2.6: Key Habits For Success

Doing well in college starts with good habits of being engaged and intentional.   The following are key habits to develop and make part of your routine as a college student.

Attend Each Class Period

It’s no secret that students who attend their classes are more successful than those who don’t.

For face-to-face classes, this means getting in the habit of attending each class period on time. (This means avoiding making appointments for other needs, such as dentist appointments, during your class times.) For online students, this means being active in the course by engaging with the material and submitting assignments several times a week.   

It is essential that you contact the professor and make the best attempt to stay on top of the coursework if you cannot attend or, for online students, be active for class.  See the information earlier in this chapter about how to use Canvas or Outlook to email your professor.

 

 Monitor Your Grades

If you set your Canvas notifications as recommended in the earlier chapter, you are going to see your new grades right after they are posted by your professors.   Even then, make it a habit to check all your course grades several times each week. This will help you know if you are missing any assignments or need to improve on any aspect of the courses. If you have questions about your grades, be sure to ask your professor.    

If you would like to be able to see what your grade might be like in the future, you can use the “What If” tool in Canvas.  This allows you to calculate “what” your total grade would be “if” you earned certain scores on upcoming assignments.   Click on the score area for each future assignment, then add the grade that you are hoping to achieve on it, then see what the total course grade would be.   Keep in mind that your professor may not have posted all the possible assignments yet, so it is a good idea to do this again later in the semester.

 

Be Engaged in the Course

It’s not smart to “just get by” in your college classes.  In fact, you will not be successful in them if that is your approach.   Your professors are expecting you to bring your best learning self to class—to be open to learning and trying, not to be perfect.   Here are some recommendations for staying engaged:

•       Manage technology distractions: Whether you are in a face-to-face or online class, manage the distraction that comes from your cell phone.  In a face-to-face class, put your phone on vibrate/silent and put it away, such as in your backpack; also, remove earbuds so that your full attention is on the class.  If you are in an online class, decide how to best limit distractions, as well.

•       Take notes: Taking notes from assigned readings and videos as well as in face-to-face classes during lectures is an important student habit to cultivate.   Reviewing these notes soon after you take them and again later in the week will help you move this information to your long-term memory.   

•       Communicate with the professor: The importance of this cannot be emphasized enough!  Whether you are in a face-to-face or online class, communicate with your professor to show your interest, ask questions, and share your input.   You can do this in class and outside of class through email, office or virtual appointments, or phone.