Laying the Foundation – How to Study Like a Champ

Chapters Covered: 1 (So You Think You Know How to Study?), 2 (Planning!)

Key Focus:

• Debunking common study myths

• Understanding metacognition (thinking about how you learn)

• Creating a study plan and setting SMART goals for the semester
  

Activities:

• Self-assessment: How do you currently study?

• Interactive discussion: Common study traps and how to avoid them

• Workshop: Creating a weekly study schedule for a sample Penn State class

Note-Taking & Effective Learning Strategies

Chapters Covered: 3 (Take Notes Well), 7 (Highlighting, Rereading, Summarizing, and Imagery)

Key Focus:

• How to take better notes

• Types of Note-Taking

  • (Cornell Notes, mapping, outlining)

• What not to do (passive learning techniques)

• Effective reading & summarization strategies
  

  Activities:

  • Live demonstration: Taking notes on a sample college lecture

  • Group discussion: “What’s the best way to highlight?” (spoiler: it’s not just highlighting!)

  • Practice: Summarizing complex topics in 100 words or less

Study Smarter, Not Harder – The Science of Learning

Chapters Covered: 4 (Spacing It Out), 5 (Retrieval Practice for Mastery)

Key Focus:

• Spaced repetition – Why cramming doesn’t work

• Retrieval practice – How to actively recall information

• Simple techniques: Flashcards, quizzes, and recall exercises

Activities:

• “Blind Recall” challenge: Students recall a concept from Week 2 without looking at notes

• Live quiz game: Practicing spaced retrieval with Kahoot or Quizlet

• Study plan workshop: Applying spaced practice to real Penn State syllabi

Problem-Solving & Mastering Tough Subjects

Chapters Covered: 6 (Interleaving, Self-Explanation, and Worked Examples)

Key Focus:

• Interleaving – Why mixing up subjects improves learning

• Self-explanation – Teaching yourself difficult concepts

Worked examples – How to learn from practice problems

Activities:

• Interactive math/science exercise: Solving problems step by step

• Peer teaching: Each student explains a concept from their own academic interest

• “Mix it up” challenge: Creating a study plan with interleaving

Building a Championship Mindset for College

Chapters Covered: 9 (The ABCs of Champions), 8 (Mixing and Matching Strategies)

Key Focus:

• Growth mindset – Overcoming self-doubt and test anxiety

• Motivation & discipline – Avoiding procrastination

• Bringing it all together: Designing a personal success strategy for college
  

Activities:

• Mindset discussion: "What makes a successful college student?"

• Final project: Students design their own "Study Like a Champ" plan

• Wrap-up & Q&A: Open discussion, feedback, and advice