How To Be A Student
The skills we used to take for granted that students had when they came to us, many no longer do. We need to teach them how to be effective students. It may seem like we shouldn’t have to do this, but it’s clear we do. While this may seem like an awful lot of documents, most are only a page and almost all have information and advice that can be shared with students. You don’t need to teach them, just share the information. And you may think the document that includes email templates for students to write to their professors about different topics is a little over the top, but we learned in speaking with first year student advisors that they’re actually needed. Students don’t know how and they’re a little afraid. Let’s not compound their anxiety.
Be explicit about student skills like:
- How to read and annotate (and the value of annotation for learning and memory)
- How to take notes
- How to listen and pay attention
- How NOT to procrastinate (and why we do)
- How to plan a project
- How to manage their time
- How to get to class on time (and why it matters)
- How to manage stress and anxiety
- How to put their phone away (it adds to their stress!)
- The perils of multitasking (also adds to stress!)
- How to talk about stuff that’s uncomfortable
- How to think about learning to do it better
Help them develop social skills, remembering that many were “socializing” online for so long that some students don’t know how to make eye contact or engage in small talk. And we really need to address their phone usage:
Finally help them learn the “Hidden Curriculum”:
- Tell them how you want them to address and communicate with you and how you will communicate in turn, e.g.,
- What should they call you in speaking and in writing? And why do you want them to do so? Women and faculty of color can be subject to bias, with students questioning their authority and expertise, and may therefore opt for formal address, e.g., Doctor or Professor LastName.
- And whether you want them to, for instance, email you if they will miss class or if they haven’t done the assignment but want to come to class (“I’d rather you come to class even if you haven’t done the work.”) This page actually includes email templates for a variety of circumstances that you can share with students.
- How to: Communicate with Faculty and Staff
- Librarians: Their support power
- Student Support Services and why they should take advantage of them all!
Here’s a good resource to share with students
Consider encouraging (or even requiring) students to watch this excellent video series on how to be a successful student. Here’s just one comment that was posted:
“my third year into uni starts in two weeks and watching this playlist makes me feel more confident and empowered to step up my study game. i wish i watched this video sooner!”