- Gather the right tools for learning. The proper environment is essential
to proper learning. The lighting, sound conditions (quit, music in the
background, etc,), notepaper, an ergonomic computer and writing desk are some of
the environmental items needed for good studying. These things put you in the
mood and assist you in studying. One of the most useful items I have is a
bookstand. I can place a book on this stand, and it provide the best reading
angle and hands-free operation for reading.
- Develop a learning plan. If you want to take on a learning project, you
need to have a learning plan. What you want to achieve, the materials you want
to use, and how you will know you achieved your goal. I would say that any
learning project that you expect to take over 8 hours needs a plan. For shorter
projects, you really don’t need a plan.
- Roam the halls. Use the Internet, the local research librarian, and
journals to find more information about your subject. Search for other sources
of information, including questioning people for resources. One unlikely
research aid I find useful is online booksellers. Search for a subject, then
many hits come up, pointing to useful books and Authors.
- Work with your pencil. When reading, use you pencil to mark up the text,
make notes in the margins of the book. Write you reactions, questions, what’s
interesting and what you disagree with. Identify terms you don’t know and
important definitions.
- See the Big Picture. Understand the big picture of what the Author is
trying to say. Summarize the main points in your own words.
- Organize the Information. Take notes, organizing the information into a
format that is useful to you. I use Mind maps and compare and contrast matrixes
to organize the information. Playing with the information usually provides a
deeper understanding of the relationships between the different concepts
presented by the Author.
- Reflect on the Information. Take time to reflect on the information. Try
to make the information useful to you in your own life.
- Seek to Understand. Search for the main points the Author is trying to
make, reflecting on the information. Seek deep learning, not surface learning.
Eugene Jars