Learning How to Learn by Jake

Learning How to Learn by Jake - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

I am entering my second year of college and through the course of my academic career so far, I have had a variety of teachers, all with different personalities and teaching styles. Some were not as good or helpful as others, but I respect their effort in teaching. I have learned many lessons from my teachers which have helped me in other classes or in situations outside the classroom. During my first semester of college, I may have learned my most important lesson from my Principles of Biology I (BIO 101) professor. The lesson I learned is that in order to be good at something and teach it to others, you have to know it yourself.

During public school, especially in middle and high school, I will admit that some of the teachers did not do the a very good job with teaching. The material was not taught in a way that stimulated our minds and challenged us to “get” the material. The tests and assignments became so easy and predictable that I questioned what was the point in doing any of this. By the end of high school and going into college, I was hoping that I would take classes that would be worth my time.

During my BIO 101 course, I was introduced to a new teaching method used by my BIO 101 and later my BIO 102 professors. The teaching style was referred to as hybrid learning. It involved the standard lecture but there were no notes or anything to write down. Class primarily consisted of in lectures and discussions, with occasional in class assignments. At first, I hated this approach. I’ve become so accustomed to using notes for studying that I was not sure what to do without them. As the class went on, the professor recognized that many people were having issues with this teaching style and offered advice. He said that in order to understand this material, we need to be able to explain it in our own words, which gave me the idea on how to properly study. What I started doing what that while reading the textbook or watching videos relating to the material, I would write paragraphs explain how various biological processes worked. My performance in the class improved dramatically and I received higher grades. I ended up receiving an A in the class, along with an easier time studying for other classes as well.

After completing my first semester of college, I underwent some big changes. High school already felt like a distant memory and I was anticipating my future at college. I was also more confident in my studying capabilities thanks to what I regard as the most important lesson I learned from a teacher.