Integrated Principles of Biology II

Some suggestions for how to study for this course 
(also some web sites and suggestions for dealing with stress)

This course may be quite different from others that you have taken.  As a result, students may find it rather difficult to study for.  Here's some advice that might help. I'm pulling largely from what I did as an undergraduate (it was a while ago, and bear in mind that I was a bit of a geek -- there's some debate about how much of a geek -- I was also in my high school marching band if that helps clarify the issue).

1) You cannot learn the material by last minute cramming, so stay on top of the course. This is especially important for the material that you cannot simply memorize.  I try to keep the memorization to a minimum, but there is still some information that must be memorized.   I will try to emphasize the process of doing ecological research (e.g. how to think through a problem and apply the information you've been introduced to in class -- I am less interested in your ability to recite facts and more interested in knowing that you can intelligently apply those facts).

On a related topic, I am often surprised by how little time some students spend studying outside of class.  Just to let you know, I spend between 1 and 6 hours preparing a one hour lecture (mean is around 2.5 hours), and I know the material.  How much time do you think you should allocate?

2) Most of us are not expert notetakers. Instead, our notes are often jumbled scrawls that need further elaboration and deciphering. As a result, it's very useful to rewrite your notes (i.e., to transform the chaos into a clean and coherent set of notes). Yup, this is a pain, but I found it very valuable throughout my undergraduate education. It works best if you do this very soon after the lecture (preferably the same day -- if you've got a break immediately after lecture, that's an ideal time). As you rewrite your notes, keep them well organized (e.g., in outline structure), and use any tricks you can to highlight and differentiate information (e.g., use different colored pens).  DO NOT rely on note-taking services if they are available -- they are usually incomplete and often in error (and it's important that you learn to take useful notes).

3) As you rewrite your notes, you'll undoubtedly find topics that don't make sense. When this is the case, get some help clarifying the issue (e.g., talk to some friends, check the textbook, come to office hours!). Once the issue is clear, fill in your lecture notes so that they reflect this new level of understanding.

4) Interact with other students! This is very important. I find that I learn material best when I have to explain it to others (e.g., I've been studying biology for about 20 years more than most of you, and I still learn new things by teaching undergaduate courses and trying to explain concepts to students). You'll benefit from doing this also -- i.e., form a study group and discuss the topics, clarify sources of confusion, etc. Most of us cannot learn if we operate in a vacuum. Get your nose out of the book and lecture notes and interact with other students and challenge yourselves to go beyond simple recitation of the lecture material.

5) Take practice exams. Go through the questions with a friend and explain why each option is incorrect or correct (this is a far better approach than just ripping through the exam and seeing how well you did). Aim for understanding! Make up exam questions and give them to one another.

6) Expand on the lab excersises.  Think about the projects in ways to reach beyond the simple things you did in class -- extend your knowledge -- think in new ways.  Use the computer excersises as a vehicle to probe further into an issue or to address a different question.  We have only limited time in lab to explore the excercises in Populus.  Try some of the others.  Have fun.

7) Math anxiety.  In this class we are going to emphasize mathematical and graphical treatment of biological information (this is part of the field of Ecology).  If you struggle with mathematical formulations get some help from me or a friend or a math tutor.

8) Get a good night's sleep before the exam. Nothing hurts scores more than a fuzzy, sleep-deprived brain buzzing with caffeine and stress.

9) When you come in for the exam, relax, take a few deep breaths and shake out your arms and legs. It's amazing how clearly you can see through problems when you're calm.

10) When you're taking the exam, don't get hung up on one question. Go back to the tough ones at the end of the exam.  My exams are challenging -- don't waste time on a problem that you don't know how to approach.  Come back to it with a fresh perspective after you've gotten the easier problems solved.

11) When you get your exam back, make sure that you go through it and understand why you missed what you did; study the problems and my way of asking questions.

If you're finding that you are really stressed out, and you've tried what I suggest above, come talk to me again, or check out: Test Anxiety, Time Management , or Maintaining Balance put out by the UF Counseling Center  (see also Counselnet).