Engineering Orientation Class

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Engineering Orientation Class EGG101 and
EGG101L Lecture Instructor Robert Abella
Ph.D. Associate Dean Undergraduate
Studies http//faculty.unlv.edu/rabella. Class 4
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Last Class

• Study Groups
• Classroom Conduct
• 3. Your Professors
• 4. Success

Study Group Assignment Prepare 2 questions to ask
the department chairs during their visit.
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Class 4
Study Skills Reading and Note Taking Test
Taking Problem Solving
Engineering Presentations
What Engineers Do
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Human brain and learning
Human brain cell - neuron
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Improving Your Study Skills Chapter 2 and 5
Reading and Note Taking Test Taking Problem
Solving
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Reading and Note Taking Jennifer Thomas Academic
Advisor College of Engineering
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Reading
Effective Reading Note Taking

• Prepare to read.
• Skim chapter section headings. Review exhibits
  examples.
• Write down any questions or ideas you want to get
  a better understanding of during the reading.

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Reading
Effective Reading Note Taking

• 2. During your reading.
• Ask yourself, what is the central theme of the
  chapter/section?
• How does this theme impact the course?
• What concepts are repeated through the sections?
• Highlight or notate ideas that support the
  central theme of the section and the chapter.
• Highlight only key ideas, making notes if needed
  of why you think it is a key idea.
• Use highlighting to create a guide for future
  test/paper preparations.
• Make notes of any questions you have on the
  material follow up before the next class.
• Take the time to take good notes of the reading
  to complete all homework.
• 6 Ps Prior Planning Prevents Pathetically
  Poor Performance.

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Reading
Effective Reading Note Taking

• 3. After you have completed your reading.
• Recite reread.
• Recite the main ideas you have read outloud, or
  go over the ideas with a friend or your study
  group.
• Verbally answer any questions you wrote down in
  your prep read.
• Review.
• Establish review times in your study schedule so
  you can reinforce both your readings from the
  textbook as well as class lecture notes.
• Solve problems.
• Practice all concepts and theorems learned in
  class and in the book.
• If you are struggling with a concept, practice
  the example problems step-by-step a few times.
• If you still need help, ask a tutor or your
  teacher for practice problems assistance in
  understanding the theorem.
• Use the internet as a resource for finding other
  illustrations of the concept, to get additional
  material and to find other practice problems.

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Reading
Things that can help
After class, review your notes ask yourself the
following questions 1. What ideas from my
reading were repeated during the class
lecture? 2. What problems and theorems did the
instructor go over that I am still unclear on? 3.
How can I resolve my questions before the next
class?
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Test Taking
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Test Taking
1. Know how to do every homework problem and
class example before you start to study for the
test
2. Get notes and tests from student who has taken
the class
3. Ask professor for old tests and quizzes
4. Make up a test for yourself Unassigned
problems in book
5. Get enough rest before the test Do not cram
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Test Taking
Go into a test confident that you are prepared
and that you can do your best.
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Test Anxiety
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Causes of Test Anxiety
Lack of Preparation Cramming the night before
the exam Poor Time Management Failure to organize
notes Poor Study Habits
WORRYING About past performance on
examinations How friends and classmates are
doing What will happen if you fail
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Physical Signs of Test Anxiety
May Experience Bodily Changes Perspiration Swea
ty Palms Headache Upset Stomach Rapid Heart
Beat Tense Muscles
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Effects of Test Anxiety
Mental Blocking Going blank on
questions Remembering the correct answer as soon
as the exam is over
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Effects of Test Anxiety
Nervousness Difficulty understanding the
questions on the exam Difficulty organizing your
thoughts Difficulty retrieving key words and
concepts Doing poorly on exam even though you
know the material
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What Can you do?
Use Relaxation Techniques
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Use Relaxation Techniques
Immediately Before the Exam Dont look at notes
again Meditate Relax your body and mind with
deep breaths Visualize doing well on the
exam Keep a positive attitude
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During the Exam
Get there early. If you are late it will set the
panic in motion Try to sit in the seat you
regularly sit in during class. It will make you
more comfortable with the environment. Try to
block out other noise or chatter about the exam.
Keep your focus. NO NEGATIVE THOUGHTS. If you
do not know the first question on the exam dont
panic. Find one you know then go back
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During the Exam
If panic or fear arises during examPAUSE. Put
down your pencil, close your eyes and breathe.
Look around at your environmentthis will keep
you current and take you out of the panic.
Repeat positive statements, then continue.
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After the Exam
Use Reinforcing Self-Statements IT WORKED! YOU
DID IT! It wasnt as bad as you expected Your
getting better. Youre learning to cope more
smoothly You should be pleased with your progress
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Before the Next Exam
Critique how you did on last exam How was your
grade? How can you prepare more? Are you
organized enough? Are you studying correctly? How
is my study environment? What can I do
differently in class. REMEMBER THIS IS A
PROCESS!!!
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Improving Your Study Skills
Keep experimenting until you find out what works
for you
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Problem Solving
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Problem Solving
1. Know the theory
2. Work all text and class examples
3. Understand the problem
4. Write down what you know about the problem
5. If you cannot solve the problem go to the next
problem and come back to it
6. Know how do work every homework problem Get
help if you need it
7. Group Study
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Next Class
Engineering Department Presentations
9/10 Civil and Environmental Engineering 9/15 Mech
anical Engineering 9/17 Construction
Management 9/22 Electrical and Computer
Engineering 9/24 Entertainment Engineering and
Design 9/29 Informatics 10/1 Computer Science
Assignment for Next Class Read Chapter 2
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Engineering Department Presentations
Assignment A one page summary of each major is
due the class after each presentation.
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Engineering Department Presentations
 1. What types of jobs your graduates work at and
where they work 2. Average starting salaries
and typical salaries after 5 years. 3. The
courses they will take in your program 4. The
areas of specialization in your program 5. The
research being conducted by your department 6
The competitions and fun things your students are
involved in 7. Your graduate program
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Summary
Study Skills Reading and Note Taking Test
Taking Problem Solving
Engineering Presentations