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studying is cool B)

@scholarlysquad-blog / scholarlysquad-blog.tumblr.com

hi, im mli. 14. indian. intp. just a 9th grader trying to pass classes and stay motivated!!!

Here’s some cardio lecture crammed into a gif. >_> You see I DO STUDY!!

I tried to match the gif’s frame rate timing to a real resting heartbeat, so if you’re sitting at a computer this might match you! The rate for this heart is 72 bpm. (unless it’s lagging. please do not match the lagging heartbeat, only zombies do that.) 

Note Taking Systems

The Cornell Method

The Cornell method provides a systematic format for condensing and organizing notes without laborious recopying. After writing the notes in the main space, use the left-hand space to label each idea and detail with a key word or “cue.”

Method

Rule your paper with a 2 ½ inch margin on the left leaving a six-inch area on the right in which to make notes. During class, take down information in the six-inch area. When the instructor moves to a new point, skip a few lines. After class, complete phrases and sentences as much as possible. For every significant bit of information, write a cue in the left margin. To review, cover your notes with a card, leaving the cues exposed. Say the cue out loud, then say as much as you can of the material underneath the card. When you have said as much as you can, move the card and see if what you said matches what is written. If you can say it, you know it.

Advantages

Organized and systematic for recording and reviewing notes. Easy format for pulling out major concept and ideas. Simple and efficient. Saves time and effort. “Do-it-right-in-the-first-place” system.

Disadvantages

None

When to Use

In any lecture situation.

The Outlining Method

Dash or indented outlining is usually best except for some science classes such as physics or math.

  1. The information which is most general begins at the left with each more specific group of facts indented with spaces to the right.
  2. The relationships between the different parts is carried out through indenting.
  3. No numbers, letters, or Roman numerals are needed.

Method

Listening and then write in points in an organized pattern based on space indention. Place major points farthest to the left. Indent each more specific point to the right. Levels of importance will be indicated by distance away from the major point. Indention can be as simple as or as complex as labeling the indentations with Roman numerals or decimals. Markings are not necessary as space relationships will indicate the major/minor points.

Advantages

Well-organized system if done right. Outlining records content as well as relationships. It also reduces editing and is easy to review by turning main points into questions.

Disadvantages

Requires more thought in class for accurate organization. This system may not show relationships by sequence when needed. It doesn’t lend to diversity of a review attach for maximum learning and question application. This system cannot be used if the lecture is too fast.

When to Use

The outline format can be used if the lecture is presented in outline organization. This may be either deductive (regular outline) or inductive (reverse outline where minor points start building to a major point). Use this format when there is enough time in the lecture to think about and make organization decisions when they are needed. This format can be most effective when your note taking skills are super sharp and you can handle the outlining regardless of the note taking situation.

Example:

  • Extrasensory perception
  • definition: means of perceiving without use of sense organs.
  • three kinds
  • telepathy: sending messages
  • clairvoyance: forecasting the future
  • psychokinesis: perceiving events external to situation
  • current status
  • no current research to support or refute
  • few psychologists say impossible
  • door open to future

The Mapping Method

Mapping is a method that uses comprehension/concentration skills and evolves in a note taking form which relates each fact or idea to every other fact or idea. Mapping is a graphic representation of the content of a lecture. It is a method that maximizes active participation, affords immediate knowledge as to its understanding, and emphasizes critical thinking.

Advantages

This format helps you to visually track your lecture regardless of conditions. Little thinking is needed and relationships can easily be seen. It is also easy to edit your notes by adding numbers, marks, and color coding. Review will call for you to restructure thought processes which will force you to check understanding. Review by covering lines for memory drill and relationships. Main points can be written on flash or note cards and pieced together into a table or larger structure at a later date.

Disadvantages

You may not hear changes in content from major points to facts.

When to Use

Use when the lecture content is heavy and well-organized. May also be used effectively when you have a guest lecturer and have no idea how the lecture is going to be presented.

Example:

The Charting Method

If the lecture format is distinct (such as chronological), you may set up your paper by drawing columns and labeling appropriate headings in a table.

Method

Determine the categories to be covered in the lecture. Set up your paper in advance by columns headed by these categories. As you listen to the lecture, record information (words, phrases, main ideas, etc.) into the appropriate category.

Advantages

Helps you track conversation and dialogues where you would normally be confused and lose out on relevant content. Reduces amount of writing necessary. Provides easy review mechanism for both memorization of facts and study of comparisons and relationships.

Disadvantages

Few disadvantages except learning how to use the system and locating the appropriate categories. You must be able to understand what’s happening in the lecture

When to Use

Test will focus on both facts and relationships. Content is heavy and presented fast. You want to reduce the amount of time you spend editing and reviewing at test time. You want to get an overview of the whole course on one big paper sequence.

Example:

The Sentence Method

Method

Write every new thought, fact or topic on a separate line, numbering as you progress.

Advantages

Slightly more organized than the paragraph. Gets more or all of the information. Thinking to tract content is still limited.

Disadvantages

Can’t determine major/minor points from the numbered sequence. Difficult to edit without having to rewrite by clustering points which are related. Difficult to review unless editing cleans up relationship.

When to Use

Use when the lecture is somewhat organized, but heavy with content which comes fast. You can hear the different points, but you don’t know how they fit together. The instructor tends to present in point fashion, but not in grouping such as “three related points.”

Three Examples:

Example 1:

A revolution is any occurrence that affects other aspects of life, such as economic life, social life, and so forth. Therefore revolutions cause change. (See page 29 to 30 in your text about this.)

Sample Notes:

Revolution - occurrence that affects other aspects of life: e.g., econ., socl., etc. C.f. text, pp. 29-30

Example 2:

Melville did not try to represent life as it really was. The language of Ahab, Starbuck, and Ishmael, for instance, was not that of real life.

Sample Notes:

Mel didn’t repr. life as was; e.g., lang. of Ahab, etc. not of real life.

Example 3:

At first, Freud tried conventional, physical methods of treatment such as giving baths, massages, rest cures, and similar aids. But when these failed, he tried techniques of hypnosis that he had seen used by Jean-Martin Charcot. Finally, he borrowed an idea from Jean Breuer and used direct verbal communication to get an unhypnotized patient to reveal unconscious thoughts.

Sample Notes:

Freud 1st – used phys. trtment; e.g., baths, etc. This fld. 2nd – used hypnosis (fr. Charcot) Finally – used dirct vrb. commun. (fr. Breuer) - got unhynop, patnt to reveal uncons. thoughts.

September 10th 2015 10:57am // One day down, six to go

The day of the oral exam is coming nearer, and I am feeling actually quite confident. The first students in my year had their oral exams, and up until now everyone passed – and I can´t be that much stupider than them, right?!

I made a little lot-game for recognizing histological preparatories, but right now I´m not really in the mood for going to uni and doing that again. Right now I´m busy enough with cycles and pathways…

And an example of my writing – used to be reeaally tidy and neat, and now I´m just scrawling everything down as quick as possible as there´s not enough time for anything anyway… 😅

05-10-2015 ~ revising ethics and logic!!! {fun fact: my logic teacher is one of the writers of my logic book + i find that to be cool} [7/100 days of productivity]

20/sept - an inside to what my messy notes look like from class/when I first use a book because I can make them look nice later when I write them into the separate notebooks. I’m learning about Kierkegaard today for my EPQ project 🌿

4/100 days of productivity (x)

finished taking notes for a couple of my classes early this morning. i made the switch to composition books this quarter because as a lefty i hate the spiral in spiral-bound notebooks, and i must say i’m really quite happy with my decision ^_^

09.30.15 // 7:17 am

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”          – Confucius 

the curve of forgetting

  • the curve of forgetting describes how we retain or get of information we absorb.
  • day 1: you go into a lecture knowing 0% and come out knowing 100% of what you know (regardless of whether you know it extremely well or not)
  • day 2: you did not do any reviewing of your notes from day 1 therefore you have lost 50%-80%
  • and as the days progress we forget less and less
  • think about midterms! notice how around midterms when you’re trying to study for something (that you haven’t been reviewing for regularly) it feels like the material is VERY difficult and almost as if you’ve never learned it before

formula to reshape the curve

  • within 24 hours of your lecture spend 10 minutes reviewing the material
  • a week later: it will only take 5 minutes to REACTIVATE the same material
  • ultimately, you will reshape the curve  
  • day 30: by this day your brain will only need 2-4 minutes to recall
  • information on the curve of forgetting was taken from the university of waterloo (x)

my formula to reshape the curve using the information above

  • before class: spend 10 minutes PREVIEWING the material. 
  • after class: spend 10 minutes REVIEWING the material
  • do this regularly. this will be your preview/review system for each class.
  • a week later: try to review a week later. i know that school/life can get pretty hectic, but try to make sure you are reviewing regularly.
  • maybe record yourself saying some important details/concepts from your notes the night before and on your daily commute to school plug in those earphones and listen to it. i am an auditory learner and i find that listening to my notes before i go to bed and right when i wake up have truly helped me retain information. studies have shown that the best time to study is right before going to bed and right when you wake up.
  • a month later: after a month, review what you’ve learned so far in your class. trust me this will be a very very short review. everything will look very familiar to you and it won’t look as difficult as it used to.

basically your review schedule should be the following: 

  • 1 hour before learning the material
  • 1 hour after learning the material (or within 24 hours of learning it b/c i know we’re all very busy people)
  • 1 day later
  • 1 week later
  • 1 month later

remember everyone learns, studies, and retains information differently!! my personal belief is that your technique is what matters most. it is not about your innate ability/talent. find a technique that works for you.

more suggestions:

  • active learning > passive learning
  • when taking notes use the Cornell method. it forces you to ask questions and summarize what you’ve learned.
  • set frequent, short, review sessions
  • test yourself constantly! there are so many resources online. 
  • people who are under stress have difficulty remembering things so CHILL OUT
  • don’t rush, take your time
  • repetition is key
  • practice MAKES PERFECT
  • group items together
  • fish, vitamin b12, and green tea can help w/ memory
  • don’t give up. like morrissey said “these things take time.”
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