- 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.
- Check "Suggestion
for Study Using the Textbook" for some specific strategies designed
for the books used in the course.
- 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.
- There are usually multiple steps involved in applying the
functionality of the ArcGIS software to a particular problem;
therefore, it will be helpful for most students to make notes about
what you did so that you can do it again when called upon to solve a
similar problem in the future. Note-taking also re-inforces
learning.
- 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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