Critical Thinking Assessment IV1: Describe The Two Ways

Critical Thinking Assessment Iv1 Describe The Two Ways That Students

Describe the two ways that students normally study in a typical college course. Your response should be at least 75 words in length. 2. Evaluate a mode of study that you do well and one that you could improve on. Please explain how you plan on improving that which you find to be weak in your own study habits. Your response should be at least 75 words in length. 3. What are the characteristics of the mixed-quality student? Which do you think are most important? Your response should be at least 75 words in length. 4. What are the characteristics of the exemplary student? Which do you think are most important? Your response should be at least 75 words in length 5. Identify and explain the ways that humans learn (reading, writing, speaking, listening). Analyze yourself in relation to your strongest and weakest areas of learning and provide examples that reflect how you plan on improving your learning skills. Your response should be at least 200 words in length. 6. Describe the typical design of a college course and the outcomes that result for students in these courses. In addition, describe a situation in which you found yourself falling into this style of learning. Your response should be at least 200 words in length.

Paper For Above instruction

Understanding the various approaches students utilize in their college studies is essential for developing effective learning strategies. Typically, students employ two primary methods: surface learning and deep learning. Surface learning involves memorizing facts and focusing on rote procedures, often driven by the desire to pass exams without fully understanding the material. In contrast, deep learning encourages critical engagement, linking concepts and fostering comprehensive comprehension. These methods influence academic success and long-term retention of knowledge (Biggs, 2011).

Reflecting on personal study habits, I excel in active review sessions where I discuss concepts with peers, which enhances my understanding and retention. Conversely, my weak area lies in time management, often leading to last-minute cramming. To improve, I plan to establish a consistent study schedule, breaking tasks into manageable parts, and utilizing digital planners for better organization. This structured approach aims to reduce stress and improve my overall academic performance (Zimmerman, 2002).

The characteristics of a mixed-quality student include the ability to adapt to different learning environments, demonstrating motivation and resilience while occasionally struggling with time management or comprehension. I believe that perseverance and willingness to seek help are most crucial, as these traits enable growth despite setbacks. Good organizational skills and self-discipline, however, are also essential in developing a balanced academic profile (Graham & Weiner, 2017).

Exemplary students often possess qualities such as intrinsic motivation, curiosity, excellent time management, and proactive engagement with coursework. They tend to set clear goals, self-assess their progress regularly, and utilize multiple resources for learning. I consider self-motivation and effective time management the most vital traits, as these foster consistency and sustained effort necessary for academic excellence (Pintrich & Schunk, 2002).

Humans learn through several interconnected processes: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Reading facilitates knowledge absorption, writing enhances comprehension and critical thinking, speaking develops articulation and social skills, and listening allows understanding of perspectives and instructions. My strongest learning area is reading, which helps me process and analyze information quickly. However, my weakest skill is speaking, as I often find it challenging to articulate ideas confidently in discussions. To improve, I plan to participate more actively in class debates and practice speaking in academic settings regularly. Developing my verbal communication skills will extend my understanding and boost my confidence in expressing ideas clearly (Nation, 2009).

Typically, college courses are structured around lectures, discussions, assignments, and assessments, all designed to foster critical thinking, application of knowledge, and skill development. Courses aim to produce graduates who are prepared for professional roles and lifelong learning (Astin, 1993). I once found myself relying heavily on lecture notes, demonstrating a passive learning approach that limited my engagement. Recognizing this, I adopted active learning strategies such as creating mind maps, asking questions, and summarizing content, which significantly improved my understanding and retention. This experience taught me the importance of proactive participation and varied study techniques in achieving academic success (Freeman et al., 2014).

References

• Astin, A. W. (1993). What Matters in College? Four Critical Years Revisited. Jossey-Bass.
• Biggs, J. (2011). Teaching for quality learning at university. Open University Press.
• Freeman, S., et al. (2014). Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(23), 8319-8320.
• Graham, S., & Weiner, B. (2017). Motivation and emotion in education. Academic Press.
• National, P. (2009). Learning by listening. Journal of Educational Psychology, 101(1), 101–113.
• Pintrich, P. R., & Schunk, D. H. (2002). Motivation in Education: Theory, Research, and Practice. Pearson.
• Zimmerman, B. J. (2002). Becoming a Self-Regulated Learner: An Overview. Theory into Practice, 41(2), 64-70.