Tuesday, January 20, 2009

What Do I Do When I Get Stuck In My Studies?

By Scott Edwards

Getting going on a new interactive training course is an exciting time. There are lots of new, fascinating subjects to get our teeth into - so much so that it's tempting to become a complete social outcast and immerse ourselves in our studies at every available opportunity. But that's not only slightly weird, it's also not the best way to learn and retain information.

The first thing we need to establish is a manageable study habit. It's better not to run before we can walk, and much easier to take in information in bite-sized pieces. So decide on the number of hours each week that you can commit to and stick to, that doesn't exclude every other area of your life!

Consistently learning a smaller amount well is more useful and maintainable than learning a larger amount not so well. But however savvy we are with our learning diary, there are inevitably going to be times when the brain just glazes over, and nothing will go in.

When this happens, it's important not to get demoralised. There can be all sorts of reasons why we've had a mental block, and there are lots of ways to overcome the stalemate. Taking a break, going outside into the garden and breathing deeply can all help. It's amazing how a nice cup of tea and a piece of cake can fire up the reserves again.

It's not unusual to face challenges the first time we look at something - anything new can test our mental agility. Sometimes we just have to accept this as a part of learning - it happens occasionally and it's not comfortable, but with application we can push through until we hit the 'eureka' moment! Anything worth accomplishing takes a few stop/starts along the way - remember that awkward feeling when first behind the wheel of a car?

Our sub-conscious mind has a habit of solving problems when we're not consciously aware it was working on them, so it can help to leave something over-night and come back the next day with a fresh pair of eyes. Suddenly the answer pops into our head when we're least expecting it.

Writing a section down helps to organise thoughts - if we state our assumptions and the evidence for them, we can usually analyse out the problem areas. Covering it again, and then having a go at explaining it to someone else helps to clarify the point.

Using Google or technical forums for other explanations and descriptions can sometimes put it all in context. With so many different medias out there we can frequently stumble upon something that hits the spot.

Finally, sophisticated learning systems offer excellent mentor support. There's nothing like an on-screen demonstration and one-to-one explanation to help the penny drop. - 14915

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