Study+and+Test-Taking+Strategies

Learning Unit #2 : Study & Test-Taking Strategies

 * == Welcome to Learning Unit #2, where we will explore study strategies and test-taking strategies! The goal for this unit is for you to add some evidence-based strategies to your "academic tool box" as you become a more effective learner. You will analyze your current study and test-taking skills, reflect on how you can improve your skills by comparing your strategies to those that are proven effective, and finally, you will develop a plan to habituate new strategies into your "repetoire." You will also gain valuable practice in participating in collaborative group work by sharing and contributing to the team product. ==

 **ENTRY**: To enter this unit, you must first post to our Study and Test-Taking Strategies Linoit Board. You can access the board here.  

On the **linoit site**, you will notice that I have posted five **(5)** common types of test questions, including multiple choice , true/false , completion , matching , and essay. Before we begin learning about research-based test-taking strategies, I am interested to see which strategies you currently use. You are required to post a strategy for // each type // of question for a total of ** 5 sticky notes **. Think about how the strategies that you currently use when you take a test and when you are studying to learn new material. Post your strategies to the linoit board by selecting a colored sticky-note that corresponds to the type of test question for which you are posting a strategy. Follow the directions below:  * Write your strategy on the sticky note.
 * Include your student number (I used my initials) after the strategy.
 * Tag the sticky note with the type of test question for which you are posting a strategy.
 * Post the sticky note in the horizontal row that corresponds to the same type of question. (I have posted a strategy for each type as an example).
 * Lastly, post at least one study strategy that you use regularly on an orange sticky note in the last horizontal row.

 It is fine to repeat a strategy that has already been posted, because that will reveal to our class how many students use a specific strategy. However, if you can share a different strategy rather than repeat one, please do so. The challenge is to see how many // different // strategies our class can list for // each //type of question. Finally, if you currently do not know any strategies for a particular type of question, please post "Idk" on the appropriate-colored sticky note. You are using your student number for me to identify you, but other students will not know who posted which sticky note. Besides, the purpose of this unit is to learn research-based strategies, so admitting that you are not aware of your strategies now is perfectly fine. I expect you to respond honesty.

   ** ACTIVITY 1: RESEARCH & PREZI **  Next, in your assigned small groups, you are to work together to research //evidence-based// STUDY STRATEGIES //and// TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES. Your group randomly selected one type of test question to research (multiple choice, true/false, completion, matching or essay). Your research must include strategies that are specific to that type of test question. Your research on study strategies is for general studying strategies (i.e., not specific to your type of test question). You must use at least 3 resources and be sure to include the web address of your sources either in your presentation or as an attached document. Remember, the strategies must be //evidence-based//, which means that sites such as Wikipedia and Ask are not considered valid sources. 

<span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Once your group has compiled a list of strategies, you will present your findings to the class in the next two activities: one PREZI and one VOICETHREAD. <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Your group will create presentations to //teach// the rest of the class the strategies that you have researched. For one set of strategies (study or test-taking), you will //create// a PREZI ; for the remaining set of strategies, you will //summarize// your findings in a Voicethread. Your group will determine which tool to use for which set of strategies to effectively //instruct// the class about your strategies and to //recommend// their use. In order to recommend your strategies, be prepared to //justify/defend// why the strategies are more effective than others. <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"> <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"> I created a PREZI titled // The Keys to Successful Test-Preparation: Evidence-Based Study Strategies // as an example here. Your group's PREZI should //display// at least 5 strategies. My PREZI intentionally does not include links to my resources because it is your group's responsibility to do the research and to weed through the numerous sources to determine which provide valid, evidence-based strategies (hint: how was the list generated? Does the author cite studies in which the strategies were proven?)

<span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: center;"> **ACTIVITY 2: VOICETHREAD** <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"> I created an example Voicethread to demonstrate what I expect from your group presentation. My [|example] does not //teach// the strategies as your Voicethread will, but instead I comment on what you should include in your production and provide a few strategies to demonstrate the requirement. Your voicethread should // discuss // at least 5 strategies. and again, you should cite your sources.

<span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: center;"> **ACTIVITY 3: TIMELINE** <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"> The final activity for this unit is an individual project. Reflect on the strategies you currently use for studying and testing (METACOGNITION revisited!) and determine in which ways you can improve. You will //evaluate// the strategies you have learned for effective studying and testing and //apply// them to a plan which you will //design// to improve your current skills. You can select strategies for studying and/or for testing in devising your plan for improvement. //Develop// a plan to improve your skills and write a paragraph explaining the strategies you will implement to improve your skills and why you chose the strategies. Think of this as similar to SMART goal-setting: your plan must be specific (which strategies are you going to implement?); measurable (how will you know you are implementing them?); attainable (are you capable of using the strategies? of course you are!); relevant (why are these specific strategies important to your to improve your skills?); and time-based, which leads us to our final project.... <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"> <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Because your plan is based on SMART goal-setting, your changes in strategies must be tied to time. For the final creation activity, you will design a timeline which demonstrates the strategies you will incorporate over time to make them habitual. You can choose from a variety of approved timeline tools listed on the site Technology Tools for Schools. I created a timeline using ReadWriteThink Timeline Creator here. This is a very basic timeline creator, but it was appropriate for my use. Other options allow you to insert video, sound, pictures, images, etc. So if you want to be more creative, please try out the different tools listed on the Technology site. <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"> P.S. I used a great computer service called JING that let me capture still images to insert into my presentations. Jing will also allow you to capture basic video, animation and share them on the web. [|Jing] is a free download, and it is very easy to use... Check it out!

<span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: center;"> PUBLISHING TOOL <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"> To submit your projects, go to Wix.com and create a website to publish your projects. I created an example of a website here. Your group must publish your site and send the address to me via email. ( My address is http://kradwanc14.wixsite.com/website ). You can submit your individual project on your group site as well. <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: center;"> RUBRIC <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"> The grading rubric is attached here. It is number 2648145. <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"> <span style="background-color: #3b5f7b; color: #cedbdf; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;"> || WEB LINKS:

http://linoit.com/users/kradwanc14/canvases/Test-Taking%20Strategies https://prezi.com/qv0kjddf3x1j/the-key-to-successful-test-preparation/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy https://voicethread.com/myvoice/#thread/8256717/45700620 https://sites.google.com/site/technologytools4schools/ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzP4hyFaE3qxUmlvRnhzejRqQnc/view https://www.techsmith.com/jing.html http://kradwanc14.wixsite.com/website http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=ShowRubric&rubric_id=2648145&

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