Successful Study in Civil Engineering

Lectures

Attendance: Lecturers assume that the students will come to their classes and they plan the semester's work accordingly. They do not repeat lectures or give "make-up" lessons. Develop a positive relationship with your lecturer. Talk to your lecturer if an absence is unavoidable. It is your responsibility to obtain notes and assignments that you miss. Just because notes are available on the net or in lecture notes should not be an excuse for non attendance. There is a demonstrated link between marks and attendance.

Approach to classes: You should attend all your classes, take notes, participate in class discussions, and ask questions. Pay attention to what the lecturer says - not just what he/she writes on the board - practice taking notes from the verbal comments of the lecturer. Often other students in the class have the same questions in mind and are grateful for the clarification. You should attempt to answer questions posed by your instructor, even if your answer is uncertain. You should be polite and respectful and pay attention to the discussions and questions of others. If you are confused about a requirement in a course or if you need help, see the lecturer.

Be on time: The first few minutes of class is often used to conduct "class business." Questions are answered, assignments are explained, and a quick review of the last class and a general outline of the day's class work and expectations may be given. Also, coming into the class late is a distraction for both the other students and the lecturer and draws "negative" attention to you.

Tutorials and Problems
Attempt some tutorial problems imediately after covering the topic in class, and also before the tutorial. Never attempt problems with the answers in front of you - keep any solutions "locked away" until you really need them - you will not have them in the exam.

Assumed Knowledge

Our courses are designed to flow on from one to another. For example the concepts covered in Structural Mechanics are essential for Steel and Concrete Structures. Recognise that after finishing one course, you will reinforce and use these skills the later down the track. Even the basic skills learnt at high school are important.

Time Management

Time management is creating and following a schedule. This allows you to organise and prioritise your study time within the framework of school, family, work, and other responsibilities. Scheduling should be both long term and short term.

Long Term/Semester Scheduling: Read the syllabus for each class. Using a calendar, look ahead and organize all your course assignments. Note all test dates and large assignment due dates.

Short Term/Weekly Scheduling: When you create your weekly calendar, include fixed commitments such as classes, work, appointments, meals, family responsibilities, and sleeping. Schedule study and homework around these fixed commitments. Learning should be a priority, but one should also allow enough time for sleep, healthy eating habits, and leisure activities. The university expects a student to spend about two hours a week in outside study to every hour spent in the classroom, but one should prioritise his/her assignments. As often as possible, a student should schedule study time at the same time every day. Having regular study time will help the student develop a "study habit." Take advantage of the "waiting time" or "dead time" we experience each day, such as long breaks between classes or on the train.


Interact and Network with Other Students

Successful students develop friendships and support groups with their classmates. You should exchange phone numbers or emails so you can get together to study or to get missed assignments and lecture notes. Be open to learning from other students. For example, when a classmate receives an "HD" assignment, ask to see it. This will give you an example of what the lecturer is looking for and you can apply this knowledge to future assignments or tests. There is nothing wrong with working together on assignments, but take care not to copy - not should you let another student copy. Don't forget to socialise and have a good time!

Take Responsibility for Learning

You should acknowledge your academic weaknesses and take steps to overcome them. Work hard and seek help from the available resources. The University of Sydney has a number of support services created to help students succeed. Take advantage of the Student Support Services that have programs designed to help you achieve success.

Adapted from The University of Arkansas at Little Rock - http://www.ualr.edu/success/college101/successtips.html