Portofolio for Jared Edward Harden

Hopefully my grasping concepts in whatever I study becomes permanent. As I learn new ways to retain and study what I am interested my retention is good but can always be improved. As I start out this Fall 2020 semester, I can’t help to be excited even more as I learn better studying and memorizing techniques. There are many useful tools that these videos have got me to jot down notes for my memory to improve.

There are lots of ways to take notes. I wrote down eight of them. The first one is annotating or commenting on the instructor’s lectures in my notebook. IN my notes, write down any questions, keywords, and summary of notes taken; preferably right after class while its still fresh. When reading and taking notes, do not highlight everything. Ask questions in notes and ask the instructor or classmates. Remember that thinking is internal talking. And finally, teach others what I learned to reinforce what I know. If I can’t find someone to teach, find an empty chair; better yet, make a video.

There seems to be a notion that more study is important. Actually, more study time seems to worsen performance. After class, sit down and expand on what I jotted down. Stop and look at say what it was about in my own words. Control my environment with cues. Music that is low enough to think and study by if any music is necessary. I already have a small lamp that I study by. Now, turn it off and use other lights and keep this lamp only for studying. I will practice studying seated down. I seem to do better when I get up during reading to stretch but I will set a timer for 30 minutes increments and six minutes breaks. Because the things that are rewarded for positive reinforcements, we tend to do better.

I learned about SQRRRR, which is interesting. I have to practice this new technique. When I go through a textbook I will keep in mind to ‘survey.’ Which means to go through the entire chapter and ask while you survey keywords, claims, and do not passive read. I do this all the time when I read. Now, I have to practice this. Luckily, I’m taking a reading class to practice and learn these techniques. Ever finish reading a paragraph and realize you have no idea what you just read? That’s passive reading. Your eyes might have seen all of the words, but your brain didn’t focus and engage with them and decode them into an idea that makes sense. Passive reading usually results in poor comprehension and failure to grasp the point the passage is making.

PLAN SOMETHING REWARDINGLY SPECIAL AFTER STUDYING FOR LONG WHILE. So reward yourself, with some beer, food, hobby, bike ride, night walk around the neighborhood, just something you enjoy the most and feel it would be a great reward.

Never use repetition memorizations. It can be effective if we train it though use of flash cards. Learn the concepts not the facts. We can always use google to look up facts. Can I put the concepts in my own words?

I have my work cut out for me this Fall 2020 semester. I think this semester is going to be really fun learning new concepts to help me study better and work on my assignments throughout this semester.