule to make your study more efficient and the Five Day Study Plan to decide when and how to study for exams.

– Having a hard time getting started? Procrastination happens to all of us, and when you understand it more you’ll have the tools to overcome it. Find out out how to break the cycle here.   

– Cornell students can self-enroll in our Canvas module on Studying for and Taking Exams for a complete step-by-step guide on what works, what doesn’t, how to develop a study plan, and strategies for taking exams. Click on the link here to self-enroll in the module.  Learn about effective study strategies, concept mapping, and how to tackle different types of exam questions.

– Check out our videos on time management, the perils of multitasking, learning from online lectures and discussions, and being flexible.  Find our YouTube channel here.

Advice Corner:
Tips from the LSC tutors on accessing stamina and finishing strong!

  1. Study a little bit of each subject every day.
  2. Start early.
  3. Eat and sleep, an exam is not worth your health.
  4. Take breaks to exercise, it will help you focus better while you are studying.
  5. Work with friends for company and motivation. Try to teach the material make sure you understand it.
  6. Review past prelims, especially the mistakes you made.
  7. Do difficult practice problems and work through them to get an answer before asking for help.
  8. Take practice exams under testing conditions— same time of day, format, amount of time, even the same room or building if possible.
  9. Have one fun thing planned each day. (Tutor suggestions: climbing wall, Trader Joe’s run, baking, Dairy Bar, pet a dog, quick walk in the Botanic Gardens.)
  10. Unexpected issues may arise, that’s ok, it’s just part of adulting.
  11. (Bonus!) To maintain a positive attitude it helps to keep the big picture in mind —what’s your “why?” Staying in touch with big-picture goals helps develop resilience.

 

Luna on Books

Keep up the hard work–you got this!

Homestretch Calendar

Posted on by Amy Godert

Create a “Homestretch Calendar”

Plan the last few weeks of the semester with a home-stretch calendar! Calendars are an important tool for getting yourself organized, identifying crunch times, and staying on-track.

Find the homestretch calendar along with the other LSC calendars at this link.

What should you put on your “home stretch” calendar?

  • Important events
  • Prelim & final exams dates
  • Due dates of papers & other assignments
  • Meetings and other events

Develop a Plan to Finish Strong

It’s hard to believe the semester is almost over! Great job with all of your hard work so far this semester! It’s important to take a step back and acknowledge the work you’ve done and the successes (big and small) that you’ve had this fall. The LSC is here to help you think through the steps that will work for you. Explore resources and tips from study skills experts and LSC tutors to help you finish the semester strong.

Looking for Other Calendars?

  • At this link you can also find a full-semester calendar and weekly planner. Use the semester calendar to list your exams, major assignments, projects, other important due dates, and your major non-academic plans (trips, events, etc).  This helps you see the big picture of the semester and learn in advance what your crunch times will be. Many students also find the weekly planner helpful for mapping out their schedule and finding hidden time.
  • Check out the LSC pages on “Finding Your Academic Groove,” which includes resources on time management.

 

Successful students ask for help when they need it!

Posted on by Amy Godert

At the LSC, you will often hear us say, “Successful students ask for help when they need it!”. This advice actually came from our student tutors. When we asked them what they would want to share with new students, this was the most common response.

So, you might be wondering, where DO I get help if when I need it?

Where can you get help?

Visit office hours with your course instructor or TA (Teaching Assistant). Office hours are times for you to come and ask questions – they are usually held at a variety of times. Instructors and TAs are there to help you learn, so visit office hours and take a look at how you can best use them! (New to Cornell? – check out our Cornell Terms to Know page!)

Look for LSC tutoring and LSC Supplemental Courses, which are available as a supplement to some challenging introductory courses and give additional problem-solving practice. Check out the LSC webpage for what courses are supported. All courses and tutoring offered by the LSC are available at NO COST to you!

Find a study group or study partner. Not only are study partners a great way to network and connect with your peers, studying together is a powerful tool for learning:

  • Other students may have questions you didn’t even know you have.
  • Setting a regular time and place to study can help with procrastination.
  • Explaining material to other students is a well-established method of solidifying your own knowledge.
  • Working with classmates from a variety of background helps you gain insights and experience perspectives you might not otherwise have access to.

group working at a tableFinding people to study with can be challenging (even when you are taking in-person classes), and Cornell’s Learning Strategies Center (LSC) helps match you with study partners. To find out more about study groups and partners and to sign-up for study partners for class you are in, visit the LSC’s Studying Together webpage.

people talking

Talk to your Advisor. Every college is different in terms of how advising works, but they all have staff who are there to help! College advisors provide information on where to get support while you are here and they can advise you on the courses you need to/should take.

Look at study tips and strategies offered by the LSC. Help with study strategies and time management can be just as important as help with content. Sometimes tweaking your current study strategies or trying new ones can help you save time and learn material better. Check out the LSC resources on how to study, managing time and stress, and learning online.

There are many place to get help! Your friends, residential staff, and family are great resources. Check out non-LSC academic resources and other campus support offices.

As you already know, it won’t always be easy, but you can do it!

Cornell WILL push you and it WILL be hard sometimes (that’s how we get better and learn). Remember, you have the tools and the resources – maybe you need to tweak them, maybe you need to try something new, but you have what you need, and you have a community of support (your peers, your instructors, your advisors, residential staff, and many others) here to help.

It’s easier to keep up than catch up, so make sure you get help when you need it. Have a great semester!

Use syllabus week to establish your plan for the semester. Go through your syllabi and put the dates of prelims, essays, and projects in your calendar. Include important extracurriculars. Make a weekly schedule with classes, office hours, when to do homework, study, workout, etc. Spend time studying the first couple of weeks so the first wave of prelims doesn’t just hit you. Practice good self-care: sleep well, eat well, workout. Review your notes everyday. Keep your room clean and organized. Find study habits that work for you – try self-testing. Go to office hours and ask questions. Set a routine and stick to it!

For Families: Remote Learning

Posted on by Amy Godert

Parents and Guardians: How to help your college students while they learn from home during COVID-19

Cornell students did an amazing job and made a Fall 2020 on-campus experience possible. Please congratulate your student for all they have accomplished! Now it’s time to transition to remote learning.

Cornell’s Learning Strategies Center is here to help students think through steps they can take to learn effectively. You can see these resources at lsc.cornell.edu. It is important to work with students who are learning at home to create appropriate space, physical, temporal, and emotional, for them to be successful.

Here are some things your student could use your help with:

Physical Space Needs

Your student needs a space (preferably quiet) where they can:

  • attend virtual classes.
  • study and do homework.
  • work with other students on group projects.
  • participate in other remote Cornell meetings and work.

With many people staying home and many public spaces closed, it might be challenging for your student to find a quiet space to work at home. Have a frank conversation so you can determine how your household will prioritize and use shared resources such as quite spaces, internet bandwidth, etc.

Time Needs

time clock

Some of your students’ course obligations happen on a flexible schedule, some happen at set times. Don’t necessarily expect your student to be available when you want- for example, at family meals.

Your students’ schedules may be challenging for the rest of your household—especially if you’re in a different time zone than Cornell. While many of your students’ school interactions can happen asynchronously, some (office hours, small discussion sections, group project meetings) may need to happen during times that are inconvenient for the rest of the household. Even if you’re in Cornell’s time zone, students may interact and study together on-line at hours that, let’s face it, make no sense to you as a parent/guardian. Talk ahead of time about how everyone might be able to minimize potential disruption and meet each other’s needs as best you can.

Emotional Space Needs

people talking

Students, whether they are new or continuing, are navigating their way and figuring out how this will work, and they’ll need support as well as some space to get used to this new set up.

Don’t forget, your students are still extraordinarily capable young people! They don’t need reminders about due dates, homework, etc., unless they specifically ask for your help.

Do expect your student to contribute to household chores like any other member of the family – just know that their schedule might be less flexible due to required coursework or other college activities. Set up a shared set of expectations for use and upkeep of common spaces (dirty dishes in the sink, we see you!).

y Para Familias: Aprendizaje Durante COVID-19

See Cornell’s Covid-19 updates page for useful updates and information.

Updated 10/30/2020