Business approach to studies
Counselor advises analysis of instructors teaching styles
by Laura Jennings, reporter

    All students can become highly effective if they become active learners and communicate with their professors, a counselor told SE students recently.

   Bob Phanelson gave pointers on improving academic abilities in Characteristics of Highly Effective Students.

   “The secret to success is to take care of your education with a business-like approach,” he said.

   Phanelson suggested getting to know professors and visiting them regularly during their scheduled office hours to show a lively interest in one’s education. He believes if a student shows an interest, then the professor will take an interest as well.

   Phanelson explained the two types of professors: predictable and intellectual. Students with predictable professors need only read the required text to perform well in the course. Students who have intellectual professors need to take good lecture notes to do well.

   “So, as you can see, it is vital to understand your professor’s teaching style,” he said.

   In order to succeed in academia, students need to know what their professors expect from them, Phanelson said. Every student is encouraged to study the syllabus and to understand fully how the grading system works.

   Phanelson believes all students need to know what type of learner they are: linguistic, spatial, kinesthetic or musical. He thinks this information will help students study and know what techniques work for them.

   Students unaware of their own learning style can go by the counseling office any time to take a free learning-style test, Phanelson said.

   Students were also informed of what Phanelson called the most sure-fire ways to sabotage their college careers.

   To gather the list, he asked a group of professors for their biggest pet peeves regarding students.

   “Students never follow the proper procedure when withdrawing from a course,” they replied.

   Students often believe they are automatically dropped from a course if they stop going to class, but they are mistaken. If students do not withdraw through the registrar’s office, they will receive an F in the course.

   Phanelson urged students to take attendance into consideration next semester.

   “Highly effective students do not skip class,” he said.

   Unbeknownst to most students, their grade automatically drops when they are absent for three classes. So, Phanelson advised students to attend class regularly and to get involved in campus life in order to broaden communication and people skills.

   Students were encouraged to strive to become highly effective, but for those who are uninterested in succeeding, Phanelson had one bit of advice:

   “Procrastinate and party, party, party,” he said.