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COM 200 Advice Column

I have begun collecting advice from former students.  Feel free to email me with advice at any time.  Also, I will ask for your advice on the SPOTS.  Be sure to check out the video blog posts from a former student who got an A in the course!  They are linked with each major assignment over on the assignments page.

• "Make friends with your group BUT, hold each other accountable."

• "Keep up with the reading.  Otherwise the exams are impossible."

• "Read this website front to back.  If you have not done so--DO IT NOW!  Everything you need is there."

• "Visit in his office as a group.  That helped us a lot with our term projects."

• "Get in a good group, otherwise the work is too much."

• "When getting into groups make sure you voice your goals and expectations to the other group members."

• "Be a good partner and tell your group mates when they are not.  I had to tell my group 'actually, not everyone deserves a 10' it  was hard but it was worth it."

• "Get in a group with people you don't know--you'll be more likely to share responsibility and get your work done."

• "I thought the course was demanding but by all means well worth it.  I found that attending class of course was most useful as well as following the research projects slides step by step to complete each probe successfully.

• "Go to class, the quiz points are necessary for you to do good in the class.  If you have questions about probes, be sure to ask Olsen."

• "Don't procrastinate! Start EARLY on the research projects."

• I found that on the final exam I would think about the research process I went through on the probes in order to answer the question (although the textbook was also helpful!).

• For those of you in COM 200 or on the verge of taking COM 200  that is only the beginning of group work.  My advice?  Strap-in, work hard, be a team player, prepare for all obstacles regarding conflicting opinions and handle them the most ethical way possible.

• If a future student ask me for advice, this is what I would tell them.

              1.  Go to class everyday with worksheets ready.

              2.  Looking at everything that has to be done throughout the semester at one time may cause stress.  Break it down into a task analysis and begin each task early. 

              3.  Take GOOD notes.  Find the method that works best for you and stay organized. 

              4.  Use the flashcards on the SAGE site.

              5.  Get with a good group that will not only be supportive but is also comfortable telling you what they really think about your ideas. (true teamwork)