When students are starting their college life, they may approach every course, test, or learning task the same way, using what we like to call “the rubber­stamp approach
” Think about it this way: Would you wear a tuxedo to a baseball game? A colorful dress to a funeral? A bathing suit to religious services? Probably not
You know there’s appropriate dress for different occasions and settings
Skillful learners know that “putting on the same clothes” won’t work for every class
They are flexible learners
They have different strategies and know when to use them
They know that you study for multiple­choice tests differently than you study for essay tests
And they not only know what to do, but they also know how to do it