Study Aids
One of the fundamental components to support success in an AP class and on the AP exam is the development of good study skills. Advanced students in particular may have been successful in previous courses employing very little work or preparation outside of the classroom. It is important to arm our students with effective study skills to help them construct the concept knowledge and to retain content for easy recall. These study skills will not only serve to increase their achievement in the AP course, but can support student learning in each of their courses and help prepare them to be successful in college. Some suggestions include:
Online Flashcards - StudyBlue is an example of a free online resource that allows students to create flashcards for studying. This particular application allows students to have the option of creating and using the flashcards on Andriod and I phones.
Learning Forums - Creating virtual forums can support student collaboration and discourse outside of the classroom. Sites like Edmodo can provide a secure space for students to socially construct their knowledge informally. Additionally, such sites are easily monitored and the instructor can identify student areas of confusion and plan appropriate remediation in class or address the misconceptions within the forum.
Graphic Organizers - Graphic organizers have long been used as an effective study tool for students. Rather than simply giving students a hard copy of an organizer in which they fill in bubbles, students can create their own using tools such as Prezi. Students enjoy the creative aspect of the application and the process of organizing and creating cognitive connections with the material serves to reinforce learning. You can see an example of one way to use a Prezi for content organization by clicking here.