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All
textbooks are organized by systems of ideas within them. Diagram
the systems to help you begin to learn them. Notice yourself
naming, identifying, connecting, distinguishing, and explaining
things using ideas.
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Where
we have knowledge, we have an organized technical vocabulary.
Create a glossary of the most important ideas you learn in each
subject you study. |
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Your
knowledge can be no stronger than the knowledge you have of
ideas in a subject. Test yourself by trying to explain key ideas
in non technical language. |
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All
ideas must be understood in relation to contrasting ideas. Try
naming and explaining the ideas opposite to key ideas you learn. |
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All
idea clusters must be understood as part of further such clusters.
Take any important idea you learn and name the ideas that cluster
around it. |
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There
are many domains of ideas: ethical, religious, cultural social,
political, scientific, mathematical, etc. Name and explain a
key idea in each domain. |
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At
the beginning of each semester, try making a list of at least
25 ideas you want to learn in each subject. To do this you might
read an introductory chapter from the textbook or an article
on each subject from an encyclopedia. Then explain the list
of ideas to a friend (state, elaborate, exemplify, and illustrate
each). |
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As
the course proceeds, add new ideas to the list and underline
those ideas you are confident you can explain. Regularly translate
chapter and section titles from the textbook into ideas. In
addition, look for key ideas in every lecture you hear. Relate
basic ideas to the basic theory the subject uses to solve problems.
Master fundamental ideas and theories well. Do not move on until
you do. |
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Essential
Idea: One important way to think about what you are learning is
by high-lighting, diagramming, and explaining the ideas at the heart
of each subject you study.
How
to Study and Learn
Richard Paul and Linda Elder
Tips
& Tricks
Study Skills Page
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