Student Success Center

3-Step Study Groups

Have you ever seen those products that advertise a “quick, new way” to get something done? Maybe it’s a new cooking tool or lawn care item. It seems life-changing in the ad, but when you get it home, it’s a lot of random parts and some vague diagrams. Good luck putting it together! Study groups can be the same way. It’s easy for someone on the outside to say, “Just make a study group,” when (in reality) study groups can be a little messy when you’re trying to figure out how to put everything together.

There are some good reasons to form a study group. First, explaining a concept to other students tells you how well you understand the material. If you can share it in your own words, you understand it pretty well. Second, when you study in a group, you benefit from the viewpoints of the other members, making sure you aren’t missing any vital information. Finally, reviewing with others gives you the opportunity to test one another without using your notes.

Fortunately, creating study groups doesn’t have to be complicated. Just follow these three steps.

Step 1: Talk to your Classmates

Look for the students who seem dependable, whether it’s through posting thoughtful answers to online discussion questions or paying attention in class. Ask them if they’d like to study together sometime. There, it’s done! You’ve completed Step 1.

Step 2: Prepare for the Study Group

This is the step that many people overlook, but it can help the group work well. As soon as you decide to study together, also take some time to decide the following:

When and where your group will meet,
What each person will come prepared to talk about,
How much time you will spend total.

Setting expectations upfront takes the guesswork out of forming a study group, and clear expectations are a great way to avoid frustrations later.

Step 3: Meet with the Group

Follow through with the plan that you made in Step 2. If someone decides not to show up, work with the people who do show up. Cover the topics that you discussed in your plan, and use any extra time to cover new topics or review something complicated.

These three steps move forming study groups from being complicated and messy to being clear and helpful for everyone.

You can also make an appointment using the Academic Coaching Request to meet with a Learning Specialist who will be happy to talk to you about study skills and forming study groups.

Reducing Test Anxiety

“Students, open your blue books”… That’s a phrase that still strikes fear into me. It’s what one of my professors would say at the beginning of each exam. I can still feel the hair standing up on the back of my neck, my heart beginning to race, and my vision narrowing as if staring into the light of an oncoming train. I was experiencing test anxiety.

What Causes Test Anxiety?

Test anxiety can come from many sources. Lack of preparation, past negative experiences, pressure to perform well, competitiveness, or lack of physical well-being (like not getting enough sleep) can all contribute to test anxiety.

Let’s talk about preparation for a minute. Have you ever stayed up all night before a test cramming information? You might be able to remember some information, but exhaustion makes it even harder to understand the test questions and apply the details you’re trying to remember. Cramming information the night before a test usually made me feel like I was carrying water in my hands – it all leaked out before I could use it.

How Can You Prevent Test Anxiety?

One solution is to be better prepared. To do this, start studying as soon as new information is covered in the class. Make the time to review your notes/textbook daily. Set aside enough time the week before the exam to go over the most important topics again.

But what if you prepared well, and you still feel anxious? When this happens, try calming yourself with positive self-talk and relaxation exercises. Tell yourself: “I know that I’ve studied. I’m just going to answer each question one at a time”, and then do just that. Answer each question to the best of your ability, and come back to problematic questions at the end if you have time. Try to relax by taking a deep breath in and then exhaling slowly.

With advance preparation, positive self-talk, and relaxation exercises, I am confident that you will be able to handle any exam.

If you’d like more information about addressing test anxiety and preparing for tests, check out our Learning Support page or use the Academic Coaching Request form to contact a Learning Specialist. If you want to talk about anxiety in general, contact the UAMS Student Wellness Program at 501-686-8408; they’re available to all UAMS students.

Test Preparation

With midterm season almost here, it’s time to focus on finding the best strategies for test preparation. Did you know that the most common cause of test anxiety and stress is not knowing the information because of poor preparation? The better prepared you are for a test, the better you are likely to do. Here are some ways you can improve your performance on tests.

Practice the Five Ps : Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance

Prior planning begins with a realistic study schedule that you start as early as possible. All of your classes will build upon one another, so having a study schedule that not only helps you remember information, but allows you connect older material with new material across your courses, increases your success. It will also help you find opportunities for beneficial activities, like going to the gym or spending important time with family. These things improve your mental outlook, helping you deal with stress as you study.

Reviewing and Self-Testing

Re-reading the test material is not the most effective study strategy for test preparation. The best preparation comes through reviewing and self-testing from your notes. We discussed this during the study skills workshop, but I want to remind you of the strategies we discussed that work well for self-testing.

Outlining: most effective for information that is presented in a linear format. It works well for organizing information into main ideas and supporting explanations, details and facts.
Flashcards: one of the most effective ways to memorize information within the shortest period of time.
Charts: a good way to move from lower to higher levels of learning. Charts are visual, and help you view information from different perspectives, transforming information into knowledge.
Concept (Mind) Maps and Flowcharts: especially effective for visually connecting information. Flowcharts are great for creating notes about a process. Concept maps connect details to main ideas and demonstrate how main ideas connect to larger concepts and ideas.
Make Your Own Test: Create test questions that you expect to be on the test. Test yourself to see if how well you understand the course information. Exchange test questions with others in the class to get a different perspective.
Study Groups: meet with other people. Study groups can really help with test preparation. You will know how well you understand material when you try to explain it to someone else.

Exam Investigation

The more you know about a test, the better prepared you are. Gather as much information about the exam as you can. Ask questions. Is it a chapter summary, a comprehensive exam, or a board certification exam. Find out about:
Scope: chapter summary or comprehensive

Format: Multiple choice, short answer, case study, demonstration, etc.
Administration: date, time, location, time allotted, etc.
Rules: specific rules of the testing location.

Good test preparation makes good test performance much more likely. Use these strategies to prepare so you can reduce the anxiety and stress that comes from not knowing the information. If you want more information on successful test preparation go to the Learning Support page or use the Academic Coaching Request to set up an appointment to talk to a Learning Specialist. Have a successful midterm season.

Step Up Your Study Skills

Good study skills are a requirement for student success. Even if you’ve never had to study much before, you will need strong study habits to meet the rigorous requirements at UAMS. Don’t wait until you are falling behind to step up your study skills. Take control and start now.

Step Up Your Preparation

Stepping up begins before a class session. Students with the best study skills prepare for their class meetings. Review your class syllabus and schedule so that you know what the instructor plans to cover during the class session. Before each class, skim materials like your textbook to get an overview of the content. Read the learning objectives, headings and subheadings, and pay attention to charts and graphs. You will be ready for the explanations, details, and facts from your instructor if you have a general idea of how the content is connected. Your notes from the class sessions will be more meaningful if you take the time to prepare.

Step Up your Participation

Stepping up your participation means you are completely engaged in your learning. Start with active listening. Don’t sit passively and let information drift over you. Take notes and ask questions. Use short phrases and abbreviations but be careful that what you write is meaningful, because you will need to understand it later when you review. If you ask a question, make sure you can restate the answer in your notes so that you fully understand it. If you took the time to preview the material for the class session, you will already understand the general outline and organization of the material which should make note-taking more efficient.

Step Up Your Review Process

Step up by including multiple opportunities for reviewing your notes and materials. Plan to review your notes within 24 hours of your class session. This will allow you to check that you understood the material presented, and that your notes are clear and complete. Mark anything in your notes that you don’t understand and then go back and find the information you missed.

Schedule study sessions on the days your classes don’t meet, and if possible, schedule some review time with other students in your classes. Review your notes, re-read portions of your textbooks, summarize information in your own words, and test yourself by creating practice questions. Explain the material to another student to check how well you understand what you learned.

Step Up Your Support

The Student Success Center’s website has resources to help you improve your study skills, including information on how you learn and retain information, reading strategies, study strategies, and test taking skills. For more information, visit the Learning Support page. If you want more personalized help, use the Academic Coaching Request to make an appointment with a Learning Specialist to find the strategies that will work best for you.

You need good study skills to be successful at UAMS. Stepping up your preparation, participation, and review process will help make the hours you spend studying more productive and increase your academic achievement.

Start Strong

School has now officially started and you are probably already busy with your classes. It is much easier to finish strong in your classes if you take the time to start strong, so take the time now to set yourself up for success.

Set Goals

If goal setting isn’t part of your academic preparation, it should be. Goals provide structure in your academic life. Setting and prioritizing goals helps you to focus on what is most important and ignore other distractions. Without specific and realistic goals, you’ll find yourself making random decisions you may regret. Start strong by setting realistic goals. You can find more information about setting your academic goals here.

Manage your Time

Success at UAMS is dependent on time management. You have multiple courses, projects, exams, study groups, and deadlines, and keeping up with them can seem like a part-time job. To help you manage it all, get a calendar and combine it with a To Do list. I prefer to use an online calendar and to-do app that will sync across all my devices, but if you prefer a hard-copy calendar and to-do list, that’s fine too.

As soon as you can, download the schedules for all your courses and put all your assignments, projects, tests, and deadlines for all your courses on your calendar. This will show you when you are going to be the busiest. Break down your big projects into manageable chunks and work on them a little at a time so you aren’t overwhelmed when the deadline is upon you. Keep tasks on a To Do list and check them off when complete. Having a good system for your calendar and tasks will keep you organized and make your academic life much easier. It is a good way to start strong for success.

You can find more information, tips and tools for effectively managing and organizing your time here.

Identify Help

At some point during your time at UAMS, you may need help. Become familiar with all the services that the Student Success Center has to offer. You might find yourself falling behind in your courses or struggling to pass a class. Don’t wait to seek help. Go get the support you need right away. Check out the Student Success Center on the 3rd floor of the library or browse through our website to discover all the ways we are here to help you achieve academic excellence.

Sun-Safe Summer Fun

There are many summer activities to enjoy on the beautiful rivers, lakes, trails, and mountains here in the Arkansas. However, with temperatures climbing up to triple digits, it’s wise to be sun-safe, and take a few precautions.

Heat-related illnesses can affect anyone, so it’s best to follow these tips to avoid dehydration, heat-stroke, and other heat-related illnesses.

Drink plenty of water or other non-alcoholic beverages. You want to try to get more fluid in than you are losing.
Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that is light in color;
Reduce strenuous activities or do them during the cooler parts of the day, like before 10:00am or after 4:00pm.

Being sun-safe also means avoiding sunburn and limiting your exposure and protecting your skin. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause damage to the skin, eyes and immune system, and can also cause cancer.

Stay in the shade, especially during midday hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), when UV rays are strongest and do the most damage.
Cover up with clothing to protect exposed skin. Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.
Wear sunglasses that provide UV protection.
Use sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and reapply it every two hours after being in the water or exercising and sweating.

UAMS has resources to help you beat the heat as you enjoy summer fun. Learn more about staying safe in the sun in Don’t Sizzle this Summer from Living Healthy at uamshealth.com. You will find more information about heat related illnesses from Here’s to Your Health. Stay sun-safe and enjoy yourself this summer.

Board Prep with BoardVitals

UAMS students preparing for USMLE, NCLEX, and NDBE exams have access to BoardVitals, a high-quality, effective, and powerful board prep tool available through the UAMS Library. Effective June 30th, the Library is adding new test banks, including PANCE, NAPLEX, Dental Hygiene, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Nursing exams, including Psychiatric-Mental Health NP, Critical Care Nursing, and FNP.

As a result, more UAMS students will have access to board review questions from leading medical publishers, research institutions, and clinicians. Users can identify their strengths and weaknesses and create customized practice tests. You get explanations with each answer and links to references and additional sources.

Learn more about Board Vitals on the UAMS Library website, or contact the Library reference department at 501-686-6734, or at https://uams.libwizard.com/f/question.

Tech-Wise Test Preparation

Most of the programs at UAMS have at least one board/certification exam, and scheduling some group review time is an effective test preparation strategy. Trying to explain a concept to someone else tells you just how well you understand the material. However, some students attend their classes online, and aren’t able to come to campus to meet with their peers. Using a tool like Google Hangouts is a great way to meet online to answer questions and review content. You can share your screen in a video call, which makes group test preparation sessions much easier to facilitate.

Up to 9 people can join your Hangout, which will accommodate most study groups. But, what if you wanted to host a larger review session? Maybe you wanted to combine with several study groups for a comprehensive test preparation session, or to share information about the exam. Is there a tool that could broadcast your session and allow more people to participate?

Test Preparation for a Bigger Audience

I recently learned about live reviews for AP exams in US History, European History, and Government hosted by Keith Hughes and Tom Richey using Hangouts on Air. The two teachers broadcast their discussion of AP exam topics through their YouTube channel. Students from all over the country joined the hangout, submitting their questions through Twitter and Instagram. The teachers had their students monitor the Twitter and Snapchat feeds, identifying questions for the teachers to answer. In addition, they were able to guide students to their video resources for more information about topics they should review before the exam. Using a platform like Twitter or Instagram as a backchannel for questions, comments, and suggestions allows more people to participate directly.

Google provides plenty of resources to help you get started with your own Hangout on Air. You can get started with step-by-step instructions on Google Help or by visiting the Google Help YouTube channel.

Whether you are a distance student or just looking for alternative ways to host group study sessions, Hangouts on Air can offer you options for large group test preparation.

Receiving the White Coat

Last week I was invited to attend the white coat ceremony for the UAMS College of Health Professions’ Physician Assistant Class of 2018. I was deeply impressed by the by the students, the ceremony, and the significance of the white coat. While I know that several of the colleges and programs have white coat ceremonies, it was the first time I have ever been able to witness one.

I learned that the white coat ceremony is a rite of passage that marks the students’ entry into their profession. During the ceremony, the professional community, represented by the faculty and staff of the program, begins to communicate its values and mission to the students. The white coat bestows both privileges and responsibilities on the wearers. It represents their position and purpose.

When the students put on their white coat, they put on a new identity. It is a transition from ‘prerequisite to program”, a tangible statement of their role in and commitment to providing quality health care. At the end of the ceremony they know what their profession will expect of them. They understand that the decisions they make will define their practice.

I wish more disciplines had the equivalent of the white coat ceremony. I certainly wish my field of study had something like it. It’s not the same as the graduation ceremony that marks the end of your time as a student. The white coat ceremony focuses students on what the end result of their hard work will be. It gives them a brief picture of that city on the hill, that successful, professional life that is waiting for them. It lets the students know that the demands placed on them will be worth the effort.

Congratulations of the Physician Assistant Class of 2018 and to all the students who have participated in a white coat ceremony! You are remarkable group, and I know you will work hard to achieve your goals. I believe all of you will be successful and accomplish great things in both your academic and professional endeavors.

Your Next Adventure

Oh the places you’ll go,
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So get on your way!
Dr. Seuss

Congratulations to the 2016 graduates of the five colleges at UAMS. We, the faculty and staff of the Student Success Center, are so proud of your hard work and success. We expect you will do great things for your profession and make a positive impact on health care for many years to come.

Life is a series of adventures that are all part of the Great Adventure. Graduation signals the end of one adventure and the beginning of a new one. So whether your next adventure takes place in Arkansas or in someplace far away, make the most of every opportunity you are offered, and make a difference in the lives of the people you encounter. As UAMS graduates, you have been educated and trained to improve the health, health care, and well-being of Arkansans and of others in the region, nation, and the world. We can’t wait to see what you will do.

So, in the words of Dr. Seuss, “Today is your day!” We join you in celebrating all you have accomplished here at UAMS. We are confident you have what you need to be successful as you climb your professional mountain, so go ahead and “Get on your way!” We wish you all the best on your next adventure!