By Remy McCool/south news editor
As the spring semester begins, both students and professors have considered ways they can improve to make their semesters successful.
Students aim to better their test-taking skills, use their time more wisely, improve study habits and balance their busy lives while getting their education.
NE student Ryan Fortner Newsom said he would benefit from speeding up his morning routine.
“I could do better with time management with my kid,” he said. “He is one-and-half years old, and just getting him out of bed, in clothes and to the babysitter adds almost 45 minutes to my morning routine.”
Cutting down the time it takes to get himself and his son ready each day would allow more time to study or get to school earlier, Newsom said.
Procrastination is also another deterrent many students face. Many find themselves easily distracted, causing them to be focused on something other than the task at hand.
“I need to not procrastinate as much and not watch Netflix,” said NE student Christine Nickell.
Newsom said he has a tendency to wait until the last minute to prepare for a test. He intends to begin studying sooner rather than only a day or two prior to a test. He believes he will be more successful if he studies after class when the topic discussed is fresher in his mind opposed to cramming right before a test.
Creating study groups with classmates has significantly improved Newsom’s test scores as well.
“So this year, I started a study group, and I found that that greatly increased my test-taking capabilities,” he said. “I’m going to try and get study groups in all my classes instead of just one.”
Nickell also plans to explore new ways to study this semester. She thinks making notecards, paying more attention in class and using her professors as a better resource will improve her grades.
“If I have questions, I need to make sure I ask the professor,” she said.
Professors are also pondering changes they can make to improve the success of their students.
Judith Wingo, NE foreign languages instructor, aims to create more ways to interact with her class.
“Well, I really need to develop some new activities for my classes other than doing activities out of the book,” she said.
In addition, she believes it would be beneficial to her students to have them meet with her after each test to go over their results one-on-one.
“I think that I should require students to come and see me during my office hours,” she said.
This would help students better understand what they could have done better and assist them in making changes to improve their future test scores, Wingo said.
