Thursday, October 30, 2008

How To-51: "How to Stay Informed About Current Events"



How to Stay Informed About Current Events

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Today's world is becoming more volatile than ever before. With so much at stake, it's a good idea to stay informed as to what's going on in your country and the World.

Steps

  1. Watch the news. This seems simple, but it often isn't. News is becoming more and more biased to all different interests. The safest way to make sure you're getting the whole story is to watch several different stations. Don't limit yourself to the nightly news, watch 24 hour news stations as often as you can.
  2. Make sure you get a paper. Reading your local paper is great for staying current on issues close to you. Try to also get a paper from your closest metro area, as they often report on your state. Finally, subscribe to nationally accepted paper like the New York Times. With these you can get updates on whats happening across the country and often around the world.
  3. Subscribe to News Magazines. Once you're up on all the issues, it's nice to get a broader idea of them. A great way to do this is by reading news magazines, like Time or Newsweek. These have many opinion essays, and articles that go into issues in more depth.
  4. Stay balanced. Try not to close your mind to other sources. Even if you think the information you're getting is skewed, pay attention to the spin in order to understand more.
  5. Read books by top officials, pundits, and those in the know. Now more than ever the figures you see on the news and in politics are writing books. These are great to get their side of the story and an inside view of what they do. They may not always be riveting, but they're great for keeping informed.
  6. Check news sites as often as you can. News sites are constantly being updated and usually have many more stories than you get on TV or even in a paper. Again, try and stay balanced with these. You can also sign up for tickers that pop up on your computer screen that show you the top stories. Email alerts are also good.
  7. Talk with other informed people. Debate is a great way to test out your opinions. You can always learn something from a good debate, even if your opponent's views are completely different from yours. If you can't find people around you, join a forum to discuss issues. Most news sites offer forums or blogs that you can join and debate with other users. Reading blogs of regular citizens is also a great way to see other sides of the issues.

Tips


  • If you can't afford to subscribe to papers or magazines, your local library will probably have all the latest issues. If not, bookstores often let you read on the premises.
  • Make sure you have a good internet provider. Checking the news can be very frustrating on a slow browser.
  • Get a good television package. Most offer several news stations that play all day and all night.

Warnings

  • Take everything you see in the media with a grain of salt. Remember that most news stations have a bias and what they report may not necessarily be fact.
  • Make sure you're actually interested in staying informed. If it's boring you, you're wasting your time and probably not getting everything you can out of it.
  • Don't act like you know everything once you're informed.

Things You'll Need

  • An open mind
  • All 5 senses intact.

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Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Stay Informed About Current Events. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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How To-50: "How to Widen Your Logic and Knowledge"



How to Widen Your Logic and Knowledge

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

So you want to know how to expand your logic and knowledge, good for you! By simply following these instructions, you can truly expand your logic and knowledge that will open many new things to you later in life.

Steps

  1. On a daily basis, such as before you go to sleep or after eating breakfast, do a crossword puzzle or a soduku puzzle, even if you are not a fan like me....once a day is fine!
  2. After checking e-mail and surfing the web, stop by a news website such as CNN and read a few current events so you know whats going on.
  3. Every night, read 1 page in the encyclopedia that interests you. So for example, if you like videogames read about how they are created and the process of making a videogame.
  4. Challenge someone for a game of chess or another strategic game you might like, if you have time on your hands and are up this but there is no one to play with, play online!
  5. Once a day, learn 1-4 new vocabulary words. This will truly help you a lot in the future.

Tips

  • Do not try too hard. Just take aside some time each day to do this.
  • If you have a Nintendo DS, buy a game such as Big Brain Academy or Brainwave to get some extra logic and critical thinking in your day!

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How To-49: "How to Improve Your IQ"


How to Improve Your IQ


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

IQ stands for Intelligence Quotient. It basically measures your intelligence - in other words, how smart you are. There are several types of intelligence; not just your typical school/education related material. While IQ is generally thought to be innate, there are things you can do that may improve your IQ score.

Steps

  1. Read! Read and read some more! Yes, this is first because in order to improve your IQ you must read. But before you reach out for that worn out paperback (a story you've read a million times) read a new book, a book from a completely different genre than what you're used to. You usually read mystery? Good, now, go ahead and read some comedy. Only fiction? Go grab a biography. Read everything and anything (this includes articles, news stories, and magazines.)
  2. Drop your stereotypes about learning. For example, do away with the idea that old dogs can't learn new tricks. Sure, it will likely take more time to learn when you are older, but that is no reason to stop learning.
  3. Try writing with your opposite hand. Some people claim that if you write with your opposite hand then your IQ goes up, because your brain is not used to writing with that other hand and is forced to work harder. However, if you're ambidextrous, that's great. Try writing with both hands at once, and try writing different things with different hands at once. You can also try using different hand for using the mouse. Doing that will stimulate the other side of your brain to work.
  4. Remember the motto: Write, don't type. Thinking about emailing your aunt that thank-you note? Forget it, write it out by hand instead. This will increase your writing speed, which is useful in any case. Besides, typing will only use your left hand 56% of the time... when using both hands, at least.
  5. Play video games. However, attempt to play a game that is out of your usual range of choices. It will help you think differently. Look for games that provide you with problems to solve or force you to think quickly.
    • Scientific studies have shown that playing the popular game Tetris leads to more efficient brain activity; as players become more proficient at the game, their brains show a reduced consumption of glucose (the body's main fuel). This intense scientific study supports this theory.

  6. Work on cryptology. This is when a message is written in codes and you try to figure it out. It's challenging for some, but after a while may even become enjoyable.
  7. Practice crosswords and sudoku. These activities stimulate your mind and thought processes. People normally don't consider word searches thought-provoking, but if practiced in addition to other mind games, they could prove to be easy and stimulating.
  8. Do logic and lateral thinking puzzles. These help your brain think outside the box and solve problems in different ways.
  9. Take a weekly IQ test and record your results. If you would like to view your improvements, consider placing the results on a line graph using excel or another graph-compatible program. (See external links for a free, tested online IQ test).

Tips

  • Eat brain food. Fish has been scientifically proven to increase memory.
  • Exercise. This increases blood flow to the brain-resulting also in increased thought/memory.
  • Forget. Yes-you read that right. You need to get rid of unnecessary info in your brain sometimes to make room. This is also where sleeping comes in handy. Forget the day and rest your brain.
  • Practice doing a Rubik's Cube. Yes, this WILL increase your IQ.
  • Play games like chess and crossword puzzles. They help you to think and it can be fun at the same time.

Warnings

  • Don't ever think that there isn't a way to remember something. We have a lot to work with. Not only that, but there are several types of memory aid techniques and strategies.

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How To-48: "How to Increase Your Brain's Processing Speed"



How to Increase Your Brain's Processing Speed

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Here's an exercise that will actually increase your brain's processing speed. It will also strengthen attention skills, enhance working memory, and build visual manipulation skills. Try it. Many people can actually feel their brains working. This exercise, when done with intensity and frequency, will actually map new neural pathways in your brain. It really will make you smarter!

Steps


  1. Enlarge the picture above by opening it in a new window.
  2. From left to right, top to bottom, call out the direction the eyes are looking (from your perspective —"down, left, up, right...") Have someone time you. Do it without error in 30 seconds. Keep practicing until you can do it in only 15 seconds.
  3. Try it from the face's perspective (as if you were the face looking out from the page – "down, right, up, left...".) It's harder, isn' t it! You have increased the difficulty by adding a second mental challenge (adjusting for the change in perspective). Don't worry though...your brain can adapt and grow!
  4. Call out the color of each without error in 30 seconds. Get that time down to 15 seconds without error. Not too tough unless you are color blind! (but now comes the fun...)
  5. Begin doing exercise 1 (above) but point your finger in the opposite direction each time ("down [point up], left [point right], up [point down]..."). You have added an element that requires divided attention. Once mastered, increase the difficulty by switching (point the direction the eyes are looking and call out the opposite direction) only when you come to a green face. Try substituting different colors. Keep track of your time and stay with it until each exercise flows quickly and smoothly. You will find yourself not only doing the familiar ones easier, but mastering each new variation faster as well. This is because your brain is growing new connections to handle the challenges!


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How To-47: "How to Increase Your Attention Span"



How to Increase Your Attention Span

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

There are simple ways to increase your attention span without drugs. Here are two -- one to increase your overall attention span and one to accomplish a specific task.

Steps


Meditation


  1. Find a comfortable place to sit. Sit with your spine erect -- If it's supported, you'll find yourself asleep. Turn off any device that may interrupt you.
  2. Set a timer of some sort. When choosing a timer, avoid one that ticks audibly; it will distract you. If it's a timer that will make a loud or grating sound when it goes off, muffle the sound by putting it in a drawer or wrapping fabric around it. There are some excellent timers you can download off the Web for free and either keep on your computer, burn on a disc or download into an MP3 player.
  3. Determine how much time you'd like to meditate. Don't try for big numbers, initially. Set your timer or alarm so your first sessions are just 10 minutes long. Build in five minute increments when you feel ready. Shoot for 20 minutes a session, twice a day.
  4. Choose an image, color, or word and think of it. Don't think of variations of it or meanings it may have -- just think of the image, color, or word. If you think of a flower, for example, make it one that is simple and still and unchanging. One popular form of meditation involves focusing on the breath, particularly the sensation around the nostrils as it enters and leaves the body.
  5. Do not judge your meditation experience while meditating or afterward. The mind will rebel and wander often. When it does and you become aware of it, simply gently remind yourself to return to the breath or image you have chosen.
  6. Be patient. It may take months, even many years, to become proficient

Getting things done


  1. Set a timer for a specific time. If it's studying a difficult topic, try 20 minutes. If it's cleaning a dirty kitchen, go for 40 minutes.
  2. Make rules. Tell yourself that you will not look up from the book until the timer goes off.
  3. Reward yourself, within reason. After 20 minutes with the book, give yourself 10 minutes to read a book or magazine for pleasure, check your e-mail or have a light snack. Stick to your predetermined 10 minute rule, and go back to the task as soon as the 10 minutes are up for another 20 minutes, or longer.

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How To-46: "How to Improve Your Concentration"


How to Improve Your Concentration
from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
The quality and quantity of work you can produce is dependent, not only on the effort you put in, but on your ability to concentrate. No matter how hard to you try, if your brain isn’t performing well, you won’t be as productive as you should be.
Although many of the factors affecting concentration are beyond your control, a large amount is determined by behavior.

Steps


  1. Get Your Rest. It might seem obvious, but the biggest factor affecting concentration is rest. If you aren’t well rested your mind will be scattered. Avoid this by making sure you get the right amount of sleep at the right time. Set a regular bed time for yourself and use an evening routine to wind down so you don’t have trouble sleeping.
    • It’s also important not to sleep too much. Oversleeping disrupts your natural rhythm and leads to grogginess. Avoid this by having a set wake up time.

  2. Make a Plan. When you sit down to work without a plan, it’s easy to get caught up in crutch activities like checking email and browsing the web. Without a purpose, your mind will be pulled in several different directions. Instead of devoting all your attention to one important task, you’ll find yourself distracted by a variety of nagging thoughts.To avoid this, make a clear plan of action beforehand. If you need to check email, resolve to fire through it as quickly as possible, then close your inbox and move on to your most important task. By making a plan, you decide where your mental energy is allocated instead of allowing to be dispersed randomly.
  3. Isolate Yourself- Become a hermit and stay away from other people if you want to concenrate on your work. Unless your work is based on other people they will only break your focus. Create a private space and refuse to talk to anyone until your work is finished.
  4. Eat Light and Healthy. Nothing slows down the mind and body like a big greasy meal. Overeating puts a huge load of digestion on the body, sapping strength from the mind. Maximize your ability to concentrate by eating light and healthy meals. As Thomas Jefferson said, we rarely regret eating too little. It’s likely you’ll find that you need less food to satisfy you than you think. If you run out of energy, keep some healthy snacks on hand to give yourself a quick boost.
  5. Exercise. The body has pent up energy that needs to be used. If you don’t exercise regularly, this energy can manifest itself in the form of a distracted mind. The best way to improve your concentration all day long is by exercising first thing in the morning. This will clear your head, give you a chance to reflect on the day ahead, and allow your body to sweat out impurities. Afterwards you’ll feel rejuventated, and ready to take on tough problems.
  6. Take Breaks and Mix Up Your Environment. Stagnation and fatigue are other factors that can negatively affect concentration. When you’ve been working too long in the same place, you start to get stir crazy and lose focus. The best remedy for this is taking breaks and switching up your work environment. When you find yourself losing focus, get up and take a walk. This will get your heart rate up, increase your alertness, and give your mind a chance to work on the problem internally.
    • It can also be helpful to work in different places. Instead of being chained to your desk all day, make a point of moving around. In a typical day I might spend time working in my apartment, the local library, and at a nearby coffee shop.


Tips


  • Know what your goal is clearly before you start. If you aren’t sure what the end result is, the confusion will make it impossible to focus.

Warnings


  • Do not work in a crowded place as you'll lose you're focus.

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How To-45: "How to Improve Critical Thinking Skills"




How to Improve Critical Thinking Skills

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

We are presented with a plethora of alternatives. Critical thinking helps us analyze each alternative and choose one over the other. Colleges are paid good money for developing our critical thinking skills. Whether it be for critiquing a wikihow article, considering a business proposal, or analyzing a poem, these simple steps will help you:

Steps


  1. Understand your own purpose: Criticism, especially artistic, is subjective. What do you want to achieve by your critique? Do you want to evaluate an artistic work, or an objective business proposal?
  2. Understand the purpose of the person whose work you're analyzing: Most criticism goes off its target simply because the critic doesn't take into account what the writer or painter wants to convey. The writer may aim for and hit the branch, while you may think he has actually missed the bird on the branch. Has the writing or painting succeeded in accomplishing its original purpose?
  3. Know the alternatives: Research works related to the one you're reviewing. Criticism can only be done by a standard: A thing is higher or lower in relation to something. Find out about contemporary writings and similar endeavors in past ages. If you are evaluating whether to buy a car from someone, find out how much other options like buying second-hand, or renting a car will cost you. If you can find nothing related, let the standard be your own vision of how the project should shape up, or how the originator of the proposal wants it to shape out.
  4. Learn logic: Study how an argument is constructed, what premises are, and how the conclusion is reached. Then study the fallacies of logic, and practice pointing them out in your daily life.
  5. Learn the critical jargon: Every field has different critical jargon. For example, in poetry terms like alliteration, enjambment, and the trochaic meter, show that you know what you're talking about. These terms will help make your critique more concrete, and give you hotspots on which to focus your critique.
  6. Use the GBI technique: The lateral thinking psychologist Edward de Bono states that we should list the Good, the Bad and the Interesting points.
  7. Don't just say you don't like it, say why you don't like it, and add suggestions to make it better.


Tips


  • Don't be absolute, yet don't be timid in your criticism: Try to avoid absolutes like "never", and use them only when you're completely sure. However, at the same time, be assertive in your criticism. Think how much less motivating this saying would be: "Slow and steady, in certain cases, wins the race."
  • Use libraries and the Internet, to find out information on the topic you're critiquing. An uninformed critique is sometimes worse than one merely executed badly.
  • Ask for other people's opinions. They most likely will offer a new perspective which could change your approach. Consider people both from different age groups and different occupations.
  • Practice critiquing, as you'll get better at it. Take notice if others critique your critique.
  • You can something critique much, much better if you can actually do it. Only a writer can properly analyze another's works, for example.
  • Read other people's critiques in newspapers and books, and learn from their mistakes and strengths to improve your own style.
  • Be diplomatic. Your aim is not the person himself, but the proposal he puts forward.


Warnings


  • Give criticism in a non-offensive way. People get defensive if something they pride themselves on gets attacked. Prefacing criticism with praise usually works well.


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How To-44: "How to Have Fun While Studying"




How to Have Fun While Studying


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

If you find studying boring and difficult, there are ways to change your mind. From making your environment more conducive to enjoying the study, to finding ways to help improve your concentration, studying can be made more interesting ... and yes, even fun! Here are some tips to get you started.

Steps


  1. Use music. Put some music that has doesn't have lyrics or words. Listen to it while you study. You might find that you can do anything while doing this, especially if it's music that you find very inspiring. Skip this step if you are easily distracted by music
  2. Keep snacks close. Get together some healthy snacks to nibble on as you study. Try not to have ones with lots of calories as you're not moving much while studying. Allowing yourself a little nibble every now and then helps the study time to pass more pleasantly.
  3. Create an excellent study area. This is really important. You must feel like you "own" your little study space, whether it be a corner, a den or a whole room. Even if space is tight, you can arrange with family that a certain space is yours for study at certain hours, no matter what. Decorate your spot with favorite things like postcards, knick-knacks, figurines, notes from friends etc. Even temporary spaces can be decorated with bits and pieces you keep in a portable box. But, try not to make your study area too distracting. The less clutter in your study area, the better.
  4. Provide good lighting and a comfortable chair which is at the right height for the desk. Nothing makes study more difficult than feeling uncomfortable as you sit and not being able to read the work properly.
  5. Ensure adequate ventilation. Nothing sends a person to sleep faster than lack of air. Get fresh air into your room regularly - even in winter! Make sure it circulates, even if this means using a fan in winter to blow around warm air; this is better than stale, stagnant air.
  6. Have good temperature levels. Being too hot or too cold will make studying hard and you'll be tempted to crawl off to somewhere more comfortable. Turn the heating on or the cooling if you can. If you can't, then improvise and do what most students have always done to heat and cool: open or close windows & doors; use a red heat lamp at your feet (uses a lot less electricity); use a blanket; remove or put on extra layers; drink hot or cold drinks; put on a fan etc.
  7. Get groovy stationery & desk gear. Your supplies can encorurage you to study - a pen that feels just right in your hand, paper that is so soft the pen glides over it, a bookstand that stops your book from slumping over, a row of colored highlighters begging to be used and a scented eraser that smells delicious. Think of the things that you enjoy having around you at study time and make these your little props for amusing yourself with during the study. Don't let them distract you from the study though!
  8. Schedule time for study, time for play. Don't look at study as a never-ending process. Give it its timeslot and devote yourself to it during this times and then reward yourself with the things you really feel like doing afterwards. Use the study time effectively, don't doodle, feel sorry for yourself or call up friends. That just stretches out the pain and increases your lack of interest. Assign the tasks to be done, do them and then forget about it and go and do the other stuff that you feel like doing.
  9. Look at your study from a different perspective. Maybe it's study in an area you really dislike or you just don't care about. Try to think outside the actual pages before you and put the topic into a wider perspective. Think of the sorts of careers people have using this study topic; think of how everyday problems are solved using the techniques that the study is requiring of you. This can help to enliven otherwise dull matter and can also impress a teacher if you show how this knowledge applies elsewhere in some way. It demonstrates application to the topic in spite of your reservations. And hopefully, it also helps to chase away the boredom of it.
  10. Realize that study is about more than the topic before you. Sure, it might not grab you the same way that a basketball game outdoors would or a TV show you're missing because of the study. All the same, you're learning coping skills. You're learning how to prioritize, how to be patient and how to deal with something you don't like or feel disinterested in. Perhaps it doesn't feel like it at the time but these are some of life's most important skills because you'll come up against the temptation to fall into boredom many times - during work, a meeting, ceremonies, even parties! You're also learning about the general way the world works and where you might best slot into it yourself. How can you be sure you do or don't want to do things in life unless you know about them first?
  11. Get a pet to encourage you! If you have a household friend, such as a cat or a fish, you can have them around you as you study. Purring cats provide a great source of rhythmical comfort that can ease the studying time and a fish swimming around and around can do wonders for reminding you that it's worth studying so that you can become a bigger fish in a sea of many.
  12. Take breaks. Frequent, short breaks are better for you and your thinking processes than infrequent, long breaks. Set an alarm on your computer or on a clock to go off every half hour and go for a stretch, get a coffee or milkshake, see what the weather's like outside. No matter how old you are, try to make your material into a game. It works so well. If you have a younger brother or sister, let them help you. Make up a song or a rap about your material. You would be surprised by how much it helps.
  13. If you are doing word problems in math, change the problem to make it more interesting or even a bit silly. For example: Beth has 5 apples. If she goes to the apple orchard and picks 5 times the amount of apples she already has, but drops 3 on the way home how many apples she have now? Isn't that a boring problem? You CAN make it more interesting...For example: Mr. Gidget has 5 bubbles. He goes to the magical bubble island and his friend Mr. Gadget gives him 5 times the amount of bubbles he already has. If Mr. Gidget drops 3 of the bubbles into a pit filled with needles, how many bubbles does he have? Isn't that better? If you use funny names, objects you like, or made-up places, the problem is 10 times more interesting, making it more likely that you will solve it.
  14. If you like music, create a short song about the general points of what you're studying. If you don't have time to make a song, search youtube. Chances are is there will be some sort of relevant song. You might want to start with the Animaniacs. If you just sing their songs to yourself it can help you to ace that test! Be sure to print out the lyrics to the songs and make it a point to sing the song at least once a night so you'll remember it.
  15. Make flash cards. The best site on the internet to make flashcards on is Quizlet. When making your flashcards, always do the term in capital letters and the definition in lowercase letters. Using different handwriting, colors, and decorating your flashcards will help you remember them. Be sure that you actually USE your flashcards. Just making them won't do anything for you at all.
  16. Go over your notes and draw pictures. For example, If one of your notes is "Ohio produces more cheese than Wisconsin", draw some cheese and a picture of Ohio smiling and Wisconsin frowning. This works really well if you are a visual learner.
  17. If you are reading your textbook, use funny accents or weird voices. It is also good if you record yourself and listen to the recording at least once every night.
  18. Use mnemonic devices. For example, the 5 great lakes = HOMES (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior) However, make them creative so that you can easily remember them. A creative one that I have heard for remebering the eight levels of classification is Dumb King Philip Came Over From Greece Sneezing (Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species)
  19. Make small posters that you can hang up around you room or around your house. Decorate them and draw pictures. On the night before the test or quiz, present and explain them to your family.
  20. If you need to study for a spelling test, eat alphabet cereal in the morning! Have a parent or sibling read a word from your list to you. If you spell the word correctly with the cereal, you can eat it!
  21. Grab a friend that is goofy but can be serious and create a skit. This works especially well for social studies (you can re-enact the pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock, for example) and Language Arts (Enact the ending or one of the key points to whatever book you're reading. Be sure that you say exactly what the characters in the book say, even if it sounds cheesy)
  22. Pretend you're a teacher and create a test or quiz that you can take yourself or make your older sibling(s) and/or parent(s) take. Have a parent or older sibling that didn't take the test grade it. If you feel confident, you can grade it yourself.
  23. If you have to take a test on some boring book in English class, try replacing the characters in the story with characters from video games, TV shows, or characters from any other forms of media if you can. This makes the material a LOT more interesting.


Tips


  • Things not to do during a study break:
    • Check e-mails - you'll end up answering them instead.
    • Check on brothers, sisters, parents etc. - you'll end up chatting and getting waylaid.
    • Phoning friends - you'll chat for ages.
    • Play games (video, ball, board, miniatures etc.) - you'll just get involved in them and forget to return.
    • Switching on the TV - you'll end up watching it.

  • If you're having a really hard time settling into a study routine, speak with someone at school or university about it who is trained in study skills; they will have a lot of tricks to help you. Also look around your study space and assess it for distractions - is there too much noise, too much clutter, too many people wandering through without warning, inadequate light, cooking smells etc? Try to find the problems that distract you and either eliminate or reduce them.
  • If you are finding a subject boring because you are struggling with it, seek help from a tutor, older brother or sister, a parent, a friend or anyone you can trust to help you to learn it more easily. At college/university level, you may need to assess deeply if you have made the right choice or whether it would be better to change subjects or even courses. Don't despair - there is always help.
  • Visit the library if your study is boring because you miss the presence of people around you. The general hubbub of others in the background can be a great sense of reassurance and motivation to some students. Plus, you can grab those old-fashioned things called books straight off the shelves and add your new-found knowledge to your studies!
  • Healthy study snacks include raisins, sunflower seeds, dark chocolate pieces, dried cranberries, small crackers, cheese pieces, home-made cookies (in moderation!), jello, fruit, vegetables sticks such as celery/carrot, hummus dip, homemade popcorn (not microwave!)etc. Occasional lapses for times of severe stress (i.e., exams & essay due dates): small amounts of chocolate bars, store bought cookies, chips & slices of cake. All in moderation, of course, and regular, healthy meals must be maintained for the sake of your health.


Warnings


  • For music: you can get too much into it and pay more attention to the rhythm than the study. Turn it off if this is happening to you. Not everyone can tolerate music or noise while they study.
  • Don't overeat to reduce stress and get adequate sleep during times of cramming, swotting etc. No need to make yourself ill - it's another of life's lessons about taking everything in your stride and coping well.
  • Don't get down over study hurdles. Everyone has mental blocks, gets fed up and needs for time-out from any activity, even for a period of time. Be gentle on yourself, take a break and get yourself back together again before you give up on your studies. Also, seek assistance if you have special learning disabilities; there are excellent, trained assistants in many schools and universities on call to help out. Have faith - they're there to help you, not to tell you that you can't do it.
  • Don't ever promise yourself you'll just watch one show, just listen to one song, just check one email, or "just do one" anything. You'll end up losing track of time and get hooked into the TV, Ipod, emails, or whatever it is.


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Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Have Fun While Studying. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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Wednesday, October 29, 2008

How To-43: "How to Take Lecture Notes"


How to Take Lecture Notes


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Taking great notes is becoming a lost art. Here's how to get the most out of a lecture, and have amazing notes to show for it.

Steps



Before the Lecture Begins


  1. Prepare for the lecture so that you will be more likely to predict the organization of the lecture. Check the course outline to see if the lecturer has listed the topic or key ideas in the upcoming lecture. If so, convert this information into questions to be answered in
  2. Sit as near to the front of the room as possible to eliminate distractions. And don't forget to turn off your cell-phone.
  3. Have a proper attitude. Listening well is a matter of paying close attention. Be prepared to be open-minded about what the lecturer may be saying, even though you may disagree with it.


During the Lecture


  1. Keep extra pencils sharpened and ready, or extra lead for mechanical pencils in case a pencil breaks during the lecture.
  2. Write down the title of the lecture, the name of the course and the date.Learn how to do Cornell Notes.
  3. Listen carefully to the introduction (if there is one). By knowing this outline, you will be better prepared to anticipate what notes you will need to take. Decipher this outline by listening for:
    • A topic for each section.
    • Supporting points or examples for the topic.

  4. Copy what's written on the whiteboard and transparencies, especially the outline. To make sure that you get everything, get in the habit of skipping words like "the" and "a" and make use of shorthand and abbreviations. Summarize your notes in your own words, not the instructor's. Remember: your goal is to understand what the professor is saying, not to try to record exactly everything he or she says.
  5. Recognize main ideas by signal words that indicate something important is to follow. See the tip on signals below.
  6. Jot down details or examples that support the main ideas. Take down examples and sketches which the lecturer presents. Indicate examples with "e.g." Give special attention to details not covered in the textbook.
  7. If there is a summary at the end of the lecture, pay close attention to it. You can use it to check the organization of your notes. If your notes seem disorganized, copy down the main points that are covered in the summary. It will help in revising your notes later.
  8. At the end of the lecture, ask questions about points that you did not understand.


After the Lecture


  1. Revise your notes as quickly as possible, preferably immediately after the lecture, since at that time you will still remember a good deal of the lecture. Also it is a good idea to reread your notes within 24 hours of the lecture.
  2. During the first review period after the lecture, coordinate reading and lecture notes.
  3. Review your lecture notes at least once a week. Also, review the lecture notes before the next lecture.


Tips


  • Remember that taking notes is not the primary reason for attending a lecture, trying to make your notes too perfect is a pitfall.
  • Collect notes for each course in one place, in a separate notebook or section of a notebook.
  • Write notes on one side of the paper only. Use a pen -- pencil will smear eventually, which is bad if the final test is cumulative or if you want to save your notes.
  • Use a loose-leaf notebook rather than a notebook with a permanent binding. See the pattern of a lecture by spreading out the pages.
  • Use two pieces of paper, one as a draft, and one as your final notes or use the Cornell Notetaking Method to organize the revision and review of your notes.
  • Enter your notes legibly because it saves time. Make them clear.
  • Draw a box around assignments and suggested books so you can identify them quickly.
  • Mark ideas which the lecture emphasizes with an arrow or some special symbol.
  • When the teacher looks at his/her notes, pay attention to what they say next.
  • Trade your "draft" notes with a classmate after each lecture. A scanner and email works great for passing these notes.
  • Incorporate different colors of ink, diagrams, drawings of your own. Make your notes your notes. Take advantage of how you learn (visually, orally, or actively) and write/draw your notes according to that style.
  • Watch for signal words. Your instructor is not going to send up a rocket when He/she states an important new idea or gives an example, but she will use signals to telegraph what she is doing. Every good speaker does it, and you should expect to receive these signals. For example, she may introduce an example with "for example" as done here. Other common signals:
    • "There are three reasons why...." (Here they come!)
    • "First...Second... Third...." (There they are!)
    • "And most important,...." (A main idea!)
    • "A major development...." (A main idea again!)
    He/She may signal support material with:
    • "On the other hand...."
    • "On the contrary...."
    • "For example...."
    • "Similarly...."
    • "In contrast...."
    • "Also...."
    • "Further...."
    • "Furthermore...."
    • "As an example...."
    • "For instance...."
    He may signal conclusion or summary with:
    • "Therefore...."
    • "In conclusion...."
    • "As a result...."
    • "Finally...."
    • "In summary...."
    • "From this we see...."
    He/She may signal very loudly with:
    • "Now this is important...."
    • "Remember that...."
    • "The important idea is that...."
    • "The basic concept here is...."

  • Consider splitting the page into two columns -- keep lecture notes on one side, and write questions that come up during the lecture on the other side. This will ensure that you don't forget any unclear points or questions that come up during the lecture, and will enable you to associate the answer with the relevant material when you find it later. Also, if you go to office hours, your professor will notice that you were paying attention in class, which will pay off in the long run.
  • Consider buying a cheap tape recorder. Take in consideration the recording range of the hardware (on the package), the length of tape and the lecture, how big the lecture hall is, and how far away you will be from the lecturer. Remember to ask permission before taping your professor (or anyone!) Most teachers are delighted to have a student who takes that much interest in their subject. But, they still may say no (possibly because they don't want to get sued), and that you have to accept that.

  • Most newer micro recorders will record to internal memory in a PC-friendly audio format (like MP3, WMA, etc). You can be the class hero by transferring these to your PC and then uploading them to your personal web page or MySpace page. Use a descriptive title when naming the files to stay organized (include date of class, professor and class subject code).
  • If you have an MP3 player, see if it has a built-in microphone and recording capabilities. Most iPods don't, but many other brands do (e.g. Creative Zen Micro). Like a digital micro recorder, you can transfer files easily to your computer or a web page.
  • If feasible, consider using a laptop computer (even an old one) and a note-taking program such as OneNote or BasKet or an online wiki to take outline-style notes. This doesn't work for every student or every course, but has many advantages: faster typing means more complete ideas are recorded, it will always be legible, and it is easier to edit and share your notes. It does not work so well for courses in which the notes include many pictures or diagrams, but you still may find it worthwhile. Be sure to backup your notes regularly if you do this!
  • You don't have to be too much of a perfectionist with note-taking. Some people are so careful at taking notes that often they cannot finish them during the lecture, and need to get them from someone else afterwards. Or, if they make a mistake, they must throw out the entire page. This is not a very efficient or productive way to take notes!


Warnings


  • Do not perform manual activities which will detract from taking notes. Do not doodle or play with your pen. These activities break eye contact and concentration. Although some people learn best while fidgeting (an active learning style), it is distracting to others. Therefore, if you learn best while doodling or tapping your foot, sit near people who do the same or who don't keep glaring in your direction.
  • If you are gathering together your personal belongings when you should be listening, you're bound to miss an important point--perhaps an announcement about the next exam--or, at the least, insult the professor.


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Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Take Lecture Notes. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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How To-42: "How to Plan a Homework Schedule"



How to Plan a Homework Schedule

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

If you have an overwhelming amount of homework to do and you feel you can't get it done because you can't keep track of it, here's how to develop a plan that will break down your tasks into smaller, more manageable units. With a little organization and discipline, you can get all of your homework done on time, every day.

Steps


  1. Write down your assignments accurately and promptly when they are given. You can't plan your homework time effectively if you don't know exactly what needs to get done. Record the following information:
    • The subject or course in which the work is assigned (for example, Spanish, algebra, French or English)
    • Know what you're expected to hand in or do (for example, turn in an essay, develop a PowerPoint presentation, or take a test.)
    • The details of your assignments (for example, double spaced or single spaced, blue ink or black).
    • Page numbers (which pages you need to read, study, or refer to in order to complete your assignment.)
    • Due date of the assignment.

  2. Estimate how much time will be needed to complete each assignment. Be realistic. It's better to block out more time than less. If you finish early, you can use your bonus time for another subject. Remember that if you have extra time left over, you can reward yourself by doing something other than homework.
  3. Determine how much time you have available for homework after school for each day of the week. For example: Monday - 1 hour, Tuesday - 1 1/2 hours, Wednesday - 1/2 hour, etc. Obviously, on days where you have other planned activities, whether it's an extracurricular activity or chores or quality time with your family, you will have less time for homework.
  4. Break down your homework time. Look at your assignments and consider how much time you need to devote to each. Then find time in your homework schedule to get it done, preferably a day early. If you have a 5-page English paper due on Friday, for example, and you know it's going to take you at most three hours to complete it, then spend one hour on that particular assignment on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
  5. Write in break times. This will stop you from getting too overwhelmed and frustrated during long stretches of homework time and will also help you to keep your mind focused. A ten minute break for each hour of homework done is a good guideline. Use this time to stretch, wash your face, walk around the block, unload the dishwasher for your mom, or get something to drink, or do anything that won't tempt you to delay your return to homework. Do not extend the time you take to refuel (such as getting your juice) and do not start with activities that relate to goofing off.
  6. Stick with it. Once you have your schedule, follow it, or else all the planning in the world is useless.


Tips


  • Schedule the hardest subject first, when your energy is highest. After that is done, everything else will feel like going downhill.
  • If you find that you don't have enough time to get all your homework done even when you stick to your schedule, look for more time that you can devote to homework by replacing other regular activities. Instead of spending an hour chatting on the computer with your friends, for instance, limit yourself very strictly to twenty minutes. But if you are still struggling even after you've devoted every available minute to homework, talk to your parents or your teacher about it.
  • Avoid distractions such as TV, video games, phone conversation, surfing the Web, etc. You must fully devote your schedule to doing this. That means turning off every electronic device except your lamp, clock, and room light, and, if needed, your computer. You may even want to turn off your phone.


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Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Plan a Homework Schedule. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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