It’s not easy being a student, and that’s the problem. Most students want quick fixes and easy answers to a challenging issue that does not have a simple solution. Many students who come to EEC struggle with tests and quizzes. When asked if they study for these quizzes, the answer is typically ‘yes’. However, this is far from the truth. No, they are not lying. Most students do believe that the efforts they make to get ready for a quiz or test could be labeled as studying. Yet, upon deeper analysis of what studying looks like, there is a deep divide between their perception of studying and the reality of what studying truly means.
Unlike homework where assignments can be completed quickly and their is a tangible outcome, studying is a far more abstract process that takes patience and time. Studying is a cognitive-based process where a student engages with content. There is a goal of understanding and learning the materials in an effort to complete a short or long term objective. Homework is the nightly routine of completing assignments that meet the class expectations outside of school time. Studying is the active process that goes beyond just completing homework. A student who is actively engaged in studying takes each homework assignment as an opportunity to learn and understand the content. This student comes to specific conclusions at the end of the studying process. The conclusions are a bi-product of a meta-cognitive process where the student thinks about what he still does not understand and makes a plan to overcome that knowledge gap. Like I said at the start, being an effective student is not easy and requires time and patience. However, students with EFD (executive functioning deficit) struggle with being patient and taking their time to learn the information.
They don’t read either. Many students, not just students with EFD, think that they are reading the required assignments. But when they take a test or quiz, the results convey a different story. When asked if they read, many will attest that they did. However, when asked why do we read, many do not see the direct connection between the act of reading and it’s purpose. The purpose of reading is to build understanding and meaning. Many students think they are reading, even though they do not understand what they have read. Students tend to want a quick fix to the knowledge gap. They will often avoid the necessary student-centered task of sitting still with their required English literature book, reading each chapter and taking notes in order to better understand the content of the book. Yet, this is what they need to do to effectively prepare for quizzes, tests, and even college.
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