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How to do well in Biology
(1) Read the text before class as though there will be a quiz on it at the beginning of class.  Come prepared to ask questions about the parts you may not have understood fully.
(2) Visit my office if you ever want help in understanding the material.  That's why you pay me!
(3) Figure out the figures!  They look complicated at first, but spending some time on them you can learn a lot.
(4) Write down questions you have while you read the book and e-mail them to me if you'd rather not ask in class and you are too busy to come to my office.
(5) Read the assigned readings before each lecture and lab.  Come prepared with questions about the material that you don't understand.
(6) Submit potential exam questions before each exam.  The better they are in testing understanding of a concept of biology, the more likely you will be to see them on the exam.
(7) Attend the Q&A session before each exam and come with a bunch of questions about specific problems.  Don't just come and ask "can you go over such & such" [that's what lectures are for].  If I don't know specifically what you find confusing, it will be hard for me to help, and will not be an effective use of time for the entire class.  Forming specific questions will help you study, and help the instructor address your question.
(8) After the exam, find the answers to questions you missed.  You will learn best if you find these answers on your own using the text or the notes, but if you would like some help understanding one, please come see me.
(9) Take notes as you read the text.  Try to summarize the material.  Use concept mapping. More here.  Make c-maps on your computer using this software.
(10) REMEMBER: I can NOT MAKE you learn.  Being in the same room with someone who is "teaching" does not automatically lead to learning.  YOU have to take responsibility for your own education, stay ACTIVELY engaged with the material, and ASK for help in understanding.  I CAN help, but I can't tell when you need help unless you TELL ME.
(11) Ask questions during lecture.  Stop me, slow me down, make sure you understand what I am talking about.  If you have a question, it's very likely that others have the same question.  Be proactive about your education.  I can help you more when you tell me that there is a problem.
(12) Be sure you and your partners share in all of the various laboratory procedures.
(13) Work out each of the homework problems and understand the discussion questions.  If your answers are not correct, please consult with me on where you went wrong.
(14) Learn how to study science.  Read Essential Study Skills by Daniel Chiras and "How to Study Science" by Fred Crewes.
(15) Spend 2-3 hours on homework for every 1 h you spend in class.  Our class meets 6 hours per week, so you should study 12-18 h per week for this single class.  Set aside this time daily to read and take notes on the text, re-write your lecture notes, working the sample problems from the text and the website and seeing the tutors and myself. 

How to do poorly in Biology (Look familiar?  Then resolve to change now!)
(1) Read the text uncritically.  Read it as fast as you can, preferably right before class, or just before the exam.  Highlight items that you think might be important.
(2) Never attend office hours.
(3) Don't bother understanding the figures, they are just meant to confuse you.
(4) NEVER ask a question in class.  It's too embarrassing.
(5) Don't look over your graded exam.  What is past is past.
(6) Copy what I write on the board without thinking about whether it makes sense.  You can figure it out later.
(7) Come to lab unprepared, without understanding the lab exercise.  Leave lab without understanding what you did or why you did it.  Start your lab assignment the night before lab.

Advice on how to study 

Study Skills: This link (organized by Dr. Joe Landsberger at St. Thomas University) has many great suggestions and strategies on how to be a more successful student.

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modified 3-7-06