When
it comes to learning, everyone is capable of it. From the valedictorian
in the batch all the way down to the one who got held back, each
student is capable of learning. The biggest misconception about learning
is that a lot of students think that being smarter or more intelligent
means being better at learning. True the more genetically gifted
students have the advantage, but it doesn't always mean that they are
the ones learning more. Like I said everyone is capable of learning, and
all it takes is an improved and more positive disposition in one's
abilities and the drive to strive for excellence.
The
following are a list of characteristics present in successful students
who have no trouble learning whether they are number one in class or
even below average students. Sure numbers may be a good indication of a
student's success in a particular subject, but they don't always tell
the whole story.
What's
important to note here is that these characteristics only apply to a
person's internal locus of control, meaning that these are things a
person is able to control personally. A student cannot do anything about
being discriminated by his teachers or classmates, or getting a low
score in a quiz he/she studied hard for. But as long as you follow these
tips here, then you will at least improve not only as a student but as a
person as well. If you are serious about becoming a more successful and
dedicated learner, follow these steps:
- Attend classes regularly. In fact aim for a perfect attendance, and always be on time. Listen to your teachers and professors. Train yourselves to pay attention by getting enough sleep the night before and reading the lessons in advance to at least get a basic idea of what the lesson is about. Take care of your body, especially in college. If you can't understand a particular term the professor or teacher said, don't hesitate to ask your seatmate but always make sure to not get behind in the lecture. If you weren't able to take down notes at least find a way to get notes either from your classmates or other sources before any quizzes or exams. Successful learners take responsibility for themselves and their actions. Like I said it's internal locus of control, there should be no excuses and if you fail you have no one to blame but yourself.
- Whether you are already getting high grades or not, don't be afraid to take advantage of extra credit opportunities when offered. Prove to yourself that you really aim for ideal grades and that you are willing to put in the work to improve them. Never get complacent, as stated earlier strive for excellence and if possible perfection.
- Be attentive and focus in class. Don't do anything that can lose your focus from your teacher's lectures such as reading or staring out of windows. In other words, even if lectures or specifically the topic of the lecture can be quite boring at times always respect the teacher in front of you. It is their job to teach so it's the student's job to listen to them as well. Also never be shy to ask questions during class even if they may seem weird or awkward. Who knows maybe you're actually asking something that everyone might be interested in.
- Turn in assignments that look neat and clean. Take pride in your work and take the time as well to produce a good output. Successful learners are driven to complete their assignments. It doesn't matter if you don't have the best answers, just do your work especially if it's at HOME.
Important factors to achieve these steps:
MOTIVATION
- You don't need others to encourage you. Sure their support helps but
in the end only you yourself know what you truly desire. Find what
motivates you and never give up on yourself!
GOAL SETTING
- A person who lives a life without goals is living a life without
direction. Provide goals for yourself, short-term and long-term - the
trick here is to connect the two, meaning you have to continue to
achieve your short-term goals which should preferably be on a daily
basis in order to achieve the long-term goal.
TIME MANAGEMENT
-
This is definitely something that a lot of students struggle with. To
become a better learner you have to learn to discipline yourself. Learn
to maximize your time by ending your addictions whether it's video games
or whatever- you don't have to completely stop it just the addiction so
that you can balance your time properly. Remember, a person who fails
to prepare is preparing himself/herself up for failure.
So
there you go. I hope you guys learned a lot from this post and hopefully
you will be able to apply these steps on your everyday lives as a student and
as a learner in life. For any feedback, just comment on our blog! Thanks for
reading!
Reference:
TUTORIAL@CUESTA.EDU (2011, September 26). Characteristics of a Successful Student--Study Skills Guide--Academic Support. Retrieved October 9, 2013, from http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/201.HTM
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