Problem-Solving Skills

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Problem solving goes far beyond your math textbook. Every assignment is an opportunity to weigh all possible solutions carefully and choose the one you think is best. As a working professional, you’ll be solving problems regularly, whether it’s fixing a bug in a computer program or overcoming budget shortfalls. Problem solving situations occur extensively and frequently; therefore, be ready when they come.

When problems or challenges occur, some people look at them as negative experiences, as a crisis. These people are the ones who live day by day with gloom and negativism in their attitudes. But the really successful people, those who are cheerful and optimistic, are those who look at problems as opportunities, opportunities to learn, grow, expand their horizons, and make new discoveries. They look on the bright side of things and live happy lives.

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Reading

5 Tips for Success

Tips 3-4

Tip 3: Do Research

Literary critics have written vast numbers of analytical and critical pieces on countless books. If you’re having trouble understanding a particular text, do some research and see what knowledgeable sources have to say about it. In addition to increasing your comprehension, you’ll also be showing initiative, something teachers always like to see. Always use legitimate and scholarly sources, not condensed study guides. Going the extra mile in your research elevates your achievement 10-fold.

Tip 4: Use a Dictionary

Make sure you have access to a dictionary when you’re reading. You can often figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word by using context clues, but sometimes you can’s. Rather than simply skipping over the words you don’t know, take the times to look them up. The results are well worth the effort. Your comprehension ill increase greatly, and you’ll build your vocabulary at the same time.

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5 Tips for Staying Motivated

Tips 3-5

3. Set Attainable Goals

If you’re having trouble writing a 35-page paper for class because it seems like such a big job, don’t focus on that final number. Break the paper down and consider each section of your paper individually. You can handle any project in small chunks.

4. Find a Social Support Network
Create a group of people around you who want to help you succeed. Mentors can be teachers or family friends who can give you guidance and help you develop new skills. Counselors can help you with planning your courses and starting to explore colleges. You can also each out to friends and peers who can motivate you by listening and sharing ideas.

5. Acknowledge Your Accomplishments

Give yourself a quick reward when you complete an assignment or task. Take a walk, send an email, get a snack. Then move on to the next project.

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Note-Taking Strategies
Part 4

For Review

Once you’ve done all of the above, you’ll find you’ve created your own personalized study guide. Cover the main section of the page and use the key words and questions in the left margin as a quiz.

Stick to It

Review your notes the day you take them and all your notes once a week. That way, you won’t need to study as much when it’s test time.

You’ve been doing the work all along.

Try out the Cornell system, but if it doesn’t work for you, experiment with other methods. Ask your classmates how they take notes or ask a teacher for advice. Taking good notes requires practice, like any other skill. And the more you work at it now, the more prepared you’ll be to take notes in college.

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Distance Education: Is a Virtual Classroom for You?

Part 4 of 4

Emphasis on the Written Word

Most of the communication, as well as the course work, in distance-learning classes is written. That’s a plus, because the focus on the written word gives you the opportunity to develop as a writer – and strong writing skills are essential to academic success. However, if writing is a serious weakness for you, virtual learning may not be the best educational option until you improve your skills. Yes, most of distance education is the written word; therefore, you need to be a good reader, love to read, and love writing also. Most of your assignments will be written and submitted to the instructor in the written format. Your penmanship needs to be excellent, spelling great, sentence structure above average, vocabulary extraordinary. You need to have online access with reliable equipment. If your Internet communications at home isn’t working, you can’t do online education from home and will need to go someplace where you do have access to the internet.

Decide Whether It’s Right for You

Distance education isn’t for everyone, but it just might be for you. You really should seek it out and give it a try. You never know until you try. You might even fall in love with distance education. While distance education may be the perfect alternative for some students, it’s not the right choice for everyone. So carefully consider your unique needs and interests and give distance education a try; then, decide if it is right for you.

 

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Balancing High School and Part-time Work

Part 4

 

He reminds students that “the activities and courses students choose vary considerably, so it’s important for young people to keep their individual situations clearly in mind.” MacGowan continues, “For example, student actors should allow for the fact that they won’t have as much time during performance seasons. Student athletes need to remember the times of the year that they’ll be tied up with games and practices. Other students who are in classes that make considerable demands outside of the classroom must keep that reality in mind.”

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The Power of Study Groups

Part 4

Getting the Most Out of a Session

Here are some tips to help your group get the most out of each study session:

·         Decide what you’re going to do in advance.

·         Prepare for the session, so you can make the most of your time together.

·         Take turns teaching, to reinforce your own knowledge.

·         Stick to the session topic.

By supplementing your individual study with a study group, you can reinforce what you’ve learned, deepen your understanding of complex concepts, and maybe even make a few new friends. Remember that a friend is a person who encourages you to do your best and to achieve on a high level, one who pushes you to try a little harder and be a little better. If someone pulls you down the wrong trails of life, then those people are not friends, (they are actually your enemies), and you must avoid them at all cost. Whoever said learning can’t be fun? Learning is enjoyable and exciting when you study with others.

 

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10 time Management Tips For Students

Tips 1-4

Organizing Your Life

Managing your time well is an important element of success – especially if you’re a student. If you set priorities that fit your needs and lifestyle, you’ll have a better chance of achieving your goals. Here are some tips for taking control of your time and organizing your life.

Tip 1. Make a To-Do List Every Day.

Put things that are most important at the top and do them first. And don’t forget to reward yourself for your accomplishments.

Tip 2. Use Spare Minutes Wisely.

When you’re commuting on the bus or train, use the time to get some reading done.
Tip 3. It’s okay to Say No.

If your friend asks you to go to a movie on a Thursday night and you have an exam the next morning, realize that it’s okay to say no. Keep your short- and long-term priorities in mind.

Tip 4. Find the Right Time.

You’ll work more efficiently if you figure out when you do your best work. For example, if your brain handles math better in the afternoon, don’t wait to do it until late at night.

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7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

Habit 4

4. Think Win-Win

Teens can learn to foster the belief that it is possible to create an atmosphere of Win-Win in everyday relationship. This habit encourages the idea that in any given discussion or situation both parties can arrive at a mutually beneficial solution. Your teen will learn to celebrate the accomplishments of others instead of being threatened by them. Win-Win is a belief that everyone can win. It’s both nice and though all at once I won’t step on you but I won’t be your doormat either. You care about other people and you want them to succeed. But you also care about yourself, and you want to succeed as well. Win-Win is abundant. It is the belief that there’s plenty of success to go around. It’s not either you or me. It’s both of us. It’s not a matter of who gets the biggest piece of the pie. There’s more than enough food for everyone. It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.

                Win-win always creates more. Perhaps the most surprising benefit of thinking Win-Win is the good feelings it brings on. The true test of whether or not you are thinking Win-Win or one of the alternatives is how you feel. Win-Lose and Lose-Win thinking will cloud your judgment and fill you with negative feelings.

                Win-Win will fill your heart with happy and serene thoughts. It will give you confidence. Even fill you with light. Think Win-Win or no deal.

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Successful Students

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3 . . . . Ask questions. Successful students ask questions to provide the quickest route between ignorance and knowledge. In addition to securing knowledge you seek, asking questions has at least two other extremely important benefits. The process helps you pay attention to your professor and helps your professor pay attention to you! Think about it. If you want something, go after it. Get the answer now, or fail a question later. There are no foolish questions, only foolish silence. It’s your choice.

4 . . . . Learn that a student and a professor make a team. Most instructors want exactly what you want: they would like for you to learn the material in their respective classes and earn a good grade.

Successful students reflect well on the efforts of any teacher; if you have learned your material, the instructor takes some justifiable pride in teaching. Join forces with your instructor, they are not an enemy, you share the same interests, the same goals- in short, your teammates. Get to know your professor. You’re the most valuable players on the same team. Your jobs are to work together for mutual success. Neither wishes to chalk up a losing season. Be a team player!

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You Can Succeed in School If You Will
Part 4

 

As Kennedy lay crumpled in her hospital bed following the accident, she realized that many of her wounds were invisible. “After the car accident, I suffered from low self-esteem and depression,” she said. “For years, I allowed someone I loved to physically, mentally and emotionally abuse me.”

She had previously tried taking a few DCCC classes, but said she was immature and not ready for academic challenge. She dropped out. After the accident, she returned to DCCC to take cosmetology classes. She left school a second time and began working as a certified nursing assistant. After yet another car accident, she felt unstable, hopeless, and didn’t know what to do.

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