help with the college homework

help with the college homework

Effective Strategies for Completing College Homework

1. Introduction to College Homework

Simply completing college homework can be a challenging task for anyone. Many college students are on their own and need some guidance in their homework efforts. Often, the material that is taught in class does not develop a study method for the student and there is no accomplishment in the classroom. Do not despair! There are several strategies that college students can use in order to effectively manage their time and workload.

If you do not understand something, always ask the teacher. Asking questions ensures that you understand things. There are never stupid questions! Always be sure to correct your teacher’s response if you are unsure of the answer. You do not want to be confused in the future. It is important to make every attempt to finish the homework while at school. Many students procrastinate and have fun doing other things when they get home. Use your time at school to get a head start on the work and try to finish it in its entirety. If you start something at school, then it is easier to continue.

It’s tough being a student. Not every student learns the same way. It is imperative to implement ways to make homework time effective and rewarding. Many students immediately get turned off by the word “homework.” Don’t let the word scare you. Remember that homework is giving a particular name to learning at home. At best, homework is one of the most effective tools for getting solid grades. Always do your homework to the best of your ability and you will be on your way to success!

2. Time Management and Prioritization

Many leading researchers agree that when it comes to completing homework and doing college assignments effectively, letting too much time pass between meetings with the material is a significant danger. Psychologist James Chudow once wrote, “The single most important variable in everyday forgetting is the length of the retention interval.” The regular scheduling and spacing of study exercises – through time management and prioritization – is the key to winning the homework battle. Time used wisely will often help to save time wasted. Let’s examine the importance of time management and prioritization as strategies in managing the daily tasks of college learning.

Effective time management requires an appropriate balance in the use of time and energy: we must free up time required for essential college tasks from our already existing repertoire of activities. However, college learning is a full-time job and sometimes more; part-time jobs, the athlete’s schedule, the 80-hour work-week, and other tasks compete with learning for a “piece of the student’s mental and physical energy.” With so much of the students’ personal resources invested in the learning process, what guidelines can help them use their resources in ways that will facilitate effective development? How are priorities set?

3. Effective Study Techniques

Studies suggest that there are certain study techniques that lead to the best performance. One of the best study techniques is retrieval practice, often called recall or testing. This is the idea that practicing retrieving material from memory enhances learning. The next best technique is distributed practice. Doing a little each day all semester is more effective than cramming for a single long study session right before an exam. The third study technique that empirical data support is elaborative interrogation: explaining why the material is true. Here are some other very effective study techniques: generation effect, reading comprehension, the Feynman Technique, the self-explanation effect, the self-reference effect, the production effect, the spacing effect, the interleaving effect, the dual coding, personalization, the protégé effect, and the isolation effect.

Numerous other study techniques demonstrate a positive effect in some or many studies, yet have not been shown to consistently support gains in a variety of situations where students actively list the strategies that they found most helpful for an exam, the above nine methods are the most frequently mentioned. Many students make flashcards to use as a study tool, but this is a low retention strategy. A better use is to practice retrieval or elaborative interrogation during the initial design phase for making flashcards by using the cards as a problem-solving device, instead of relying on rote memorization. Even massed practice can be useful under the right conditions. Choose effective study techniques mindfully: Spacing, recalling, and generating best support memory formation.

4. Utilizing Resources and Support Systems

While some courses may be more difficult than others, and students certainly bring their own personal sets of strengths and challenges to their academic work, every student is college-ready. Many of the items discussed in this article take more than freshman year for students to develop, and it is vital that faculty and students recognize all of these pieces to ensure their academic success. This is beneficial for both two- and four-year colleges, when the encouragement of institutions, private sector, and government can ensure that these items are developed.

Higher education reform requires collaboration with all key actors to bring change to scale. Students need additional resources to complete college successfully. This includes first year courses, mandatory remediation with academic or learning assessment, an introduction to college expectations, advice and engagement in high expectations. Training of college teachers is also necessary, using high-level pedagogy. Faculty development should be modeled after federal Race to the Top funding in states. In this context, the department supports the Race to the Top Program for Washington State. Targeting federal R&D dollars would catalyze change in the sector. College teachers are pioneering new ways of teaching and mentoring students to help them learn and graduate. Only 77 percent of America’s most competitive high school students attend college, and less than one-third of those who begin their studies and graduate. The United States needs 14 million more college graduates by 2030, if our country is to be competitive. As a country, we must dramatically accelerate the number of high-quality degrees to maintain leadership. The state would earn an additional increase of up to $2.7 trillion in federal revenues if graduation rates at four-year colleges increased by just 10 percent. A strong commitment from public colleges and universities can deliver the college-degree-level increase. These institutions have identified barriers to success and are developing strategies to help students follow through to complete college.

5. Maintaining a Healthy Work-Life Balance

5. Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance

Although it is important to dedicate enough time to your schoolwork, it is equally crucial to spend time doing that which relaxes you. It can be easy to develop tunnel vision when you know the amount of time you put into completing an assignment directly correlates to the grade you receive on it. However, a work-life balance is essential to your health, especially during an intense academic program. Students who fail to take time for relaxation often burn out.

It is important to remember that relaxation looks different for different people. You might enjoy meditation, prayer, watching TV, playing a video game, going for a run, or spending time talking with a friend. All of these are perfectly legitimate ways to relax. During particularly stressful times, it can also be beneficial to block off time from your calendar explicitly for relaxation. Allocating time to the things that you consider enjoyable, productive, and relaxing can prevent stress.