RDM's Tips on how to succeed in BMZ116
I have conducted statistical surveys of year-end BMZ116 student study habits in the past years, in an attempt to better understand their study habits in this class as
it relates with their performance on examinations. In addition, my
own daughter took both BMZ115 and 116 as a high school senior (I was not
her professor), and we have had many discussions with regard to study techniques
relative to this class in particular. From this basis, I have summarized,
below, several important tips, that, if followed, I believe, will enhance
your ability to successfully master the content of this class. The key concept here is, that these are tips. You have to decide whether or not you can adjust your life to follow them.
If, you have additional
tips that you feel would be useful to your colleagues, please email them
to me and I will gladly incorporate them into this page.
- COME TO ALL LECTURES. Statistical analyses consistently indicate that students that attend lectures outperform students who sporadically attend lectures by 5% on lecture exams.
Performance of Students NOT Attending Lectures
Performance of Students Attending Lectures
- BUDGET ENOUGH TIME FOR THIS CLASS IN YOUR WEEKLY SCHEDULE.
- The RDM "rule of thumb" is: 3 hours of homework per credit hour of class.
- This is a 4 credit
hour class, so budget at least 12 homework hours per week for this class,
OUTSIDE of the time your spend in lecture and laboratory.
- That means a total commitment of 3 hrs (lecture) + 2 hrs (lab) + 12 hrs (homework) = 17 hrs/week devoted to BMZ116.
- READ THE APPROPRIATE CHAPTERS IN THE TEXT BEFORE COMING TO LECTURE.
- PRINT OUT THE BOTANY LECTURE OUTLINES BEFORE COMING TO LECTURE.
- IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING - COME VISIT ME DURING OFFICE HOURS, OR AT SOME OTHER ARRANGED TIME! Don't visit your TA - COME VISIT ME!
- I may look scary and unapproachable, but I'm not!
- Part of my job
is to help you understand this material, and I take that seriously, but I
can't help you unless you come see me!
- Only you know if you are having problems with the material.
- If you can't explain
what is being discussed in the text and my lectures to yourself, your parents,
roommate, or friends - THEN you have a COMPREHENSION problem with that material.
- I CAN HELP you, but only if YOU take the initiative!
- If you have a comprehension problem with the material, COME SEE ME!!!!!
- DO NOT visit me with questions like, "Will this be on the test?"; "Do I have to know this?"
- THE ANSWERS to those questions are: "Yes"; "Yes"
- ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS AT THE END OF EACH TEXT CHAPTER AND ON THE STUDENT MEDIA CD.