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7 Secrets to Improve Your Ability to Learn
pickthebrain.com — No matter what your age, throughout your life you will be learning. Your formal education ends with high school, but for many the learning never ends. Here are some secrets for improving your ability to learn. Most apply to classes, but you can adapt them to any learning situation
mklopez- 698 diggs
- digg it
- rlray216, on 05/15/2008, -0/+15When I was in college, I took a study skills course. (Even though I was considered "smart" and most of the people taking the study skills class were having trouble.) It was well worth my while, and I credit it with helping me later in life when I needed to learn something for my job.
- SpickSlayer, on 05/15/2008, -13/+4Idiot.
- impedance101, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2I wish my college had a course like that :(
- troye, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Don't despair. You can go online and order a self help book that teaches you how to do the same.
- GlassAgate, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Skills for college career and success, or some similar title?
Was the book mostly read in color?
- socivitus, on 05/15/2008, -1/+7It's really important to find the best way YOU learn, like #5 says. I sometimes don't like my teacher's method, so I end up learning the subject my way. Great article.
- SpickSlayer, on 05/15/2008, -8/+1Great way to be a DICK.
- protoopus, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4i've decided that i love to learn, but hate to be taught.
- sluggysan, on 05/15/2008, -2/+14Secret #8: Aderoll
- sneakeykop, on 05/15/2008, -1/+15is it me, or am i the only one that said, "NO ***** these aren't secrets"?
- fictioncollides, on 05/15/2008, -1/+3No, I thought that, too, sneakeykop. Lol. Not exactly secrets when every article on "improving your ability to learn" or "how to study well" lists these.
- Marist, on 05/15/2008, -0/+8Red Bull and Speed.
- nemesisdesign, on 05/15/2008, -1/+1Not so secrets, these are natural things... lol
- rockandrollmark, on 05/15/2008, -1/+2As every one has been saying, these are not secrets. I was hoping that the article was going tell me how to build the work ethic to do these things.
- slahser, on 05/15/2008, -0/+10Buried as inaccurate; it should be 7 Obvious Ways to Improve Your Ability to Learn Which You Know Already but Won't Use Anyway.
- sdcarter, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3dugg for truth
- relic180, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1I used 'em in college. Most of em anyway...
- sdcarter, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3dugg for truth
- andysartspot, on 05/15/2008, -0/+0I feel smarter already!
- Niz1, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1It's about how bothered you are, personally i think the best thing is the first one, which is just being prepared, like for lectures download the material before hand and go through it and then you can walk in knowing a good amount of it and use the lectures to confirm what you have leaned or add to it. Probably the best way, but pretty much all the time i can never do work ahead of time like that and i sit confused sometimes and i have to go through it after, thats just me.
- acegi, on 05/15/2008, -1/+61 secret to improve your ability to learn
1. don't be a lazy *****- relic180, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Agreed.
Although I would have worded it as:
1. Give a *****.
- relic180, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Agreed.
- waxpoetic, on 05/15/2008, -1/+2how did this make it to the front page?
- ucdesemuscles, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Let me say one thing! No SH*%&!
- Pieterjan, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1buried: second time in one year ...
- Ikulus, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Buried as obvious.
- tommycai, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2IT'S ON THE INTERNET NOT A SECRET ANYMORE IS IT MMMMMUUUAHAHAHAHA
- jnichols, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1duhhh.....do your work and you will learn..... wtf how does this ***** make the front page?
- msmearcheck, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1wow such insight. thank you plato.
- PolarBearCa, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2College and University are informal education?
Who knew?! - PaganHeathen, on 05/15/2008, -0/+0Whose formal education ends with high school anymore?
Most people end up going to college, or getting a trade etc... - enigmaneo, on 05/15/2008, -1/+1I hate when people restate obvious common sense advice.
- stonebear, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3Amazing they left out the most important "secret:" Healthy sleep. Without it, all the others mean very little. I still recall the red mantras scrawled across my work: "You can do much better than this; if only you'd apply yourself; C work from an A student; stop being so lazy!" I lived with the humiliation of constantly being awakened by indignant professors during lectures that were not really that boring.
Though I was clearly not stupid, I was as perplexed as the professors that my good study habits had so little effect on my performance. 8 years after I graduated, I discovered I have sleep apnea; because of it, I had never operated at more than 60% of my true intellectual capacity. I had been going through life with cement overshoes on, and didn't even know it.- danomagnum, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1If you get that sleep in class, does that count?
- LimEeHai, on 05/23/2008, -0/+1Sleep is one good element of recovering from fatigue and definitely causes slackening in the abilty to study. Studies have shown this to be true.
- boogface, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4I'm not sure how much these 7 "secrets" are going to help you learn. They may help you to keep up with classwork and pass the class, but this doesn't necessarily help you learn.
Everyone learns different, so figuring out how you learn might be a good one.
Your interest and importance in what you're learning seems to be more of a factor than any of the items listed. - Synyk, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Be prepared? Wtf? The only reason I clicked on the damn link is because I'm not prepared, didn't listen, not organised, and didn't ask the teacher any questions.
- Gregsaw, on 05/15/2008, -0/+51. Be Prepared. If you’re taking a class online or at a school, study the curriculum in advance so you know what to expect. Engage in necessary prep work like downloading software, getting a workbook, or setting aside the dates for the course.
2. Get and Stay Organized. If you’re a computer note taker, make sure you set up a file folder system that will enable you to find what you need when you need it. Learning good computer organizational skills will save you a lot of time and headaches. If you take notes by hand, keep them in a labeled binder so you can review them later. Keep any other course papers in the binder as well.
3. Be On Time. If you’re taking a teleclass (this is a class conducted via telephone), call in five minutes early. Clear your desk, and have your pen and pad or a new computer file open. For live classes, show up a few minutes ahead of schedule. When you’re on time, you will have your full attention focused on the class, and not on “catching up” with yourself and what you may have missed.
4. Take Good Notes. If you’re unable to listen and write at the same time, just listen and then write notes after the class is over. If it’s recorded, you can review the class and take notes then. You can also ask the teacher for his/her outline, summary, or notes. Review your last class notes before your next class.
5. Establish Your Learning Style. Which is your best and preferred learning style: visual (reading), auditory (listening) or kinesthetic (doing)? When you know your learning style, take classes that incorporate that style. For example, audio learners keep CDs in their car to turn traffic jams into productive time. Book learners may keep a notebook handy to take notes and read as they exercise on the stepper machine or treadmill. When you study, do you need silence or do you enjoy having music playing in the background? Knowing how you learn best improves your effectiveness.
6. Ask Questions. If you’re taking a course online or in a school, make sure to jot down questions as they come up and ask them when you have a chance. I’ve always believed there are no dumb or silly questions. If you need clarification, you won’t continue learning until you have your questions answered. Most instructors see questions as a sign of an alert, intelligent mind.
7. Complete All Assignments. Stay current with your assignments and complete each one. If you’re reading a self-help book, do all the exercises. If you miss a class, find a way to get the assignments–from another student or the teacher. Online classes are often recorded, so make sure to listen to the recording if you can’t make a class. - SoIcanDigg, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4Secret #8 - Don't surf Digg when attending web classes.
- damndj, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1#8: Smoke Pot.
- stormgren, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1I'm doing that but now i can't remember anything during the tests.
- liuite, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2#8 develope undivided attention - hard to learn if you have short attention span
#9 improve your memory - if you can't remember it, have you really learned it?
#10 curiosity - it motivates you to learn, particular with science.
these things helped transform me from a C student to A student- LimEeHai, on 05/23/2008, -0/+1I like the part about remembering. Yes, I fully agree that if one keep on forgetting, how can he learn!
But how to remember well?
Though there are a few techniques, I believe it still boils down to sincerity to learn.
Can one forget to wear clothing to school? No!
Why? Because he wants to be covered! The want is there.
Same goes to remembering.
- LimEeHai, on 05/23/2008, -0/+1I like the part about remembering. Yes, I fully agree that if one keep on forgetting, how can he learn!
- BeaverJournal, on 05/16/2008, -0/+0It's amazing what you can accomplish if you put your mind to it. I recommend the movie "The Secret" if you really want to be motivated.
- freedombob, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1masturbation, masturbation,masturbation,masturbation......... its good eye and hand coronation
pot always helps too.....
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