• Learn to think like a biologist.  Our central question--"how are organisms arranged in ecological and evolutionary space and time"--is fundamental to biology and offers perfect material for practicing to think like a biologist.  Learn not just to recognize patterns of distribution and abundance, but to understand the processes that lead to those patterns.  Formulate and ask your own questions.  Comparing information as it accumulates is an essential scientific skill.

• Attend all lectures and take notes. Lectures will put special emphasis on material so that you will know how to navigate the detail.  Taking notes in your own words helps you to organize information in the way you learn it best .

• Take responsibility to learn actively.  Lecture time is only a small portion of your opportunity to learn.  I use this limited time to organize information in order to help you understand material better when you put in the time to learn it outside of class. 

• Come prepared. Reading the assignment before class will allow you to understand more of the lecture material, to ask better questions, and to participate.  Reading the assignment again after lecture will allow you to use the organization provided to absorb more of the details.

• Read for insight. When reading journal articles pay careful attention to the questions asked, the methods used to answer them, and the basis for the author's conclusions.  Make sure you understand figures and tables, which make for good questions on exams.

• Review/relearn lecture material soon after each class.  You will need to master too much accumulated detail to cram the material into your brain just before an exam.  Use the lecture notes to learn how to recognize what you do and do not understand.

• Make full use of time in recitations.  Recitation provides an opportunity to develop some of the skills that are most essential to a professional biologist.  The time provided is also your best opportunity to ask me questions about your work and to work with your group members.  Do not plan to arrive late or to leave early.

• Get started early on writing assignments. Do not leave writing until the last minute.  In the recitation projects, use the many weeks devoted to the project to build your final product, rather than thinking you will get it done at the last minute.  If you try to cram at the end you will be frustrated and your grade will suffer.  Good writing requires background research and creative thought, which cannot all be accomplished the night before an assignment is due.  Scientific ideas and presentation take time to work through problems. 

• Ask questions! Be sure that material is clear in your mind. Ask for clarification in lecture, come to office hours, study with your classmates.  A general and important rule: there are no stupid questions or comments! You will learn more by verbalizing your understanding of the material to others, whether it is initially right or wrong.