Want to Be a Better Concordia Ontario Academy Student – Just Follow These 10 Steps!
What’s holding your back from reaching your full academic potential? Below are 10 steps you can take to become the best student you can be at Concordia. Give them a try and I guarantee you will see definite improvements in your achievement at school!
Review these 10 steps which outline simple changes you can make, and soon you’ll be on your way to becoming the great student you’ve always wanted to become.
- Set short-term and long-term goals.
Goals, both short- and long-term, are a great way to measure your success. If you don’t have goals insight, you have nothing to achieve or strive for. in your courses. If you set concrete goals for yourself, it’s easier to become motivated and measure your success in those goals. - Create a study schedule and stick to it.
Scheduling is vital to maintaining a healthy learning balance with rigorous courses. - Know When to Ask for Help.
If you’re awake and alert, you’re certainly more likely to absorb information given in class, during study sessions and in class activities and participation. Think of it as an equation: awake + alertness = A’s. In addition to attending class, there are a variety of resources available to aid students in thriving and achieving in class. There are many resources that students are not aware of—and we’re not just talking the library. These free student services could include, career centers, tutoring, editing or paper review, and even mental health counseling services at some schools. School resources are abundant and students who take advantage of such resources are much more likely to succeed. - Always Attend Class.
This should be common sense – if students go to class, they will likely become more successful in the course. Obviously, the course material is presented during class periods and students that are paying attention tend to learn while in class and, thus, are more likely to perform well on exams. - Embrace self-care routines and stay active.
Self-care is beginning to become a social norm for students. It’s important to have the ability to notice when you’ve overcommitted or just need a break to take care of yourself. Make self-priority a focus…even as a student. Create a life outside of academics, like participation in extracurricular activities, such as intramural sports or college clubs. Extracurricular activities increase a student’s overall college experience, contribute to the learning process, and exercise can help you feel happier. - Create healthy study habits.
Your study techniques for proper exam preparation need to be healthy ones. Study techniques considered “healthy” include balance, time-management and avoiding all-night study “cram” sessions. Information is certainly easier to absorb when reviewed in increments, rather than procrastinating until the last minute. - Take good notes and review them later.
Listening and taking notes actively during class not only ensures the recording of accurate information, but also reinforces the information through recording the information as you take it in. It’s helpful to go over your note after class and either rewrite them or outline the key information while it’s still fresh in your mind. You’ll find it’s easier to understand your notes and retain information, come exam time. - Find your tribe.
Collaborating with other students is a great way to learn – if you’re sure to choose students who you’ll stay on task with. Try finding various students in your class, rather than friends you already have. It can expand your social group and you’re more likely to stay focused on the schoolwork. - Take on a manageable course load.
When taking on a well-balanced course load, students are more likely to succeed because of realistic expectations in the workload that can be handled successfully. - Participate in class and communicate with your teacher or instructor.
Going to class is one thing but paying attention and participating in class is another. If you listen to the lessons, questions are likely to arise. If they come up in class, ask! If you’re too shy in a large class, wait and ask the teacher after class or during office hours. It’s important to know, however, that if you’ve got a question, it’s likely that other students have the same question as well. Whatever you do, DO NOT wait until it comes time to study for the exam!
Implement these 10 steps and you will improve your success as a student. Good luck!
Lou Vescio, Principal
M.Ed (Educational Administration), B.Ed, B.A.(Hons.),OCT, OPC
