Learn—Maximum Time: 45 Minutes

Read:In the previous group meeting you learned about creating an environment for success. Today you will learn about understanding expectations and meeting those expectations by doing the following:

1. Understand and do what is required.

2. Understand your learning style.

3. Manage stress effectively.

1. Understand and Do What Is Required

Read:Employers value certificates, degrees, or other proof that you are qualified to do certain jobs. You can earn these by fulfilling the program requirements of a school or training program. These requirements include things like classes, assignments, and tests.

To help you meet the program requirements, you should (1) ask about the requirements, (2) take notes, and (3) actively participate in courses and programs.

Ask about the Requirements

Read:Schools and training programs create requirements for each degree, certificate, class, and assignment. Successful learners make sure they understand the requirements.

Here are some examples of questions you might ask to find out what will be required of you:

• How can I succeed in your class?

• What do you want me to learn and do?

• When are assignments due?

• How will you evaluate my performance?

Discuss:How has asking questions helped you understand requirements in the past?

Take Notes

Read:One way to remember the requirements is to take notes. Review those notes later to better remember what you saw, heard, or read in the class.

When taking notes on an assignment, make sure you know:

• What to do.

• How to do it.

• When it is due.

Discuss:In previous school or work assignments, how has taking notes helped you?

Read:The following may help you take good notes on assignments:

• Be engaged and alert, and have a positive attitude.

• Don’t try to write every word that is said; focus on the main messages and the most important information.

• Use abbreviations; if helpful, draw pictures.

• Leave space to add clarifications later.

• Keep notes organized.

Activity (5 minutes)

For this activity, imagine you are in Juan’s welding class taking notes on an assignment.

Step 1: Have one group member turn to page 161 and read the instructions. Others in the group should take notes below.

Step 2: Have the rest of the group ask questions about the assignment and take more notes (the person reading the assignment should make up answers).

Step 3: Compare your notes with those of other group members.

Step 4: As a group, talk about the ways of taking notes that are the most effective for you.

Actively Participate

Read:Another way to understand the requirements and learn the subject of the class is to actively participate. Active participation will help you get the most out of class. Some suggestions are listed below:

• Pay attention.

• Sit in the front if possible.

• Ask and answer questions.

• Find and work with students who are committed to learning (sit by them, share ideas, meet, ask questions, and help each other).

• Talk to the instructor (during and after class) to further understand requirements and the concepts you are learning.

Discuss:What differences have you noticed when you have actively participated in something rather than not being very engaged?

2. Understand Your Learning Style

Read:Some people learn best by seeing, some by hearing, some by doing, and some in other ways. Some learn best alone and others with groups of people. Successful students use the learning style that works best for them as much as they can.

Activity (2 minutes)

Step 1: Read the situation below and choose the one(s) you best identify with.

If a teacher had a new device you knew nothing about, would you want to:

1. See it or read about it? If yes, you might learn best by seeing.

2. Listen to the teacher tell you about it? If yes, you might learn best by hearing.

3. Touch it, push the buttons, or take it apart to learn how it works? If yes, you might learn best by doing.

Step 2: Talk with the person next to you about how you learn best.

Instructors won’t necessarily teach in a way that best fits your learning style. You may need to adapt your approach to learning to best fit the situation.

For example, Juan prefers a hands-on approach. He likes to do things. He doesn’t like to sit in class and listen to a teacher talk. He doesn’t like to read textbooks. But lectures are a part of his schooling, and reading is required to pass the tests. He can’t just ignore the requirements because they don’t fit his learning style. He decides to listen as best he can, read as much as he can, and then quickly go try things out after class so he can get some hands-on learning.

Arlene discovered that she learns more when she discusses ideas with others. She decides to study regularly with others.

Activity (5 minutes)

How would you best use your learning style in different learning situations?

Step 1: Think of your preferred learning style.

Step 2: Turn to another group member and discuss how you can adapt to the following situations:

1. What could you do to learn from a group discussion?

2. What could you do to learn from a lecture?

3. What could you do to memorize a list of words?

Step 3: Switch roles and repeat steps 1 and 2.

3. Manage Stress Effectively

Read:As you work on your education, you will experience stress. It is part of life and part of your education. Stress in your education can come from the following sources and many others:

• Not understanding what is expected

• Not being prepared

• Not finishing assignments on time

• Fear of failing a test

• Fear of speaking in front of others

• Too many things to do

• Working with other people

As you move forward with faith, the Lord will bless you with strength and ability. You can’t eliminate stress from your education, but you can manage it. So pay attention to stress signals and find ways to adjust to or manage stress. Some suggestions are listed below:

• Reconsider your expectations

• Let go of what you cannot control

• Focus on what you do well

• Avoid comparing yourself to others

• Exercise

• Serve others

• Rest

• Refocus on gratitude

• Break down big or difficult tasks into smaller pieces

• Take one small step forward now

Discuss:What has helped you manage stress?

Activity (5 minutes)

Consider ways to manage your stress. Take a few minutes to privately ponder and write down answers to the following questions.

Step 1: What stresses am I facing?

Step 2: Choose one way of managing stress that you would like to try. Complete the following sentence:

“When I feel stressed about ,

I will .”

Step 3: Sometime today, rewrite this sentence on another piece of paper. Put it on your wall, in your pocket, or in another place where it can help you remember how you will manage stress.

Discuss:What are the most important things you learned in this group meeting?