Grade Improvement & Study Skills
A "How to Succeed" Tutorial for Biology
Whether your goal is to increase or to maintain your current grade, all of these strategies boost student learning potential. If you are unhappy with your grade, challenge yourself with one (or many) of the following to establish some good student habits for success.
Strategy 1: Follow That Schedule!
The biggest mistake students make is not completing assignments on time. So, get organized!
There are two ways you can get organized!
There are two ways you can get organized!
- Print out your schedule and use it as a daily checklist.
- When you log in daily, immediately check the course calendar to see what tasks are to be completed today.
The expectation is that students stick to the schedule and work in the course each day for at least one (A or B course) or two (AB course) hours. Turn in all your assignments on time. If you have a late assignment - turn it in by Monday so that you only lose a meager 10%!
Watch the video below to review how to read your schedule correctly.
Watch the video below to review how to read your schedule correctly.
Understanding the Course Schedule (Fall 14 Update)
Strategy 2: Read Your Feedback!
Did you know that every assignment you submit gets a personal response from your teacher for you to view? Feedback helps you focus on your study needs. Discussion feedback is viewed in the Gradebook. Quiz and Dropbox feedback is viewed where you submit those assignments. When you are notified of a graded assignment - immediately look at the feedback!
Here is a tutorial on how to see each type of feedback: Quiz, Dropbox and Discussion:
Here is a tutorial on how to see each type of feedback: Quiz, Dropbox and Discussion:
Viewing Assignment Feedback
Strategy 3: Communicate!
Students are expected to read email and News Announcements in the course daily. Email or call your teacher with questions as they arise. Participate fully in class discussions. Attend the chat sessions if you can. If you cannot, watch the recording in the Links widget on the homepage.
Create an Email Signature
Communicate Effectively
Attend Weekly Chats
Strategy 4: Interact with the Course Content!
The content (our course textbook) contains all the information for the course. The assignment schedule is taken from the content. The content explains the assignments, how they are graded and where to submit them. Print out pictures or other important information from the content. Print the rubrics for projects and use them! When you are taking an online course, the content is your textbook and guide for independent learning.
Strategy 5: Use Extra Study Materials Provided By Your Instructor
You have a number of study materials at your disposal in the User Links Widget within the course:
- Weekly Chat Recordings (by topic): watch teacher/student interaction, download supplemental materials
- Topic Pinboards: resources related to our content compiled by your instructor (games, practice quizzes, videos, etc.)
- USA Test Prep: Take practice tests for each topic and earn bonus points on the test
Strategy 6: Bonus Opportunities
Bonus Opportunities are present in the News and Bulletin board throughout the duration of the course.
One of the best ways to improve your grade is to take advantage of the USA Test Prep bonus points for tests. You take the topic-specific Benchmark Tests (on USA TestPrep) before or after a test in the course. Re-take it as many times as necessary until you reach 100%. Report that to your teacher and you earn 10% on that Unit Test in the course! You learn Biology, practice for your final exam and you earn Bonus Points. WIN - WIN - WIN!
Watch videos to create an account and take a Benchmark Test to begin earning bonus points through USA Test Prep today.
Benchmark Test Codes
One of the best ways to improve your grade is to take advantage of the USA Test Prep bonus points for tests. You take the topic-specific Benchmark Tests (on USA TestPrep) before or after a test in the course. Re-take it as many times as necessary until you reach 100%. Report that to your teacher and you earn 10% on that Unit Test in the course! You learn Biology, practice for your final exam and you earn Bonus Points. WIN - WIN - WIN!
Watch videos to create an account and take a Benchmark Test to begin earning bonus points through USA Test Prep today.
Benchmark Test Codes
Strategy 7: Put in the time!
A common misconception about this online course is that it is an abbreviated or simplified version of the typical Biology course. This is not true. Georgia Virtual School is an accredited program and therefore meets and exceeds the Georgia Standards for this course in order to prepare students best for future science courses and the EOCT.
Students are expected to spend the same amount of time on their work as they would in a face-to-face school (5 hours classtime + study/homework time.) If a student is taking the AB version of the course, they need to spend twice that time because they are completing the entire year of Biology in one semester.
Students are expected to spend the same amount of time on their work as they would in a face-to-face school (5 hours classtime + study/homework time.) If a student is taking the AB version of the course, they need to spend twice that time because they are completing the entire year of Biology in one semester.
Contact Me!
Weekdays, 10am-8pm by email or phone.
Email: carrie.madden@gavirtualschool.org
Phone: 6782429512
Twitter: @MsMaddology