MANAGEMENT of PHYSICAL and SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

Study Skills- Chapter 7

Contents

I. Management of Physical Environment▫Attention and Concentration

II. Management of Social Environment▫Academic Help▫Group work▫Communication Skills

I. Management of Physical EnvironmentAttention and Concentration

I.1. DefinitionI.2. Factors influence attention &

concentrationI.3. How to improve attention &

concentration

I.1. Definitions

•Attention: a selective process that controls awareness of events in the environment.▫determines the stimuli that are processed

or neglected.▫attention span is limited.

•Concentration: the continual refocusing on a perceived stimulus or message.

•Exercice: The purpose of this exercise is to help you identify your best study environment. You may study in many different locations: dorm room, apartment, home, fraternity, library, … Identify three or five different study locations that you have used to study this term and rate your behavior in each location on a 5-point scale (complete your ratings by writing in the number 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 for each location)Do you need to alter or change your study environment? If, so, what changes might you make?

I.2. Factors •External distracters

▫environmental sources of interference (noise, such as the TV), interruptions (telephone calls), uncomfortable study areas (clothes and books piled all over the room), and disruptive roommates.

• Internal distracters▫sources of interference from within, such as

irrelevant thoughts (“I forgot to return my library books today”), worry (“I don’t know if I can learn this material”), physiological and emotional distress (headache), and daydreaming (thinking about next weekend’s party)

I.3. How to improve attention and concentration?

I.3. How to improve attention and concentration?

I.3. How to improve attention and concentration?

II. Management of Social EnvironmentII.1. Academic helpII.2. Group workII.3. Communication skills

II.1. Academic help•Awareness of the need for help.•Decision to seek help rather than taking

alternative actions•Decision regarding the type of help to

seek•Decision regarding the target person

from whom to seek help•Employment of a help-seeking strategy•Processing of the help

II.2. Group work

“ Cooperative learning can promote higher academic achievement, higher level thinking skills and increase friendship” (Johnson &Johnson,1987)

Productive group• There are no dumb ideas. People should feel free to be

imaginative. • When you disagree with an idea, be sure you don’t attack

the person. • Mutual respect will allow the project to flow much more

smoothly. • Be slow to draw conclusions about your fellow group

members. We are all more complex than we first appear to be. Avoid prejudging.

• A facilitator, whose job is to help organize the workload and keep the group focused, and who reminds members of the policy and procedures of the group.

• A recorder, whose job is to take notes and keep attendance.

• If possible, specific responsibilities should be assigned to all group members. The basic rule should be: fair, but firm!

II.3. Communication SkillsII.3.1 Sending messages effectivelyII.3.2 Receiving messages effectively

Active listeners

II.3.1 Sending messages effectively•Clearly “own” your message by (a) using personal

pronouns such as I, me, and my and (b) letting others know what your thoughts and feelings are.

•Describe the other person’s behavior without including any judgment, evaluation, or inferences about the person’s motivates, personality, or attitudes.

•Make the message appropriate to the receiver’s frame of reference.

•Ask for feedback.•Describe your feelings by name, action, or figure

of speech.•Be redundant.

II.3.2 Receiving messages effectively•One of the most important skills in receiving

messages involves giving feedback about the message in ways that clarify and encourage the continuation of discussion.

•Active listeners: this means letting others know that we recognize the feelings behind what they are saying. Active listening involves recognizing the feeling and meaning of others, and then restating this meaning so others feel understood and accepted.

•Many individuals do not use active listening. Instead, they want to give advice as to what others should do about their situation without recognizing feelings.

II.3.2 Receiving messages effectively• Friend: “That was the worst test I ever took.”

You: “Don’t worry about it. Let’s get a pizza!”

• Friend: “That was the worst test I ever took.”You: “You are really upset about the test.”

• Student: “I can’t complete all the work demanded in my courses.” Parent: “I have many pressures in my job, too. I wish I was in college and all I had to think about was my courses!”

• Message: “I can’t believe it that my boyfriend [or girlfriend] said that I was an inconsiderate person!

• Response: “Your boyfriend [or girlfriend] really hurt you.”

Thực tập kỹ năng nghe: Sau đây là một loạt những phát biểu của sinh viên. Bạn hãy đáp lại từng phát biểu để thể hiện rằng bạn có kỹ năng nghe tích cực.

1. Môn học này tệ quá!▫ Đáp:

2. Tớ không biết phải làm gì để có thể hoàn tất bài tập này.▫ Đáp:

3. Tớ không hiểu tại sao lại bị bạn gái bỏ rơi!▫ Đáp:

4. Tớ mệt mỏi quá rồi, tớ không học vô được nữa.▫ Đáp:

5. Giảng viên phải nghĩ tớ là một đứa ngốc nên mới hỏi tớ một câu tầm thường như thế.▫ Đáp:

6. Cho dù có cố gắng cách mấy, tớ không cách nào đạt hơn điểm C môn Kỹ năng Viết.▫ Đáp:

7. Tớ biết rằng mình sẽ trở thành cầu thủ chủ chốt của đội bóng chuyền.▫ Đáp: