Promote Your Own Success In the Classroom

I don’t know about you, but in my middle and high school years, I never got to choose my own classes, and it made some of the information I was learning feel pointless. Sure, I could pick between standard, Honors, or AP courses; I guess I made the choice to take Woodworking my 1st semester and Music Tech. the 2nd, but I was going to take both those classes anyways. It was an exciting part of finally getting to college; among many other reasons I had to look forward to my second semester at Arcadia, it felt great to have a say in what classes I took. Studying topics I really cared about would immediately make all my classes feel important and special, right? Many of my peers and I expected that the ability to choose our courseload would be like a night and day difference from high school…

…so why did our classes sometimes still feel “useless” to us?

The truth is, there are so many factors that permit or limit us from reaching our full potential in the classroom, not just the actual content of the class. Sometimes it can be the ability (or lack thereof) to choose content, or your teacher’s ability to make the content accessible and interesting. More often than you may realize though, you have the ability to make a positive difference in your classroom experience! Just small changes might lead you to getting more out of your courses.

You might just think I’m being a typical Education major when I say this, but the phrase “out of sight, out of mind” really rings true. If you find your phone being a distraction to you in class, don’t just put it in your pocket. Bury it deep in your backpack underneath that pack of gum and those massive textbooks! Alternatively, when you need to focus on something, make it the only visible thing on your desk and in your surroundings. Of course, anything can be distracting when you feel the need to fidget or to space out, but it’s best to help yourself and remove as many temptations as you can for your attention span!

You may have heard or read the phrase “No man is an island,” which is part of a longer passage written in 1624. Hundreds of years later and we still may need a reminder that none of us are isolated! Looking out for yourself and others simultaneously can boost your mood and your performance, especially in the classroom. Icebreakers that seem silly at first, or small compliments on a classmate’s outfit, or offering to start a discussion with the person next to you– all of these are small ways to bond with the people around you. That way whenever you need backup, you’ve already got it; needing notes or help with homework is a breeze when you have the phone numbers or Instagram handles of all the people who sit around you in class.

It’s one thing getting to know new people, but learning new skills is another part of maximizing your educational experience. So many things that we consider “easy” might not be if you were never taught them. For example, taking notes in class sounds like an average ask of a student. But many students were never taught how to take notes. How do you decide what the most important parts of the content are to write down? How should you organize your notes so they’ll make sense and be helpful to study from later?

This learning curve might feel tough to overcome, but remember, now you’re a laser-focused student surrounded by friendly classmates who can help you out! Ask to see their notes, compare how you write or type them, and what style feels more accessible to you. Arcadia also offers a lot of help with the seemingly little things. Keep an eye out for monthly Arcadia calendars sent out and posted by the Office of Student Engagement; there you’ll find times and dates for Academic Workshops hosted in Knight Hall in the LRN Suite. Previous workshop topics include test-taking strategies, organizational tips, and self-compassion workshops that could benefit even the most academically well-performing student. If you have any questions about these workshops, don’t hesitate to reach out to Arcadia’s wonderful Disability Services Coordinator, K Duffy, at duffyk@arcadia.edu.

I hope these tips gave you some inspiration for how to make your classes feel more enjoyable and increase your academic success! Happy studying!