Major Concepts/Content: The study skills 7 and 8 course is designed to strengthen students’ skills in implementing a variety of organizational and learning strategies to become more effective and efficient learners. The content includes, but is not limited to: organizing homework assignments and calendars; learning a variety of study techniques; developing skills for conducting a research assignment; refining ability to take notes by matching different techniques to a content area; preparing for and learning from tests; developing unique strategies for learning in the manner that best fits individual strengths and weaknesses; learning to request and use assistance; fostering the ability to work in pairs and teams of students as well as working independently; organizing time and materials to facilitate efficient schoolwork. 

Major Instructional Activities: Instructional activities will be provided in a general classroom, in the media center and in the school and community environment. Student activities will include, but are not limited to: using time efficiently and effectively to begin and complete an activity; prioritizing tasks that are assigned and estimating time required; demonstrating general and specific listening skills; discriminating relevant and irrelevant details in course textbook; using graphs, maps, and charts to obtain information and to demonstrate knowledge gained; participating in independent small and large-group assignments; outlining reading selections; correcting own work and that of peers. 

Major Evaluative Techniques: Students will be evaluated for class participation, completion of reading and writing assignments, implementation of appropriate learning and organizational strategies, completion of assignments for courses in which enrolled, following a time line for monitoring assignments, and assisting others with work requirements. 

Essential Objectives: Upon completion of the study skills 7 and 8 course, students should be able to:

• Create an appropriate study environment.
• Manage their time effectively.
• Create and adhere to daily and weekly work schedules.
• Refine and implement general listening skills.
• Utilize evaluative and discriminative listening skills.
• Use chunking and rehearsal as strategies for remembering.
• Use mnemonic and visual imagery as strategies for remembering.
• Use outlining and mapping to take notes from reading selections and lectures.
• Use a variety of study methods and formulas.

Last Revised: July 18, 2005