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1.30: How to Study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

  • Page ID
    73486
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    What are the best study skills for undergraduate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) subjects? Some effective study methods include as follows:

    • Attend every class lecture
    • Make flashcards and concept maps
    • Take your own good notes and repeat them daily
    • Read the textbook ahead and repeat
    • Use highlighters and colors when studying
    • Read it through before answering a question
    • Metacognition (MC): Learning how to learn

    Moreover, gaining mastery of content gradually help undergraduates to build more confidence, ownership of expertise, and appreciation for STEM fields.

    \(\PageIndex{1}\). Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

    • SLO 30.01: Apply the best practices for learning How to Study Science (STEM)
    • SLO 30.02: Describe the characteristics of effective studying
    • SLO 30.03: Describe the characteristics of effective schedule
    • SLO 30.04: Describe the characteristics of effective note-taking
    • SLO 30.05: Identify given plant species with their scientific names based on their key features
    • SLO 30.06: Explain the differences between simply reading and active studying
    • SLO 30.07: Explain how explaining materials in your own words is an effective learning tool

    \(\PageIndex{2}\). Big Picture: Metacognition (MC)

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    \(\PageIndex{3}\). Test Your Knowledge

    • Assessment 1: TRUE or FALSE: Reading on hard-copy material is superior compare to screens.
    • Assessment 2: TRUE or FALSE: Active recall with closing the book is superior studying compared to re-reading.
    • Assessment 3: Teaching explaining the course material to somebody else is a superior learning technique. Why?
    • Assessment 4: TRUE or FALSE: A 30-minute exercise / per day increases brain cell growth and therefore learning.

    \(\PageIndex{4}\). Can You Spot These Plants?

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    \(\PageIndex{5}\). Check Your Answers

    1. TRUE
    2. TRUE
    3. Because of the fact that memory need to be used regularly in order to perform optimally. Therefore, teaching someone else uses memory and improved learning the material better.
    4. TRUE

    This page titled 1.30: How to Study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Gokhan Hacisalihoglu (Florida State Open Publishing) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.

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