College Tips

[toasterwater]

Im currently enrolled in two college courses. This may not seem like alot, but while working a more than full time job, it takes a little bit of effort to fit it all into my schedule, and still have time for other ventures... such as rectreation, financial management, relationships, personal development, etc. These courses represent the first truly academic courses that I've taken since i graduated highschool in May of 2004. That isnt really a huge gap in time since my last academic venture, but i never took it seriously before. In highschool i was more focused on how to spend less effort on school than how to develop good academic behaviors and skills. I currently face a few challenges that should have been mastered years and years ago, but i never had the motivation to do so.

Challenge #1: How to take GREAT notes during a lecture.
I have learned to take down alot of notes quickly, but i do so in an unorganized manner. I can write at fairly quick speeds, and i have the self discipline to keep writing throughout the entire lecture, and i also have no problem taking down relevant, important notes. The problem that i have is that my notes are unorganized. I pretty much write all of the relevant information as it is presented, without much structure. My average page of notes consists of many mini-paragraphs, single sentences and facts, and maybe a diagram here and there. I plan on implementing the use of color as a means of organization, but i feel that there have to be some outstanding methods to take really great notes, just waiting for me to discover them

Challenge #2: Absorbing maximum knowledge through reading.
Of the two classes that I am taking, one of them (history) is in a traditional classroom setting, and the other (psychology) is completely self paced, with no teacher at all. The history class consists of lecture during class time, and readings on my own. The psychology class consists of me reading a textbook, and answering questions in a workbook (none of this is actually mandatory for the class, all that is mandatory is that i take the 4 quizes, and 2 tests, and write a paper). Because of the format of these classes, Im left with a large amount of reading. I don't have much problem finding time to read, but i feel like i should be absorbing more information than i am- such as dates and names. I have attempted to take notes on the material as I read it, but I've found that to be very time consuming, and it throws of my reading momentum every time i stop to take notes.

If you have any advice for me including tips, techniques, theories, etc. on how to improve my college skills, I would very much appreciate your feedback.

I would also like to mention that I have started learning (or attempting to learn) several education related skills: Short hand writing, Advanced memory techniques, and speed reading. Ill put information about these endevers in other posts.

[ebradlee10]

I saw this link a couple of days ago and thought you might get something out of it.

Best of luck!

[RT Wolf]

^ I got that link off of lifehack.org a few days ago.

#1: Notes wise, I've recently taken up mindmapping and finding it to be a great way to organize information and/or brainstorm ideas. I have not used it in a classroom setting because I'm taking a year off, but it seems like it would be successful. Put just the barebones concept names on the mindmap, and I'm thinking a few references which are numbered and correspond to a few other pages which are also numbered, if you know what I mean. There's a few books out there on mindmapping, but it's pretty self-explanatory. Maybe check Wikipedia if you want more info. I've gotta buy a big easel pad, cause it's so much easier ot mind map when oyu have lots of space. Also try adding colour and showing relationships (writing along the lines that connect ideas), etc.

Google note-taking, I did that a few months ago and found great links.

Our minds are pattern and relationship finding computers. That's pretty much what our minds do best at, so revealing and understanding the structure of something allows you to simply plug in relevant details, kinda like building a framework for a house before you actually start putting in the details like electric sockets, lights and drywall, etc. We also tend to be pretty visual learners (visual learners are the majority), so having a mindmap or other visualization of the structure of what you're learning really helps to put it in your head.

If you're so inclined, you can also find other sources for the same information. Different sources/view points help to compound the information and help you remember it better. For example, for my economics course, I intend to read Idiot's Guide to Economics, another textbook or two on economics as well as any other books like that. Introductory course textbooks at the university level tend to be simply written in arcane and ridiculously boring ways, so finding a simpler and easier to read book may help increase comprehension.

#2: You might consider doing hte Photoreading course, or at elast grab the book. I'm not recommending photoreading the book (yet, until I get some success at it) but the first few steps of the Whole Mind system are:

Prepare: Establish your exact purpose for reading. Get into the ideal state of mind by focussing your awareness slightly above and behind your head.

Preview: Flip through the book or chapter and pull out important terms that seem to be repeated. Read the subtitles and bolded words. Maybe check the table of contents or read it (they tend to be fairly detailed in text books).

Scheele also recommends mind-mapping and he's mindmapped the photoreading course, and that is really, really, helpful.

Hope this helps!