How to Ace Your Presentations Pt. 4 (the scary part)

Study Tipping Tuesday


How to Ace Your Presentations Pt.4 (the scary part)

So now you've outlined your presentation, made it entertaining, and created the right "background" music. It's time to actually give the presentation.

Why is public speaking so scary? I think it's because we are so vulnerable. We are putting ourselves out there and it feels awkward having everyone looking at you, judging you.

But the truth is? People really enjoy hearing other people speak when they do it genuinely. And even when they mess up, people don't really look down on them. Think about it...have you ever watched someone give a presentation and thought less of them afterwards? Probably not. And if you did, you probably forgot about it instantly and went back to thinking about yourself. It's what we do. 

So the good news is, there really isn't as much to be afraid of as you think. Although, I know that doesn't help much. Because those nerves will still come. 

How do I know? Because I still get slightly nervous every time I speak, and I'm one of the rare ones who actually enjoys public speaking and have had quite a bit of experience. The trick is to tell yourself that nerves are exciting - that before the biggest adrenaline rushes there are always a bit of nerves.

Remember your first roller coaster? 

So #1: Embrace your nerves and let them be a reminder that you are about to do something daring. You are about to accomplish something important. 

#2: Practice your speech using notecards with just a few words on them. Ever heard someone read a speech? It is so boring. It is much more interesting to hear someone speak using their natural cadence and a conversational style. I do not recommend trying to memorize or read speeches word for word. Instead, transfer your outline to a few notecards with just a few words each, and talk out your presentation to a wall while you time yourself. 

#3: Make eye contact with people as you speak. Do not just scan the room, but hold eye contact with an individual for a few seconds, and then move on to another person. I cannot remember who said this - but I read a long time ago that a speech should always feel like a private conversation that others are listening in on. 

#4: Don't be afraid to mess up and say so. It's way more awkward if you just stand their silently or tell people how nervous you are. That makes the audience nervous and uncomfortable. If you mess up, just say something like "oh I'm sorry I lost my place, just give me a second"). If you're good at it, feel free to make a joke about it. I've seen people make mistakes all the time. If you're genuine about it and move on, you and everyone else will forget about it instantly. 

#5: Use stories to illustrate your point. Why do we love movies and television so much? Stories. We remember stories so much more than facts and information. So whenever you can, share relevant stories to illustrate your presentation points. 

#6: Be yourself. If you are funny, be funny. If you're not, no need to try to be (e.g. you will never catch me trying to be funny...it would be a disaster). Are you shy? No need to try to be outgoing. Are you nerdy and proud of it? Don't be afraid to show it. People love speakers who show their true colors and reveal something about themselves that is humble and honest and shows a high level of self-awareness. Being your true self will endear people to you immediately. People are most judgmental of those who appear to be putting on a show. They tend to like those who are honest about who they are and are willing to be vulnerable. Don't be afraid to share a bit of who you are when it is relevant to your presentation. You'll be surprised at how much people will relate with and appreciate you. 

Good luck on your next presentation! I know you'll be amazing. 

How to Ace Your Presentations Pt.3 (you are the star)

Study Tipping Tuesday
How to Ace Your Presentations Pt.3 (you are the star)

If you missed it – check out Part 1 and Part 2 of How to Ace Your Presentations.

Okay so now you’re ready to start creating your presentation. Have you ever been bored watching a presentation? Good - then you already know what not to do ;) But in case you need a refresher:

• Don’t put too many words on a slide and read straight from them (snooze)
• Don’t put cheesy clip art all over the place
• Don’t go crazy with slide graphics

And the most important…

• Don’t use media as a crutch – the PowerPoint or whatever you use (ever heard of Prezi? Check it out as another cool option that is sure to impress) should be a mere background, like background music in a movie. It sets the tone and gives the audience another mode of embedding the information. A kissing scene in a chick flick without the music? Could be awkward. But add the music and you have chick-flick movie magic. However, the music alone would not bring people to the theater. The stars do.

And you should be the star of your presentation.

Keep this in mind when creating your PowerPoint and you will do great. Let it serve as a background and a visual aid – but not the entire thing. Keep it simple and use visuals whenever possible. I usually prefer 1-2 pictures per slide and a word or two or maybe one short quote. Again, remember, the PowerPoint isn’t giving the presentation – you are.

Now of course every class may be different. Always ask your professor first for his or her PowerPoint presentation guidelines/preferences. These are just rules of thumb that always worked great for me.

So there’s not much to creating the presentation, then, right? In some sense, yes. It should be very simple. A few words, a few pictures, and lots of practice so that you get the delivery right (we’ll talk more about that next week).

But there’s more. In addition to thinking about visuals and other “background music” to set the tone for your presentation, consider going above and beyond and doing something relevant and creative (kind of like what we talked about last week with The Big Bang Theory YouTube videos).

For example, have you ever tried making a movie on Xtranormal.com? I just made my first one for a presentation I’m giving in grad school next week. It’s an educational technology course and our final project is revising a workshop by integrating new technology. 

So I reworked the goal-setting workshop I give to students at colleges around the country, and decided to introduce the workshop with an Xtranormal movie, which you can watch here if you like! (note: I find with Xtranormal it can be best to exaggerate as I think that makes it more entertaining since the characters are so static/robotic. So my movie is hyperbolic on purpose in order to add some humor).

Making this was incredibly fun, and my professor was so excited when she found out I was actually making one and was going to show it in class when I give the presentation on my project. Professors love to see that you are doing something different (and relevant), because it shows that you really care and are the kind of student who goes the extra mile. 

Xtranormal is just one of many options I know you can think of when adding to your presentation “background music.” Share your ideas with our Facebook community. And if you ever make an Xtranormal movie (it’s sooo easy and free) – please also share it on our Facebook. I’d love to see! :)

Stay tuned next Tuesday to learn how to overcome your fears to get up in front of an audience to give your amazing presentation.

Also - while the official media launch date isn't until March 15 - you can order my book on Amazon.com now!! You can get the Kindle version here, or get it on Barnes & Noble.com. Once you read it if you can write a review on Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.com I would appreciate it more than you know. Thank you guys for being with me through all of this!!!

How to Ace Your Presentations - Part 2 (make them entertaining)

Study Tipping Tuesday

How to Ace your Presentations – Pt. 2

If you missed part 1 in the How to AceYour Presentations series you can check it out here.

Once you’ve completed step 1 and have a clear outline of your presentation with a few key points you are ready to start making the presentation entertaining.

And I don’t mean embedding any old YouTube video or dressing up in some kind of weird costume (though these things could work as long as they were relevant).

That is the key word to making your presentation entertaining – relevance.

 

Look at your outline and think about how you can do at least one of the following (if you can hit all 3 you’ve got a home run):

1. How can you make your presentation content relevant to your audience’s lives?

2. How can you add in an entertaining element to your presentation that is relevant to current popular culture and the course/presentation content?

3. How can you do something creative that will  help your audience see your presentation content in a new/deeper way? 

Using these questions you will then want to think of ways to use media, stories, or any other means to take your presentation from boring to memorable. Which, when done right, will take your presentation from a B- to an A+.

As I'm sure you've experienced – boring is not a good teacher. We retain and learn the most when we are entertained and engaged (e.g. I bet you can remember the lyrics to your favorite song faster than you can remember the quadratic equation). 

Do your classmates a favor and don’t bore them to death on presentation day. Give them something to remember.

And always remember it isn’t about entertainment for entertainment’s sake – your professor will not be humored by that (and in the end your goal is of course not to entertain or teach your classmates but to get a good grade). 

But - your professor will be very impressed with your ability to be creative with the course content in a way that further engages the class in whatever it is you are presenting about (e.g. I once created an XtraNormal animation for a grad school presentation that was a huge hit with my professor).

For example, when I co-taught a Life and Career Planning class I was tasked with creating the lesson on social intelligence (the ability to understand and act upon unspoken social rules). I wanted to make this fun and wanted to start with an entertaining and relevant introduction to engage the class right away. So after reading more deeply on the subject (this is the key to adding entertaining elements to your presentations – you have to know your stuff!) I had an idea.

I realized that the best example I saw of social intelligence was in the comedy The Big Bang Theory. The heart of this show is the character Sheldon who possesses a very high IQ and almost no social intelligence (e.g. does not understand how to follow social conventions like how to act in a movie theater, how to choose a formal outfit, how to properly read the emotions of others, etc.) and his (and his other brainy friends’) interactions with Penny – their next-door-neighbor with not-the-highest-IQ but who possesses a high social IQ. Thus, I showed the following clips to the class and it turned it into one of the most engaging classes I taught that semester.

  

1- Sheldon trying to find the perfect spot in the movie theater

2- Penny trying to help Sheldon pick out an appropriate formal outfit

Simple integrations of popular culture or connecting a concept with something your audience can relate to immediately in their own lives will capture their attention, make your material more stimulating, and earn you a better grade.

Engage deeply with your content and think big about how you relate to it. Brainstorm relevant videos, popular culture, news stories, or stories in your own life that could illuminate your key points and create a memorable experience for both you and your audience.

Once you have your key points and the stories and/or media you are going to use to make them interesting, do you just slap a bunch of words and pictures on a PowerPoint? Are there other, more interesting ways than the same old PowerPoint? Oh yes! I’ll share them with you next Tuesday =)

How to ace your presentations

Study Tipping Tuesday

How to ace your presentations

Today’s study tip revolves around one of every college student’s "favorite" things – presentations! ;)

This is such a huge concept with so many tips; and since a lot of presentations are given in the middle of the semester, I’m going to take the next few Tuesdays to unpack the skills needed to increase the A’s and decrease the anxiety when it comes to giving presentations in front of the class.

I’m going to take you through my entire A+ presentation process that has helped me and will help you create and give presentations that are fun, interesting, easy, and most of all - engaging!

The first step, however, is to focus on the basics.

When you get the assignment to create a presentation, read the assignment. Read it carefully and answer these questions to yourself (either in your head or in writing – just be sure to do it):

1. What is the core message I am going to present?
2. How is the professor measuring my success?
3. Why aspects of this core information is best shared in a presentation?
4. What can I do to “wow” the audience while staying directly on-topic?

The worst mistake students make is getting off-track from the very beginning. Too many just throw too many words or too many images/animations on slides and then read from note cards – often missing the main point.

So after you answer these questions open Word first (not PowerPoint) and create an outline. Do the research and document any specific quotes or sources you’d like to use in your presentation. And then type out everything that you think you want to present about, relating to the main topic. 

The early process you go through for a presentation should be very similar to that of an essay. You need to brainstorm your ideas and then focus them on your key points (that will eventually turn into slides).

Once you've asked yourself the questions above and finished your outline you need to ask yourself, would I want to listen to me speak about this? The answer may be “no” initially, but the goal is for you to make that answer “yes.” How do you make your presentation entertaining so that you help your fellow students learn something new and you get an A? I’ll tell you next week! :)

Study Tipping Tuesday - Building a Task List to Manage Your Time

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I got you a gift…a study tip for your Tuesday- I hope you like it ;)

One of the questions I am most asked by students – and one of the ones that I think requires the most attention – is “How do you manage all of the things you have to do at once?”

In a word? Prioritize.

I build a task-list, and then I prioritize it. 

Let’s try it together; I will walk you through my process.

Open up a MS Word document. In bold, create a few categories that best represent your "life" categories when it comes to tasks. For example, right now, my task list is divided into the following:

• Today (where I put tasks I will do today)
• Due Dates (where I put tasks that have specific due dates)
• Grad School (where I put my grad school HW)
• Miscellaneous (important things but do not have specific due dates)
• Business Priorities (this is not a to do list, it's a reminder of my most important goals and priorities for the next 6 months. It helps keep me focused when choosing which tasks to tackle first; for you this should be your educational priorities or life priorities).

The next thing that I do is go through my work calendar, my business calendar, my syllabi for grad school classes, and then any other personal or professional commitments that I have and fill them in on the task list. I do it in bulk whenever I receive a lot of dates/tasks at once (e.g. on a syllabi) and then update it about once per day.

Try this now – work your way through your syllabi and fill in tasks and their due dates for your projects/tests/exams are this semester. Make sure you write your to do list tasks using specific action words before each task (e.g. do, read, write, create).

(Example of one of my to do list categories right now.)
Grad School
- Research Meaningful Reception Learning and write paragraph for presentation *due Feb 13
- Create MRL PowerPoint slide for group project *due Feb 16

I compliment this with my Google Calendar. I place every item with a due date in the calendar and set SMS reminders that get text-messaged to my phone (i.e. I call this my life-saver). Whatever system you use, find a way to set up automated reminders.

Every  morning I review the task items in my to do list and move any urgent items to the "Today" category so I know to tackle them that day before or after work. And then all I have to do is focus on the "Today" category and can ignore the rest for the rest of the day. The key is knowing your priorities, and keeping it simple. As soon as you have too many things on your task list you'll never want to look at it. Stick with the most important things and never let it get too cluttered.
  

A lot of you ask me about procrastination, and the truth is, I really never procrastinate. While some people work better under pressure, I work better without pressure. I love the feeling of true free time, with nothing hanging over my head. And this kind of system does wonders for your grades.

Ask yourself: do you always feel on top of your life and schedule? Are your grades the best they can possibly be? Are you known for being organized and responsible? Are you meeting the goals you have for your life? If the answer is a resounding YES to all these questions then the organizational system you use now is working great.

If the answer is no - why not give this a try, and let me know how it goes!  And if you have any great systems you use, feel free to share. =)

Study Tipping Tuesday – Building a Practice Multiple-Choice Test for Review

It's Tuesday – which means it is time for some more study tips for the week :)

As I've mentioned in previous posts, one of the most effective ways to study is to create a practice test. So I thought I'd share an easy way to create one. Because remember creating the practice test itself is just as effective (if not more so) than actually taking it. 

There are a few practice test methods that I'll eventually share, and I'd like to start with the multiple-choice.

In education, one of the most effective methods to learn something is to associate it with its meaning and differentiate it from what it isn't -- a logical, but incorrect answer (i.e. what can sometimes feel like a "trick" question on a test but is really there to make you think hard). It's called a “non-example.” By building your own questions, you allow yourself to interact with the material on a deeper level by defining terms and non-examples. 

Okay, are you ready? Here's what to do: 

First, choose key details from the sections that you are reviewing; for example, focus on things that you may have highlighted during your reading. 

Next, try to think about the kind of questions that could be associated with that topic. There are generally two types of MC questions.

The first type is usually easier to answer – those questions that simply require you to distinguish between definitions. 

When creating these questions, the rules are simple: generate a sample question, providing the correct answer as one option.

Then choose terms that are related to or similar to the correct answer – terms that have something to do with the correct choice but have a distinguishing characteristic. Have fun and be sneaky about it. Pretend you're a professor trying to "trick" students (i.e. really trying to make them think hard). 

Use those answers to build the incorrect multiple-choice answers for the question. 

As you do this you will be thinking deeply about the term and how it is different from other closely related examples. This will dig it deep into your brain, ready to recall come study time. 

The second type of question you'll want to develop – the more common – and difficult – is the example-based question. 

The process for you will be exactly the same.  

The only difference is you'll be dealing with the practical application of theories instead of definitions. For example, in most psychology, science, and business classes professors will ask you to apply theories, postulations, or laws to a set of circumstances. 

So, in order to simulate this, you'll work towards understanding the theory enough to predict what type of question could be asked with it and what mistakes could be made. This takes practice.

For example, if you are studying gas laws in chemistry, you'd want to generate a sample question that will require you to go through the process of applying those laws to a situation correctly. 

Come up with a scenario and choose the correct theory application. Then, start to build non-examples that show the incorrect steps in the process – or an incorrect interpretation of that theory or concept. In the chemistry example, your incorrect  choices might be an instance of applying a different gas law, or a non-example where you skip or misplace a step in the process or formula. 

Again, the purpose here is very focused (and very effective). 

Studying isn’t just preparing for correct answers. It is preparing to be able to see why the incorrect answers shouldn’t be chosen. 

This isn’t always easy at first. It shouldn’t be. If this process was always easy, professors wouldn’t be able to challenge their students. And everyone would get 100's on their tests. 

But, once you start analyzing the way that questions can be formatted – rather than flipping through definitions on flashcards or thinking that staring with dead-eyes down at your books counts as studying – you can build your preparedness and confidence (and test scores) to new heights you might not even realize are possible. 

And remember, the goal isn’t to get a “C” or even a “B” on a test. The goal is a to get a perfect score. The 100%.

Because you can.

It's not about perfection. But trying your hardest is about always striving for perfection, knowing that your self-worth lies in the striving itself. 


So strive. Create multiple choice questions. Make your study time stimulating and valuable. And then maybe even trade tests with your friends to see if you can "trick" them ;)

Start a Study Group - Here's How

I am a huge fan of study groups.  Accountability is important – and working cooperatively to prepare for tests, quizzes, and final exams is a great way to get ready for the material. In my book I also talk about how they are a great way to start making friends and building a learning community. 

But, if the show Community on NBC has taught us anything, it is that study groups need parameters. 

So here are my must-dos for study groups.


1. Study ahead of time – don’t be that guy (or girl). Study groups should never be your only means of studying. One of the biggest hindrances to study groups is that guy who shows up with a bunch of excuses about why he hasn't studied yet and that he's finally ready to get serious. He's relying on you to give him all the answers. Don't be that guy! Because it doesn't work. You should study by yourself for a few hours before you engage in a study group. The study group is an opportunity to recall what you've studied - not to start from scratch. The study group should take your preparation from a B+ to an A+. 

2. Make it an open group – at least initially. Since you are going to prepare ahead of time, the study group serves as an opportunity to recall the information and interact with others - anyone interested will be a great asset. When you are a commuter student especially, it should be an opportunity to expand connections with your classmates. But don't be afraid to politely ask someone to leave if they are not being helpful towards the study group's goals. 


3. Create a game-plan for the session.  How will you study? Will it be a free-for-all or will you have some sort of coordinated strategy? The best study groups are the ones with a leader or two - people who think about the study group ahead of time and help create a structure that allows everyone to get involved. 


I often led study groups and would create games we could play with the content using notecards; we'd go around the room quizzing each other, and would pause on any topics we felt we needed to discuss further. Don't assume someone else will create this for you. Be that leader and not only will you help others, you will benefit tremendously (e.g. anytime I led a study group like this I usually got a 98-100 on the exam). 


4. Generate questions. Anticipate what questions will be on the test and try to create a practice test the group can go over together. Before you meet you can assign each person in the group a role in terms of what part of the practice "test" to create and then you can quiz each other when you meet for the study group, moving through the material with focus and direction. 


5. Make it a habit. Fine-tune your group (if one session seems flawed, fix it or move on) and then make a habit out of meeting.  Study groups can be fun, can keep you accountable, and can help you build a fun and thriving learning community.   

Give these tips a try and let me know if you have any more questions about your group at advice@communitycollegesuccess.com! If you are already in a study group, see if these things can help improve the quality of your session.  Study groups should be fun – but more importantly, productive.  Find that balance and enjoy :)

Study Tipping Tuesday - Note Cards, Location, Time Management

Here are this week's study tips for Tuesday :) 

Study Tipping Tuesday

Announcing a new feature I’m going to include on the blog for Tuesdays in 2012!

College success is really all about strategies, so every Tuesday I will give you 3 quick strategies that you can implement into your routine right away to give you a boost towards reaching your goals.

Here are this week’s 3!

1. Decide on a set block of time you will study/work on homework every week this semester and set phone reminders (Google Calendar SMS set up is great). Schedule the blocks at no more than an hour or two at a time and stagger as necessary. Stick to those reminders every week. If the alarm on your phone goes off at seven o’clock and you are on Facebook, sign off, change locations, and get to work. This will pay off with A’s.

2. Read a book about your desired major/career. You’ve been there, standing in line at your college bookstore, paying hundreds of dollars for a book you may not be all that interested in. It can be crazy, but reading will always play a huge part in how we learn. So why don’t we read more books on topics that truly relate to our own lives and personal goals? Search your college’s library, your local library, or Amazon.com for a book that relates to your desired future profession. And then read it.

3. Write down one question from your required reading this week to ask your professor in your next class. Never go an entire week without contributing to class discussion. Make it a goal to speak up at least once every class. Professors who remember your classroom contribution will be the ones ready to write you a recommendation when you move on or graduate. 

Success is all about small daily habits. Ask any student who get’s straight A’s. Ask any athlete. Ask any mom.

It’s the little daily things that move us forward. And missing out on these small things every day are what can take us down.

I hope these tips this year will help you lift off every day towards your better life.

How to Ace Your Final Exams

Thanksgiving break has just ended and Winter Break is so close you can taste the candy canes.

However there’s just one thing standing between you and that blissful month off – final exams.

I miss almost everything about college – but I’ll be honest I don’t miss studying for final exams. I don’t miss the intensity of knowing that in one week you will be expected to pour out everything you’ve learned in a semester onto a few sheets of paper in an hour or so. Some classes make finals a larger part of your grade than others – but pretty much every class will put you through this.

And it doesn’t get easier as you go along. In fact my senior exams were the most intense.

I will tell you though there is one part of final exams that I do miss. I miss that wonderful relieved feeling walking from my class to the parking lot, my brain feeling so free, releasing its grip on all of that information, and the elation I felt and the spring in my step that only comes from knowing you just aced your final exam.

That sense of completion and accomplishment is unlike any other. And it’s something I haven’t felt since college.

 If you’ve never felt that feeling then this post is for you. If you’re used to that sinking feeling after a test where you feel drained, exhausted, depressed, and anxious then this post is for you. There is a better way.

There are dozens of great study techniques that teach you how to study smarter and not harder. Find those books, buy them, and read them. They will save your life.

Below are my favorite techniques. The ones that helped me get A’s on every exam, the ones that made studying for exams (while not something I miss) a manageable experience, and the ones that made walking away from my exams and into Winter Break one of the best feelings of accomplishment and completion.

1. Start studying today. 

Make a list of every exam coming up and when you will take it (or when it’s due as some final exams are essays or take-home tests). Then, using a calendar or planner (my fav is Google Calendar) block off times to study for each test separately (no more than 50 minutes at a time) leading up to its due date.

2. Focus. 

Our brain literally cannot focus on more than one thing at a time. Just because we can text, study, Facebook, and eat at the same time doesn't mean it's the best way. And it is proven that our brains aren't wired for multi-tasking. Multi-tasking kills productivity

So, when studying for a test go to the library by yourself, rid yourself of all distractions (e.g do not go on Facebook, turn off your phone completely) and study for no more than 50 minutes at a time and focus on one test at a time. Put everything away except what you need for that test. Then do your study activities. Once 50 minutes is up take a 10 minute break (walk around, get something to eat, talk to a friend) and then start again. I'd recommend no more than 3 hours of studying (with a total of a 3 10 minute breaks at at time). 

3. Do not pull all-nighters. 

The day before the test should be the day you do the least amount of studying. In the weeks and days before you should be doing reviews and study activities. There are many books and online games (e.g. quizlet.com) that you can use to find and create great study activities (i.e. just sitting at a table with your books and notes doesn’t work and will make you feel overwhelmed – you must create structure and activities). 

The day or two before a test is when you should be quizzing yourself to make sure you’re able to recall the information and then study only what you’re finding you aren’t able to recall when you “grade” your practice test.

4. Create practice tests!

I allude to this above and it is the MOST important study activity you can do. It is my best secret to getting’s A’s (if not 100’s) on every exam. About 3 or 4 days before the exam once you’ve reviewed create a practice test. By now you should have a basic idea of the style of your professor’s exams. 

Create the test in a way that will force you to blindly recall the most important information you need to know for the test. The act of creating the test will seep the information deep into your brain. Then, when you take the test and then grade yourself you will see what information has stuck and which information you need to study more – then you just focus on that.

5. Visit your professor. 

Once you’ve done an initial review and at least 3 to 4 days before the exam visit your professor during office hours with a few questions to clarify the information you are going to be tested on. Even if you think you know it all think of something to ask your professor about. You can even review with the professor the topics you’ve been studying and just confirm that you’re not missing anything. Then listen carefully. When professors talk about tests they usually reveal the most important topics if you really listen.

6. Only study in a group at the end. 

When you study initially with people it can distracting. If you’re a social learner (like myself) study by yourself first and then only once you are getting 90% of your practice test correct should you meet with a study group. The study group should be for the purpose of talking about the test and reviewing the information verbally (i.e. again this is for social and verbal learners who, when talking about it/teaching it, really learn best). If you don’t learn best by talking about it out loud or teaching it then you have no need for a study group.  If you need help talk to a professor, visit the tutoring center, or meet with one friend who you know has mastered that subject.

7. On the day of the exam – relax. 

Eat a really great breakfast. Dress nice. Get at least 8 hours of sleep. Do not study. You should be so ready for the test that you should not need to review. Keep your mind fresh. If you’ve done everything above you will be ready. Trying to study on the day of will only make you anxious and overwhelmed. Plug in your iPod and listen to your favorite upbeat music. Blast it in your car. Take a walk around your campus before the test to get the blood pumping to your brain and to feel energized by the fresh air. Then get to class 5 minutes early, put your books under the desk, turn off your phone, and just breathe. 

When everyone else is freaking out around you stay positive and don’t engage in that last minute frantic studying. Sing your favorite song in your head and tell yourself “I am going to ace this exam. I am so smart. I am so prepared. I am a great student. I am awesome at tests. I know all of this material. I am going to get 100% on this exam.” 

And then you’re ready to ace your exams and walk back out to your car with the sun shining on your back, ready to put your books away for a month. Ready to enjoy the winter break. Ready to relax because you’re not worried about checking your grades – you know you got A’s. Ready to put another semester behind you and look forward to your future.  

To read more about Isa's personal story & how you can build relationships to: make positive friends, be more successful in academics and work, find the right people to connect with, and access the hidden job market, grab a FREE e-copy of the first chapter of Community College Success: How to Finish with Friends, Scholarships, Internships, and the Career of Your Dreams! Claim your free copy on the Facebook page!

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The secret to getting through your math classes

The number one struggle I see students face in community college academia is math. It is no surprise as in measurements of our country’s student performance in reading, science, and math that math ranks the lowest by far (and far below many other countries).

I see this manifested in the lives of students every day who just can’t seem to pass certain classes and proclaim the old adage heard in middle and high schools ‘round the world – “why do I have to learn this if I’m never going to use it in real life?”

Have you ever said or thought this? It’s okay if you have. I have too and indeed have often wondered how our educational systems are designed to prepare us for a professional world that often seems starkly different from the world of public and higher education.

The obvious truth is that we won’t use everything we learn in our educational lives. The show Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader (e.g. I am not) is perfect proof of this and thus provided a lot of humor at how quickly we forget what we learn in our school-lives. However, does this mean it is purposeless? Should traditional schooling go away and should we just train for jobs and learn only exactly what we will use in our every day lives?

No.

I definitely think we need more integrated and interactive activities in education that tie the concepts to real-world problems in ways that can further increase students’ communication, critical thinking, and creative skills.

However, even though we may not be able to do fractions in the same way we could in 5^th grade does not mean learning them wasn’t valuable.

And not just valuable so you could move forward in this educational system we’ve created. But valuable in and of itself.

This is the secret to getting through math classes (or for all you math geniuses – the same can apply to getting through your English classes – essentially, this is the secret to getting through any class in which you have a hard time seeing its value in your life).

What is the secret? It came from a student comment this week.

I was talking to one of my students – an aspiring computer engineer – about his struggles in his pre-calculus class. He was studying so hard and yet still struggling on the tests and couldn’t figure out why. He was trying so hard but was still having trouble getting higher than a C. 

I asked him, like I ask all my students when they are really struggling with a class, if that class is an important part of their future major/career (e.g. if you’re ever struggling really hard with a class that plays a big part in your future major/career and will continue to build upon itself as you progress in your educational plan it might be a good time to reconsider your major).

First he said that no, he was not going to need to build upon calculus in his ed plan nor have to use it in his future career. And what he said next was an epiphany to me – the secret to getting through classes to which you don’t see a point.

He said – “I think they [they meaning the people who build curriculum for future computer engineers] want me to take pre-calculus because they want me to be able to think in computer engineering the way I have to think in order to solve calculus problems.

Genius.

This, to me, is IT. This is the secret. Disappointed that I didn’t give you some secret formula guaranteed to make math suddenly easy? Well guess what, I did :)

Because when you change your attitude, you change your life. And your attitude towards your class subjects affects your grades more than you realize.   

Especially in the first two years of college when you have to meet general education requirements we all have those classes that we just don’t care for, the classes we just don’t see the point in, the classes we wonder like we started to wonder in 7^th grade – why do I have learn this if I’m never going to use it in my life?

You’re not going to love every subject and that is okay. But you can love and appreciate every class. How do I know? Because I did.

Sure there were some classes that drove me crazy at times. And I wasn’t some book nerd who just loved school and nothing but school so help me library. I just learned to love and appreciate and value the opportunity I had to sharpen my mental skills.

I knew 100% that I would never use the formulas I learned in chemistry in my life (I just tried for 3 minutes to remember the name of the formula I was thinking of and couldn’t….). But I felt great pride in learning something new about the world, becoming a well-rounded person, gaining a better understanding of how interconnected all areas of knowledge are, and sharpening my skills to think scientifically. While I’ll never do the experiments I did in lab I use the scientific method all the time in my day-to-day life without realizing it.

Every class offers you an opportunity to become more intelligent, to use different parts of your brain, to discover all kinds of subjects in order to narrow in on what you most enjoy and what you are best at, and sharpen your mental capacity so that you can develop the extremely high level of critical thinking, communication, and creative skills that our new knowledge economy demands for success and financial stability.

I’ll never forget how my perception of education shifted after reading a book in one of my college classes called The Lost Boys of Sudan. The non-fiction book chronicled the journeys of young men from their war-ridden countries to America. This book deeply impacted me because it shared the young men’s fervent desires to get an education, to learn. To them, education was gold. Education was the highest honor. Education was the greatest gift.

Though our country is struggling in many ways right now it is easy to forget how blessed we are. It’s easy to forget how few get the privilege of sitting in those math classes. As a woman, it’s easy for me to forget that if I had been born 200 years ago I would not have even been seen as someone worth educating.

It’s easy for these facts to become just dusty parts of a boring history class. But if you let them become real, you will find that despite the immense struggles I know you face every day your attitude of thankfulness and appreciation for your education will help you thrive in every class and in every endeavor.

A change in attitude can change your life.

And even if you have to pause for a second when a student asks you what 200 divided by 4 is (yes…happened to me 2 days ago), you can still be proud of your grades in math and appreciate the importance of the subject in all of our lives – because even if you won’t use it every day, someone will, and they never would have known it if they hadn’t had to take that class.

What to do if you fail (or get less than a B) on a test

Have you ever gotten less than a perfect grade on a test? We've all been there and it's never a good feeling. But what sets a successful student apart is what you do with the test once you get it back. Watch this week's vlog to find out how to turn not-so-great-grades into tools for future A's.