Dr. Cliff's Notes On A Simple Studying Method That Works

PhD Cliff C Morris Jr.

• Publisher: Dominionhouse Publishing & Design, LLC
• Year: 2018
• eBook ISBN: 9781732312609
• Topic: Studienhilfen
• Subtopic: Studienführer

The students I have encountered in over forty years of teaching mathematics speak of studying as if they all have a common and tacit understanding of what studying entails. The results for many unfortunately do not support this premise.

You will find in the pages of this book a simple, yet effective studying paradigm that will permit you to study smarter, not harder. You only need to assemble an inexpensive set of tools and follow the pattern of study I lay out carefully for you. You will find very soon using this paradigm that how you assimilate facts, review the course content, and mentally prepare for exams will begin to build your self-confidence and eventually deliver the grades you will be proud to receive. You can do this! -Dr. Cliff

“It is relatively well known from learning research that the brain is able to retain comfortably what is presented in the first ten minutes and the last ten minutes of study time. This should cause some concern as some of our learning institutions seem at times to be completely unaware of this phenomenon.”

CHAPTER 3

CONTINUING THE METHOD AND MOVING FORWARD

Let us assume you are now armed with one set of index cards with problems from that first problem set. You may also imagine that eventually you have completed three sets of five to seven examples in the manner I have outlined (question stem on a single side, probably the ruled side, and the problem actually worked out completely on the flip side with any notes you wish to add). This procedure I am suggesting now will be used throughout the remainder of the course.

Another feature of this study technique is that you will carry these cards with you almost everywhere you go. I am suggesting you will be taking the WHOLE set of cards with you either in your shirt pocket or in some holster linked to your belt or in your purse or backpack. I would suggest you use a rubber band or card case to transport these instruments with you in an orderly fashion. This is very important for the reasons I am about to share with you.

It is relatively well known from learning research that the brain is able to retain comfortably what is presented in the first ten minutes and the last ten minutes of study time. This should cause some concern as some of our learning institutions seem at times to be completely unaware of this phenomenon. Our secondary schools and our collegiate institutions hold lessons ranging in duration from 50 minutes per class to almost three hours, if not longer in some cases. We have an opportunity to shape our acquisition of this material by tailoring our study habits to take advantage of what we know from the research on learning.

What does this then say about studying or cramming six hours prior to an examination? It appears we are really wasting five hours and forty minutes on this marathon learning expedition. The public court is still out on whether this method of last minute studying has a globally positive outcome for the many students resorting to this exercise. I propose the following.

You assume a comfortable position in a seat and use your set of index cards as you would a set of flash cards. Place each card in front of you for a few seconds or more at first. Read the question stem, then try to see how to mentally resolve or work this problem in your mind. After a few seconds, turn the card over and read through the steps to solve this problem (make additional notes if needed to aid in remembering how and what to do to solve your problem).

This next point is VITALLY IMPORTANT!!! You must use these cards for twenty minutes only at a time! Then take OFF (put the cards down) twenty minutes or half hour if you choose. Then go back and use the cards again, twenty minutes on the cards, then twenty to thirty minutes OFF the cards.

You should see this makes complete sense. Many students end up many times not studying because they put themselves in a position to NOT study. How many times have you promised to study two to three hours only to find yourself ending up not studying because that chunk of time is unavailable or you get busy and forget to study?

Twenty minutes (a shorter interval of time) is so much easier to handle. People have twenty minutes all day, every day. They generally will find this smaller time interval manageable.

I have never gone into a barber shop and immediately gotten into a chair to get my haircut. While waiting for an open chair, I will take out my index cards from my shirt or coat pocket and do twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off until my turn comes. If I am in a traffic jam, I will take out my cards and get five to ten minutes while waiting for the jam t...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Acknowledgements
• Contents
• Foreword
• First Things First – Assembling the Tools
• Next – The Method
• Continuing the Method and Moving Forward
• Let’s Review the Method Thus Far
• A Final Part of Our Method that Delivers More for the Student
• Final Comments, Final Encouragements
• About the Author