only for prof washington

College freshmen do not know how to study, resulting in colleges and universities creating ever increasing numbers of strategies to help them understand how to learn. Altschuler (2000) held high schools responsible for students’ lack of understanding, citing lowered standards and grade inflation. To support his claim, he reported on an annual, nationwide UCLA survey of high school student study habits. The results indicated the number of hours students spend studying has steadily decreased since 1987.

As a response, institutions of higher education have established study skills websites, classes and workshops, tutoring programs, and “Learning Centers,” all designed to help students learn basic academic skills: note-taking, studying, essay-writing, etc. Even with all the available resources, at-risk students may struggle without seeking any kind of assistance. Their choice to go it alone may come from an attitude that only “losers” seek help, or shyness about meeting with professors, procrastination, or personal and emotional issues.

Altschuler (2000) suggested several strategies for students motivated to become more efficient and effective studiers. In addition to documenting when, where, and for how long they study, he suggested studying in groups, taking good notes, and reviewing notes and homework regularly - not just the night before a test.

Overall, Altschuler maintained that, although learning how to learn is a lifelong journey, the hard work and dedication will result in many intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. While his point is valid, I was surprised he did not make suggestions for high school administrators, teachers, and students – because the problem of poor study skills apparently begins in high school. Considering the often exorbitant cost of a college education, students should be prepared to take maximum advantage of the college curriculum by taking classes that prepare them for the work world instead of remedial classes, and to gain experience in research and practice instead of attending study skills workshops.