I The purpose for this introduction is to help you to develop a strategy for success. True for any course of study—a concrete set of learning tools and a definite plan for using these tools is essential. This book provides such tools and a plan for their use.
II A successful student: is highly motivated, maintains a positive attitude, is self-disciplined, is organized, knows the fundamental tools for good study and consistently uses them.
A. Motivation is the justification one will use to develop an attitude. For a successful student, the most common motivational reasons are pride, the desire for self-improvement, and determination to achieve a goal.
B. The successful student has a plan and sticks to it.
C. Good study habits are worthless unless they are regularly used.
III Learning is the act of acquiring a skill or knowledge. Learning is different from memorizing; neither is accomplished by cramming.
A. Learning and memory is linked by understanding. Understanding is the recognition between pieces of information memorized. Therefore, memorization is a prerequisite for success in learning.
B. At the heart of learning is creative problem solving. The fundamental elements to successful problem solving are memorization, organization, concentration, and perseverance.
1. MEMORIZATION: you must know, verbatim, the definitions and formulas. Memorization requires time, at least 20 minutes every day. Like physical exercise, memorizing a little each day is infinitely better than too much all at once. Again, don't cram.
a. Common memorization techniques are:
(1) ROTE (memorizing by repetition) - The best way to do this is with 3 5 cards. For example, write a vocabulary word on the front and the definition on the back. Go through the deck visualizing the vocabulary word, but saying the definition aloud. Then, turn the card over and read the definition aloud. If correct, place it in a separate pile. Otherwise, place that card at the back of the deck. Continue until you run out of cards in the deck. An alternate method is to turn the deck over and read the definition and try to say the correct vocabulary word it defines.
(2) ASSOCIATION (relating new information to something you have already memorized) - This is done frequently with a mnemonic device or an acrostic. Salespersons use the K-I-S-S approach to sales, a mnemonic device. That is, Keep It Strictly Simple. "A Red Indian Thought He Might Eat Turnips In Church" was the way I learned, in the first grade, to spell arithmetic.
(3) LINKING (putting pieces of information together like links in a chain) - A flow chart is helpful, but this usually depends on personal preference.
2. ORGANIZATION: you must have a plan of attack for study, for problem solving, and for knowing you are on the right track.
3. CONCENTRATION: you must keep your mind on your work.
4. PERSEVERANCE: you must never give up. Achieving the solution will greatly affect you. The method(s) used to solve the problem will be retained in memory due to this impact and can be recalled again in future problems—the essence of the learning process.
IV Establish a routine for doing homework.
A. Use a three ring binder with dividers or a spiral notebook with five divided sections.
1. Assign headings for each section as follows:
a. ATTRIBUTES TO MASTER
b. CHAPTER NOTES
c. ATTRIBUTE HOMEWORK
d. EXAMPLE HOMEWORK
e. OPPORTUNITIES
2. Review previous CHAPTER NOTES for the entire chapter, if applicable. Pay closest attention to prior weak areas.
3. In this book, read the black printed notes three times, writing down any questions you may have as you go, using the following format:
a. First time - read everything assigned that day.
b. Second time - read everything again with the ATTRIBUTES TO MASTER open beside you. Copy everything that covers the ATTRIBUTES TO MASTER in the CHAPTER NOTES section in your binder.
c. Third time - read your CHAPTER NOTES for the entire chapter.
4. Go see your NDI to get the questions you wrote down answered.
5. Put your CHAPTER NOTES away: do homework or opportunities as if it is an exam. The more you can do without the notes, the better you will do on an exam. Memory recall cannot and will not improve if you do not take an active role to exercise it. Homework should be as follows:
a. In your ATTRIBUTE HOMEWORK section of your binder, make a question out of each attribute and then answer each question. In your EXAMPLE HOMEWORK section of your binder, copy each example question encountered from the reading, leaving room to answer it.
b. Use a pencil so you can erase. Attempt every problem until you finish it or get stuck. If you get stuck, leave space to finish it later and move on to the next problem.
(1) If you get stuck for more than a minute, then reread the question to see if you missed anything.
(2) If rereading the question does not help, move on to the next problem.
c. Show all work. All answers should require work or an explanation to show how the answer was obtained. As a not-so-side note: an answer alone should yield minimum points on a test or quiz and not be enough for an overall passing grade.
d. After the last problem, go through all the questions a second time, never leave a question blank. Partial credit is better than no credit at all.
6. Get your CHAPTER NOTES out:
a. Use the notes to figure out what you did wrong on each problem. Do not finish the problem now.
b. Check any problems that you were not sure about. Flag any that are wrong for correction later.
7. Put your CHAPTER NOTES away: try to finish all the problems you could not do before and correct the errors you flagged.
8. Get your CHAPTER NOTES out: use the notes to complete any problem(s) you still could not finish or see a parent.
These were the things I did when I was in class 8102 section 8. I am about to start my MBA, I plan to do similarly.
