By completing this class, students will learn to:
–Take effective notes from assigned readings
–Use flashcards effectively
–Use a variation of the Feynman Technique to find gaps in their knowledge
–Create their own practice tests and study guides
–Use spaced repetition to increase the probability of remembering information
–Implement basic tips for the night before and day of testing

I was a Title I tutor for over five years and have worked as an educator and private tutor since January 2020. In 2022, I began offering professional executive functioning coaching services, and I hosted a virtual executive functioning summer camp in August 2023. Nearly every learner I have taught or coached has been diagnosed with ADHD or another learning difference.

Additionally, I have completed 24 graduate credits in applied neuroscience, giving me a more in-depth understanding of the brain’s role in learning differences and executive functioning.

Homework Offered
Homework expectations for each unit are as follows:

Unit 1: Notetaking
--Learners will use the provided handout to create a shorthand they feel will be most beneficial to them in future classes.
--Students will use their created shorthand to take notes on a one-page nonfiction text provided in the handout. Alternatively, the learner may use a different passage, such as from a reading that they are assigned for school.
--Students will use their created shorthand to take notes on a one-page fiction text provided in the handout. Alternatively, the learner may use a different passage, such as from a reading that they are assigned for school.
--Learners will use their created shorthand to take notes on a brief lecture that I upload separately. Alternatively, learners may take notes on a lecture or class from their own schooling.
--Learners will refer back to their previous notes from the nonfiction handout, fiction handout, or lecture. Then they will use at least one of the new systems to take different notes so that they can compare the effectiveness of each method.

Unit 2: Studying for Exams
--Students will create flashcards based on one of the previous lectures or readings. Alternatively, learners may create flashcards from their own reading or lecture assigned for school.
--Students will create a practice test and/or study guide based on one of the previous lectures or readings. Alternatively, learners may create a practice test or study guide from their own reading or lecture assigned for school. Additionally, students will be asked to use the Feynman Technique for any subject that interests them, or they may use it specifically for a subject they are studying in school.
--Learners will use at least one of the techniques discussed this week on notes they have previously taken during this class or for school.
--Learners will create a plan for how they could use spaced repetition based on an example in the handout. Alternatively, students can make a plan based on their current upcoming exams.
--Students will complete the handout packet, which will require them to take notes on a one-page handout and short video, clarify those notes, and use at least one study technique. Learners are also welcome to complete these steps with their own reading or lecture from school. 

The amount of time to complete these tasks will vary for each unit and for each student. Learners demonstrate that they have completed assignments by uploading photos and/or videos to Outschool. For example, students may read their notes on video or take a picture/screenshot of their study techniques. Additionally, the handout lists questions that learners should answer in their videos or posts. Usually these questions are about what the learner found easy, challenging, or helpful. 
2 - 4 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Grades Offered
Students will not receive a traditional grade for this class. However, a certificate of completion is available upon request if the student completes all required assignments, and I am happy to provide written feedback about the student's success and recommendations for next steps.

Some of the information regarding Cornell Notes is paraphrased from Cornell University. (https://lsc.cornell.edu/how-to-study/taking-notes/cornell-note-taking-system/)

Some of the information regarding the neuroscience of spaced repetition comes from “Evidence of the Spacing Effect and Influences on Perceptions of Learning and Science Curricula” (Yuan, 2022) and similar research. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8759977/)

Throughout the course, some information is paraphrased from “Preparing for College Success,” an open-source textbook published by Rice University (Baldwin, 2023).(https://openstax.org/details/books/preparing-for-college-success)