How to Take This Course
This course consists of text material for you to read and three types of activities (the pre- and post-test, in-text exercises, and end-of-chapter review questions) for you to complete. These activities are designed to reinforce the concepts introduced in the text portion of the course and to enable you to evaluate your progress.
PRE- AND POST-TESTS
Both a pre-test and post-test are included in this course. Take the pre-test before you study any of the course material to determine your existing knowledge of the subject matter. Submit one of the scannable answer forms enclosed with this course for grading. On return of the graded pre-test, complete the course material. Take the post-test after you have completed all the course material. By comparing results of the pre-test and the posttest, you can measure how effective the course has been for you.
To have your pre-test and post-test graded, please mail your answer forms to:
Educational Services
American Management Association
P. O. Box 133
Florida, NY 10921
All tests are reviewed thoroughly by our instructors and will be returned to you promptly.
If you are viewing the course digitally, the scannable forms enclosed in the hard copy of AMA Self-Study titles are not available digitally. If you would like to take the course for credit, you will need to either purchase a hard copy of the course from www.amaselfstudy.org or you can purchase an online version of the course from www.flexstudy.com.
The most important component of this course is the text, where the concepts and methods are presented. Reading each chapter twice will increase the likelihood of your understanding the text fully.
We recommend that you work on this course in a systematic way. Reading through the text and working through the exercises at a regular and steady pace will help ensure that you get the most out of this course and retain what you have learned.
In your first reading, concentrate on getting an overview of the chapter content. Read the learning objectives at the beginning of the chapter first. They will act as guidelines to the major topics of the chapter and identify the skills you should master as you study the text. As you read the chapter, pay attention to the headings and subheadings. Find the general theme of each section and see how that theme relates to the others. Don’t let yourself get bogged down with details during the first reading; simply concentrate on understanding and remembering the major themes.
In your second reading, look for the details that underlie the themes. Read the entire chapter carefully and methodically, underlining key points, working out the details of examples, and making marginal notes as you go. Complete the activities.
ACTIVITIES
Interspersed with the text of each chapter you will find a series of activities. These can take a variety of forms, including essays, short-answer quizzes, or charts and questionnaires. Completing the activities will enable you to try out new ideas, practice and improve new skills, and test your understanding of the course content.
THE REVIEW QUESTIONS
After reading a chapter and before going on to the next chapter, work through the Review Questions. Answering the questions and comparing your answers to those given will help you to grasp the major ideas of that chapter. If you perform these self-check exercises consistently, you will develop a framework in which to place material presented in later chapters.
GRADING POLICY
The American Management Association will continue to grade examinations and tests for one year after the course’s out-of-print date.
If you have questions regarding the tests, the grading, or the course itself, call Educational Services at 1-800-225-3215 or send an email to [email protected].