Study and Environment.

Hello again,

IQAdult has strayed from the original idea of a learning site to one of social comment. One thing has stayed the same though; the lack of feedback, comment.

Even when I have been deliberately controversial it has passed unnoticed.

This is in spite of the fact that there are readers.

What does it take to get you to put hairy or delicate fingers on the keyboard to give your opinion?

None of us is right about everything and we all should be trying to see the other side in any debate. So please tell me when you believe something opposing what I say. Give some reason and we’ll take it from there.

We’re not going to fall out over it. A healthy debate should stimulate thinking.

There are enough somnambulist proles walking this planet who will never consider the other side of any topic. Many stop at the gate and say there is no other side.

Let’s hear your side.

As a bonus I’ll advertise your blog or site if you have one. Maybe you have an opinion that gets a lot of replies. If so you can use this as a testing ground for a blog of your own.

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Want to save some reading time?

The way to do it is the way good students do it.

What is your purpose and that of the author? All of us have found at times we need to reread something because it just didn’t sink in. That can be tiredness or disinterest in the topic. It happens often with students because they don’t really care for the subject. Maybe it’s bad writing; too many words or dry language.

The key here is to identify the reason. Why am I reading this?

If it is an article in a newspaper or magazine it will be written with the topic and main point at the beginning so read the first two paragraphs. The evidence and padding fills the article and the conclusion is given. So if you get the drift of the article after the intro just go to the end.

Go back to get any detail you need for your purpose in reading.

If you need to comment on what you’ve read, look for the key words. Often a thousand word ‘piece’ can be reduced to fifty words and if you understand the topic, reduced even further. These become your notes, whether written or mental. Take a little time to organize this summary when you’ve finished. This helps your understanding.

So many books and movies have been made with the “Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy gets girl back again,” plot. That need not detract from a good novel. The plot takes second place to the author’s skill in his craft. A page can transport you to heaven or hell.

In a movie we have come to be more concerned with the content (effects, drama, spectacle, emotion, etc.) than the plot.

But with non-fiction it’s different. Pick what the author is saying.

Do you agree or think he’s missed important information?

Is the article logical or has there been screw ups in his thinking?

Are you wrong? Both you and the author are vulnerable to mistakes.

Question the article. If you are doing this for an exam the teacher will be more impressed with a well thought out reply than a copy of main points. Besides, by questioning you start to think for yourself. That’s what learning is about. It’s not to become a parrot.

A lot of books have an end of chapter summary. These are so useful. Read these and fill in the details of vague points from the text. Very often the whole book can be mastered in a very short while.

If there is no summary read the ‘contents’ to see what ground is covered, then the conclusion. Go to the index to pick areas you need further explained.

Learning depends on your attitude and relevance to you. New information must be linked to something you already know. A bad student may be able to remember every goal and name of every footballer of a team for the past ten years but not be able to remember anything about school taught history. Its relevance, interest is not there.

If you can link history to football; he’d remember it.

You are reading for a purpose. What is it?

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This has been mentioned before but it has relevance not just to learning but to life in general. It’s your immediate environment. Where is your computer? Where do you study or read? How is your family life?

Your surroundings influence you in so many ways. Nobody can say that growing up in a Brazilian slum, uptown New York or a country town doesn’t make a difference to the way you think. Of course it must.

The wellbeing of our home planet is being degraded by people without ethics. Too much needs to be done to change that but you can change your personal environment. All it takes is to see the benefits and act on it.

We can’t all live with a seascape or hilltop view; or can we? There is an increasing number of professional people moving out of the city and living a healthier life in rural settings. The communications revolution means so many jobs can be done at home so why not make your home where you want to live? Cleaner air, less noise, fewer distractions, less crime and more scope for a healthier lifestyle make it an attractive option.

A rural setting may not provide the wealth of social opportunities available in city life but weigh the benefits against the occasional traveling. Is the party, concert or bar life worth more than your health? Start to think about your environment.

I’ve talked about study conditions before but if you spend a lot of time with the P.C, get the best conditions. Your chair needs to be comfortable, with arm rests and adjustable height. Keyboard needs to be easy to use. I found a cordless keyboard works well for me because it can be relocated when a small change in view is needed. It’s all part of refreshing the mind.

Get rid of distractions like noisy kids, annoying music or visitors. Make it your corner of the world and your time. Let people know you’re ‘at work’ even though you’re at home. Have some plants in the room and make sure lighting is comfortable.

Another aspect is important. Your household environment influences your personal relationships. It must feel like home and be a place to relax. If there is conflict at home it may not be only incompatibility. The place may be depressing, dull and lifeless. Family members can be brought together in a cooperative effort to achieve a redecorating. An ugly view can be covered by a few lush plants. A paint job can do wonders. A ‘throw-over’ will change a couch. Coordinating colors or fixing annoying faults can do a great deal for morale.

Get rid of objects that obstruct movement. Never leave things dropped on the floor. Ease of movement is essential especially in hallways. Let sunlight in. We often have either too much or too little furniture. Make it right. Be innovative. Take some wall hangings down and put up shelving to get organized. Have a yard sale to get rid of stuff or go to them to buy stuff.

Hopefully a strengthening of family ties will provide the impetus for more unity if you get to work on a common goal. These ideas are easily found in decorator mags or on TV so there is no excuse for ignorance. Believe me, your environment does influence your thinking and emotional state. Make yours friendly. It’s easy to do.

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Stay well,

Jay.

Mail iqadult@gmail.com to get in touch personally.

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