- Go to class and actively participate while there.
- A lot of material is presented in class that is not covered in the
textbook.
- Class discussion uses practical applications and local examples in
order to make the concepts more understandable.
- Actively engage the material by taking notes, asking questions, and
making comments.
- There will be a number of group activities and exercises in class.
- If you have to miss a class, borrow a classmate's notes.
- Maximize your learning effectiveness by utilizing your particular
learning style to its best advantage. Check the Learning
Styles section of the class website for more information.
- Study carefully the assigned readings from the textbooks,
handouts, and online.
- Make sure to study (not just scan or highlight) all
(not just bits and pieces) of the assigned readings.
- Maximize your effectiveness while studying the assigned readings by
taking notes while you read. Most people take notes during class lecture/discussion,
but few take notes when they read.
- It is best to read the assigned readings just before they are
discussed in class. In-class time will be used to process and apply
conceptual content material. You have to have been exposed to the concepts
first before the processing will make much sense.
- Complete the homework exercises thoughtfully.
- Try to relate the homework exercises to the concepts from class discussion
and the readings.
- Don't just get the right answer; know why the answer is correct.
- Don't just know how to get the GIS software to accomplish the task
for the specific exercises, but know how to apply its functionality to similar
applications using different data.
- Be sure to turn in the assignment on or before the due date; no assignments
are accepted late.
- Prepare wisely for the exams.
- Don't read just enough of the assignments to answer the mid-term, take-home
exam questions after you receive the exam. Stay current in all
the readings during the semester. They form a unified whole to help
you use GIS wisely; they're not just for completing test questions.
- The final exam study guide is NOT a substitute for coming to class
or studying the readings.
- Review your notes and read the textbook BEFORE using the exam study
guide.
- Interact with the instructor and your classmates.
- Discuss the course concepts and assignments with your classmates.
- Exchange ideas via e-mail or organize a study group to meet in the
library.
- Take turns explaining concepts to your classmates. One of the best
ways to learn something is to teach it to someone else.
- Work cooperatively with other students on the homework exercises.
Share conceptual and software tips with each other.
- Contact the
instructor to ask questions.
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