I second that. These are some great pointers. This is exactly what i have been looking for as well. I recently started 2 college courses: History of the United States Since 1865, and Intro to Psychology.
Since i started these classes, i have been in the PD mindset. How can I learn everything very efficiently, and perform excellently? I wont be content with a B. I want an A. Even better, I want a 100% in each class, and I want to retain all of the knowledge from t-he courses.
Now, those are some pretty high standards, but I wont be heartbroken if I dont acheive them. The important thing is that I strive for those things. If i strive for perfection, and fall short, then chances are that Ill be alot better off than if i strive for mediocrity right?
Anyway, I appreciate the advice, and if anyone wants to add advice on how to learn academics better, id love to hear about that as well.
As for my 2 cents- These are a couple of basic tips for learning.
-Stay hydrated. Drinking lots of water will keep your brain hydrated (and keep you awake and alert) which will allow you to learn more effectively.
-Take breaks. If you try to read straight through a 150 page book in one sitting, chances are your gonna lose focus (okay... maybe not with photoreading... but my photoreading course still hasnt arrived- 3 weeks later!
so i cant say much on that topic). Taking a break before you lose your focus will ensure that you absorb what you read, rather than just going over the words.
-I listen to instrumental music, whether it be classical, trance, techno, or other, while i read. This helps me focus for a couple of reasons. (1) the sound will "drown out" the background noises and keep you from being distracted. (2) Without words in the music, I am not tempted to "sing along" in my head, and the music offers nothing to think about, which would again distract me from my reading.
Thats all Ive got for now, thanks for the great posts, and keep 'em commin.