November 2016, Vol.4 Issu.3
For This Day
It Helps to Study From Different Perspectives By Mary Ligon My son-in-law, James, and I were looking adoringly on my grandpuppy, Sophie, and I remarked how cute she is when she tilts her head in that “I’m confused” look. No, James informed me, she’s not confused, but trying to understand by getting a different perspective of me. Her nose may be in the way and by tilting her head, she is able to gain more information and may now understand what I am trying to say. Looking at challenges from a different perspective really is a smart thing to do. Many times I hear new freshmen say that the way they studied before is not working. However, I think that what a student really needs to do is tilt their head and approach the information using different perspectives, just like Sophie. I teach from a holistic approach where everything effects everything else, and I will often weave information from two months ago into a current study; so I want my students to not just learn it for the test but retain it. The creation of long-term memories come down to two approaches – a traumatic event or
repeated exposure. Since trauma is an unreasonable approach no matter how driven the teacher or parent may be, repeated exposure becomes our ally, not just from one approach but different perspectives. Studying should always include writing; however, change the format from just writing on lined paper to making a concept map where the topic is written in the middle of the page and lines connect all the other information to it. Flash cards written by the student and left in the car for those many hours spent driving to and from school and sports can be a great use of time. I also encourage students to have fun and study in groups making practice questions for each other. A most telling test of retention is for the student to become the teacher. Allow the student to teach the family and it will be obvious if retention has occurred. And an important prep clincher – prepare your brain for how it will feel when facing down the test. Set up an area and recreate the test environment without television, music, or cell phones dinging. Set out a cover sheet and think that this is the real thing. How do you know when you are ready? When you can rewrite the information without looking for the answer. If you have prepared from different angles, you will be rewarded with success.