Free University Step-by-Step Guide

The following is a step-by-step program that you can use as a guide to study any subject. In a sense you are designing your own curriculum, but doing it in the same way most professors do: by using the table of contents of a standard textbook as an outline and building from there.

Step-by-Step I:
Initial Planning

by Jack C. Star
Director, Free University Project

Before you begin, there are two web sites that you need to investigate:

The College Board - which provides the Advanced Placement exams (AP, limited to high school students) and the CLEP exams (College Level Examination Program). Plan to spend at least an hour at this site. Even if you are taking the CLEP, read the material about AP subjects as well; there is overlap in the material covered. Also read the sections for parents and teachers. Tucked into some of the detailed AP descriptions are sample quizzes you will find useful.

The GRE - Most college students know about the General GRE exam which is required for entrance to many graduate schools. However, they are less familiar with the Subject Exams, which test knowledge in a specific field (e.g. Psychology, English Literature, etc.) These exams typically cover the work found in a couple of lower division courses and four upper division courses - the equivalent of a minor in the subject.

Following is a suggested plan of action that you can use for any exam:

1) Find out what subject matter is covered on the exam. This information does not seem to be available on the Web. (We're working on it.) All of the testing agencies, however, turn out publications that are available either free or for a modest cost (under $20). Information about these publications is available on their websites.

2) Make an Outline of the subject matter:

• Indicate what percentage of the exam is covered by each topic. I recommend using a word processor or text editor as you will be adding notes to the outline and you will be able to convert the file to a bookmark page of links. (See Psychology Study Guide as an example.)
• Print out a copy of your outline to use as a check list.

3) Obtain a test preparation book that contains at least three full practice exams. Publishers include Barron's, Arco, REA, and others. These books also review what is covered by the exam, provide a list of suggested books and sometimes other tips about the exam. Check to see that the answer section of the book provides a discussion of BOTH right and wrong answers - knowing why you chose the wrong answer can be very useful. (If you have trouble finding a test preparation book we can get one for you. Contact the Bookstore.)

4) Set up a directory (folder) on your computer (or on a disk if you are using someone else's computer) for the course. Establish a subdirectory for each subtopic. With this arrangement you can download information directly into each topic area and put information than spans topics under the main course directory.

5) Using a good encyclopedia (on-line, CD-ROM or print):

• Look up the main keywords for each topic. You'll find it useful to take notes -- material in an encyclopedia can be quite condensed and you'd be amazed how much you can forget within a couple of hours.
• Don't wander too far afield. Stick to the main topics. You want to get a feel for the material covered in the exam and the extent to which it is developed in the encyclopedia with cross references.
• Budget at least an hour for each main topic.

6) Take the first practice exam. (I know you're not ready. Do it on faith.)

• Put your answers on a separate sheet; don't write in the book. Don't worry about time - take as long as you need.
• Don't guess just for the sake of guessing. Guess only if you feel strongly that you have the right answer.
• Leave questions you can't answer blank. Don't feel bad if there are many questions you can't answer.
• Check your answers against the answer sheet.
• Write down a summary of your test results: number right, number wrong, number unanswered. This summary gives you a baseline. It indicates the areas in which you have prior knowledge, areas where you are weak, and areas where you don't have a clue.

7) Check with the testing agency to determine when the next several tests will be given in a location near you. Target a date and find out when you have to notify the agency that you will be taking the test. Circle the date(s) on your calendar.

Step-by-Step II:
Identify most useful on-line sites

8) Go to the Lecture Hall area of the Free University site.

• Go to the subject area of the course you want to study. We indicate which links have extensive lecture notes. (Some subjects currently do not. We're working on that.) Some links have a detailed study guide and sample test questions.
• Go to each linked site in turn. Compare the subjects covered by the lecture notes (and/or study guides/quizzes) with your outline of the topics covered on the exam you will take. You may well have to work with two, three or more sites in order to cover the material, as none of the sites (currently) are structured with a standardized test in mind.

• Note any technical requirements. Some courses require the latest version of a browser, or the use of other software (RealAudio, or Acrobat reader, for example). Download the software you will need.
• Most lecture courses work in conjunction with a specific textbook. However, for test purposes, any relatively recent edition of a standard textbook should work. (If you have trouble finding a textbook, we can usually obtain both new and used textbooks for you. contact BOOKSTORE)

Now you are ready to begin

1. You have decided which test you are going to take.
2. You have acquired, or ordered, a book of sample tests.
3. You have determined what key topics are covered by the test.
4. You have done a preliminary read through in an encyclopedia about each of these key topics and have some feel for the material covered by the course.
5. You have taken a full practice test and analyzed your areas of strength and weakness.
6. You have reviewed several linked sites to see which one makes the best fit.
7. If a textbook is required, you have it, or it is on order
8. You have set up disk files according to key topics and downloaded any required software

Excellent!

Pardon the old saw, but, "Well begun is half done."

Step-by-Step III:
Set up a detailed study schedule

Now you have to set up a schedule to accomplish your goal.

A bit of background: A three unit college course generally runs for 16 weeks, with 3 lectures per week, a couple of mid-term exams, and a final -- 40-45 hours of lectures. In addition you are expected to do outside work of at least two hours for every hour of lecture. Therefore the total time expended for this course is between 120-140 hours - even more if a term paper is involved.

However, you read three to five times faster than a professor speaks. Therefore you may save 15 to 20 hours by reading the lectures, rather than attending them. That having been said, budget 120 hours per course plus six hours taking practice tests. Depending upon the knowledge you bring to the subject, you can plan to spend from 6 to 8 hours a week for from 12 to 16 weeks.

It's very important to set up a calendar of study time and really try to stick to it. Build in a few alternate times every week or two in case you are thrown off schedule. You will probably want to break the course into three or four segments with a couple of hours review at the end of each segment to keep details fresh in your mind.

Try to establish uninterrupted study times of 1.5 to 2.5 hours each. (If you have trouble with this concept check the Student Support/Study Skills page.

The importance of a diary: From this point on you must maintain an accurate diary of your activities. An entry should be made at every study session. It should contain:

• the date,
• what text or on-line material you read,
• what outside resources you used, and how they tie into your outline.

This diary is important to you -- it shows you what you are accomplishing and acts as a silent motivator. It may also be important to show to a college counselor or member of the faculty to demonstrate what material you have covered.

1. Quickly review material from the previous session. (5-10 min.)
2. Read the required pages in the text (or other suggested reading) by using the following sequence:
   • Quickly skim the material reading the introductory part of the chapter; the subheadings and the first sentence or two after each subheading and the summary at the end of the chapter.
   • If study questions are available either in the text, or on-line, look through the questions and keep them in mind as you read.
   • Read the chapter: make some notes; highlight key concepts; write down words you don't know so you can look them up and review them; note names of individuals, dates, places, etc. that you might want to look up in an encyclopedia, such as the Encyclopedia Britannica or on a related link on-line.
   • Take a break for a few minutes.
   • Go over the study questions again. You should feel much more comfortable with them.
   • Read through the related lecture material that is available on-line. (Some people prefer to download lecture material well in advance.)
   • Think about what you have just read. Jot down your own thoughts and comments.
   • Check the time. Either go back and start the next cycle or go to a related on-line site to expand and reinforce what you just learned.
   • Spend the last 5 to 10 minutes making a diary entry.
3. Find some excuse to talk over what you have just learned with someone else -- even if he/she pays scant attention.

Obviously the above scenario is not one-size-fits-all. Take what makes sense to you and add whatever else makes you comfortable. But no matter what your style is, it should include: the use of study questions, a diary entry, and talking it over with someone else.

Take the second practice exam after 50 hours of study. Do it within the time period required; keep your answers on a separate answer sheet following the instructions above.

Somewhere around 75 hours of study retake both the first and the second practice exam. This time you should make educated, but not wild, guesses. You should be noting steady progress. If not, figure out which subtopics you have already studied are giving you trouble. It frequently helps to look at another web link that contains similar material for a different approach.

As you near 100 hours you should be nearing completion of your studies. Review your outline, notes, highlighted material.

Take the third practice exam under rigid test conditions. Answer every question. This time when you guess put a question mark next to your answer on the answer sheet. Go over all the answers - both right and wrong, very carefully.

You should be doing pretty well by this time. Look closely at the questions that you answered incorrectly. Do you understand why (did you misread? jump to a hasty conclusion?) Review the sections of your outline where you are the weakest.

If you have other practice exams available, take them as well.

If the scores on the practice exams are really good, there is every indication that you will do well on the actual test.

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