I'm a college student with high-functioning autism. I am taking classes by correspondence; I’m having trouble with my classes and would like advice.
(I should note here that I also have some very ADHD-like problems, though I haven't actually been checked for ADHD itself.)
I'm taking US History 3 as an online class. I am having no trouble understanding the material; but I am working much too slowly. I would like to ask for advice on study techniques.
My current studying procedure: I read and outline the textbook and written lecture, at the rate of about one outline point per paragraph. Then I write down the definitions of vocabulary words and definitions of important events listed in the study guide.
I outline the textbook because I have problems with attention control. If I just read the textbook, I lose focus sometime during the first page, and several pages later I realize I have not absorbed anything which I've been reading, because I've been thinking about something completely different. If I outline what I'm reading as I read it, I force myself to stay focused.
Also, if I only read and don’t summarize the text, I don’t force myself to work out the meanings and implications beyond the simple words.
My problem with speed is twofold: First, outlining everything I read is much slower than just reading it. Ordinarily, my reading speed is very fast; but I only actually absorb the information if I'm extremely fascinated with something. And second, I am generally disorganized, and sometimes I never even start doing the homework in the first place.
This disorganization shows itself mostly in the other things I do during the day-- I find other things that seem so much more important; or I start doing homework and I get distracted by something.
This is classic irresponsibility; but I'm not quite sure how to change it. If I'm interested in something, I learn about it almost obsessively, to a greater degree than most people. But US history, while not boring, isn't riveting either.
I'm capable of a lot, but somehow I'm so inconsistent about following through that my actual performance is pretty pitiful. Being afraid to try, for fear of failing as I have so many times before, doesn't help any either. Theoretically, this should be a very easy class for me.
At the moment, I'm behind by about two weeks--it's taken me three weeks to do one week's worth of homework. A paper is due next Monday, and a test is being held a week after that.
Needless to say, I need to speed up; and I need to do it fast. Pun intended.
Can you advise me?
Callista - Sorry I have no advice but wanted to welcome you and we'd love if you stuck around. This board is mostly parents of children who fall somewhere on the spectrum. We really enjoy and appreciate adults on the spectrum giving us advice and insights.
I know some of the parents here have children with attention disorders that they are treating with different drugs. Do you see a doctor who specializes in ASDs? You should probably talk to them about your suspicions of an attention disorder.
Callista, I do not have an ASD so I can't really give you a whole lot of advice about that. What I can tell you is that online or correspondance courses are nearly impossible for people with poor organiztional skills ASD or NT. I can tell you this is going to be difficult for you but don't give up. I have horrible concentration and organizational skills also and I have managed to get my Associate's Degree online and will hopefully return in a few years to study for my bachelor's online. First of all you need to be up front with your instructors with what is going on in your life. They are there to help you not hold you back and they will more than likely help you if you are honest with them. Tell them you have a VERY difficult time distinguishing between what should be studied extensively and what should be studied less extensively. Tell them that over studying has hindered you in the past. Ask them if they would be willing to do an outline of important topics to cover.
Look to the instructors for clues what topics do they touch on in lectures or outlines they have given you. Chances are if it is in their outline it is going to be on the test. With papers I asked my professors personally to go over rough drafts for me. I once sent a history teacher a rough draft and revisions of a term paper I bet 20 times but he knew how hard I worked on it and I got an A on the paper and was told I had the best paper in the entire class. I spent the entire semester working on the paper and also had a former high school teacher help me a lot on it.
Also I know that all people are often drawn into what may seem to be an easy class and history classes, early psych classes and things like this seem to fit the mold. I am a Jr. in college and I can tell you out of all the classes I have taken US History was by far the most difficult class. (Aside from Algebra which I just flat out hate). The deal with the history class is there is a lot of memorization and the tests were proctored meaning there was no use of books or notes. It is easy to mix up all those dates and people and who did what and when they did it. The reading required is about as fun as a coronary and is tedious. The above mentioned term paper is one of probably 50 papers I have written in my college career and it was by far the most difficult, required the most research and took the most time to perfect. I ended up with a B in the course I think a low B, which to me is like death. However, I worked harder for that low B in that course than I did for any A in any of my other courses. I worked my butt off to get that B and even with an A on the term paper the testing still drug my grade down that low.
Talk to your teachers, set a schedule and stick to it. If you don't get something ask questions early. You can get through it but it will be hard. It does get easier as you go along, you begin to figure out exactly how much is required of you and what the teacher will and will not accept. Oh and before you decide if a class is an easy A or not check out the syllabus. This will be the best indication of an easy A. How many tests are there in the course? Are the tests proctored? How many papers are due? Is there a term paper? What other types of assignments are there? How does the teacher base grades? These are all questions you need to find answers to before signing up for the course. Good Luck!
callistaCallista,
I have never been diagnosed but you sound a lot like me when I was in nursing school..I had probably 5 different highlighters and outlined almost every paragraph in ALL the colors. I study the same paragraphs over and over and did pretty well-all A's and 2 B's:).....but to look at my books now it is hard to imagine I learned anything:) It took me 10x longer to absorb anything. Is there a school social worker/counselor that can hook you up with someone for maybe 1:1 help in this. My husband's aunt was a student counselor (now retired) in college and she had some students with aspergers that needed extra help or guidance..not sure what they can do for you but I would check it out. You have a pretty name:)
Blessings,
Shelley
Yes, what I generally tend to do is "over-study"; because I don't know how to find a good balance between speed and perfection. Because I'm not sure how much I need to study, I study everything. Essentially, it all comes down to time: If I have enough time, I get a near-perfect grade. If I don't have enough time, I get overwhelmed and, more often than not, fail.