Studying for Science

A Guide to Information, Communication and Study Techniques

E.B. White

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2006
• Print ISBN:
  9781138421479
• eBook ISBN:
  9781135833992
• Topic: Study Aids
• Subtopic: Education General

This is a user-friendly guide for the science student to the location and use of the various forms of scientific information, methods of study and revision, essay and report writing, practicals and project presentation. The changes in requirements of science syllabuses mean that more emphasis is now placed on the student-centered learning; the topics covered in this study guide reflect those needs.

1
What this book is about

1.1 INTRODUCTION

This book has been written to help science students with their studies. As a student you may be on a GCSE course, studying GCE advanced level, enrolled on a BTEC programme, an undergraduate, a mature student returning to study via an Access or Flexistudy programme, or following an open or distance learning course. In fact this book is for anyone studying science who feels in need of some guidance in achieving the best from their course.

You may wonder how this type of book can help, and this needs some explanation. In recent years science courses have changed in approach, in that there is less emphasis on memorizing large amounts of information. Many other things are assessed and examination syllabuses sometimes refer to these as ‘assessment objectives’. In syllabuses, objectives are written in a very formal style and may appear as follows:

Candidates should be able to:

* Understand and explain theories about scientific phenomena, and say why they are important.

* Search out, select, organize and communicate scientific information in the form of assignments such as essays, talks and projects.

* Design and carry out scientific investigations, observing, measuring, and recording the results, and comparing them with those collected by other scientists.

* Display and arrange data in a suitable form such as graphs and figures.

* Analyse and interpret scientific data, and discuss any apparent trends and conclusions.

* Use formulae and make calculations.

* Achieve a level of competence in the practical skills associated with science.

* Realize the importance of science to society and have an awareness of the applications of science.

Such a list is quite formidable and intimidating. Don't be put off. It simply means, in order to be successful on a course, you need to demonstrate a range of different skills. For example, when working on an assignment, for example an essay, you must search out relevant information, work through it, usually by making notes, prepare tables and figures, and finally write and present the assignment in a suitable form.

Course work is also becoming more important in determining progress and on some courses accounts for between 20–30% of the final grade awarded. Pass or fail, therefore, does not depend solely on time spent in the examination room. This is fairer, since it means that all aspects of work are taken into account. It also means, however, that you need to become an independent learner, willing and able to be self-directed and having the confidence to take charge of your own studying. This book helps you achieve this by giving advice on how to tackle the different tasks you need to do.

1.2 HOW TO USE THE BOOK

The book is a guide and, depending on your experience, you may not require every chapter. To help you select the parts you need a key is provided (see p. 3). To assist further, various sections of the book are cross-referenced and the page numbers given. Any examples have been kept very simple to emphasize the points they make. Also every chapter has a summary highlighting important features. Remember that many study, communication and information skills are very much interrelated. For instance, it would be difficult to complete a project (Chapter 9, p. 155) without having first developed and practised information skills (Chapters 4 and 5, p. 59 and 72), as well as having some knowledge of presentation (Chapter 6, p. 87). It is also easier to complete many assignments if the work can be divided into a number of stages, and advice on how to do this is included.

1.3 ACHIEVING SUCCESS

The key to academic success is organization and the willingness to work hard. Instant learning does not exist! To an uninformed outsider seeing students in a library sitting at tables surrounded with books and paper, studying must seem deceptively easy. This is anything but the case: it takes commitment, motivation and the will to succeed, demanding a great deal of time and effort. All through your course, take a positive attitude. Be enthusiastic and determined to achieve the best results you are capable. Studying is an active process—the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. Regard it as an opportunity not to be missed. Successful studying always gives a sense of achievement and satisfaction.

It makes time at college more enjoyable if you make friends with other members of the class and also the staff who teach you. Take no notice of pressure groups who think studying and working hard is a waste of time. Be an independent learner and do what is right for you. As far as the staff are concerne...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Full Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• 1 What this book is about
• 2 Basic study skills
• 3 Sources of scientific information
• 4 Locating scientific information: using libraries
• 5 Identifying information needs: an action plan
• 6 Scientific writing
• 7 Displaying data: tables and figures
• 8 Giving a talk
• 9 How to plan and carry out projects
• 10 Assessment and examinations
• Appendix SI units
• Bibliography
• Index