Doctor Ireland's Fabulous, Patent-Pending, and Completely Ripped Off from Years of Experience Guide to Studying and Test-Taking

Okay, I get it, there is a lot of material to cover for the tests and quizzes.  Everyone feels stressed and you are sure that the whole college experience was supposed to be easier.  Well, first the bad news... college is hard, if it wasn't Billy Bo Jim Bob (no offense if that happens to be your name) down at the Slurpy Mart would have a college degree.  The good news is that you have taken the first step towards your degree in that you are trying.  My goal as a teacher is to help you pursue that degree and hopefully teach you a little about science.

"But, if you want me to succeed, why not just give me the A... or at least make it easy for me to get the A" cynical students voice from the background

I could make this class so easy that even Billy Bo Jim Bob would pass, but that wouldn't be doing you any good.  Eventually you are going to have classes tougher than mine, and how will you be prepared if I just fluff the course up.  Additionally, when you leave school... wait for it... people actually expect you know something about the classes you took.  I know it seems unfair to some, but if you want the credit you have to show me that you at least have a passing grasp on the material.

"I understand the material, you just don't get the way I am saying it... you don't like answers outside the box."  again, the cynical students chimes in.

Welcome to the real world, if you don't effectively convey the meaning of your response it is not my job to interpret it.  Say you go for a job interview, and the employer wants proficiency in a specific program.  They are not going to be satisfied if you just mumble about doing it a different way that works, they want to see their process in action.  This isn't to say that science doesn't like outside the box thinking (remember that Darwin guy, or the guy with the funny hair named Einstein), but the material we cover in a general biology class is in a very firmly taped box.  It is only after you master the basics that you can investigate the new stuff, and argue about who is outside the box.

Having said all this here are a few hints to help you.

Tips to Study

1.    Wait to print out the outline.  I know this seems counter-intuitive, but I have found that when students work off my notes in class they tend to lose focus, simply relying on the material in the outline.  My outlines are excellent study guides, but they may not have the depth of detail you need to understand a concept.  Try writing your own notes first and then look at my notes to see what you missed.

2.    Look through your notes and my notes after class.  The questions I ask are pretty straight forward, you can probably come up with a few just from glancing through what I talk about.  Think about repetition, we professors love to harp on the same point a couple of times in a lecture.  This is usually a good indicator that we think the concept is important (i.e. the structure of the peptide bond was on the board probably a half a dozen times before the last test).

3.    Learning does not occur by diffusion.  This is an active process, you have to take notes, do the study questions, ask each other questions.

4.    Always come see the teacher or visit a study group if you have questions.  Come on, you can tell professors love to talk (and type apparently), we are delighted if you ask us a question... just don't try to jam a test's worth of questions into the last five minutes before the exam.

5.    Trade notes with a friend.  Two people can have vastly different insights into things, and it may point out where you are missing something. 

Tips for the Tests

1.  Breathe - Seriously, some of you look like you are about to pass out every time I hand out a test or quiz.  Stress and anxiety kill your mental performance.  Slow down before a test and stop trying to cram, take a minute or two to just relax and focus.

2.    When you get the test, look through the whole thing.  There will always be the one question that you know the answer to with utmost confidence at the beginning of the test.  However as you go through the test and see a few questions that you aren't too sure on, you start to doubt the original answer you had.  If you know an answer at the beginning write it down in confidence and then look at the questions you aren't as sure about.

3.    Don't sweat a few points.  You can get tunnel vision on a question that is only worth four points, thereby sapping your confidence and making you anxious for the rest of the test... move on and come back later.

4.  Keep it simple.  These questions are designed for short, concise answers.  You are not going to confuse me with fluff, and frankly it tends to lower your grade. 

I hope these help a little.