pre-studying math and science classes

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This works wonders for me. Now, I do have a strong component of being a visual learner. So, just leafing ahead in a textbook sometimes pays big dividends for me out of all proportion to the little bit of time I've spent. Maybe it's a little like a movie preview.

I also like the idea of jumping ahead even if I am behind. (I also believe in lifetime learning and have gone back to college probably about five separate times depending on how I count it.)

Best wishes this coming semester whatever your preferred learning style!

This is an excellent idea! I hope that you don't mind if I borrow it. Another trick that I have used is do all of the problems at the end of the chapter, at least all that have answers in the book or are proofs, etc., so that you know the correct answer. This extra work really helps me.

I'm a fan of this, too. I rarely study ahead for a class I know I'm going to take. With me, if I've taken a class where I've had prior, self-taught knowledge of the subject, that was because I researched and read about the subject on my own as a special interest. What I often do as far as pre-studying science is reading textbooks for subjects that I never had time to take in college or whatever. I'm teaching myself microbiology at the moment, for example.

I think that kind of rapid cycle feedback can literally move the world.

In economics, in medicine, in science, and in education, and also social skills, that kind of rapid ping-ponging back and forth between theory and practice.

Last edited by AardvarkGoodSwimmer on 23 Aug 2011, 2:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Eh-gads!

I hate having pre knowledge of something and having to sit through a lecture on it. I end up bored to tears, annoyed at how slowly the pace moves at and getting upset for being marked down when the answer you give is technically correct but at a higher level than you are supposed to know so it doesn't fit with the answer you are supposed to give for the level you are supposed to be at.

That is pretty sorry that they mark you down for a good answer because their idea of a "correct" answer is so narrow. I'm sorry this has happened. I'm assuming this has been at high school, not college?

In high school in fact, I don't recommend pre-studying beyond math and science precisely because of this boredom factor. In college, it's so high stakes, I recommend it across the board.

Maybe if you sit at the middle, and watch fellow students kind of like an experienced poker player or a seasoned politician? And predict what they know and don't know. And of course don't show off. I'm sure you know this, although it took me longer to learn this than people might think. In fact sometimes in high school, a person almost needs to tail back and underplay their hand as it were. College, again high stakes, get a solid grade on every assignment and run ahead of the curve. Esp that second part, that's what I'm trying to say.

I like medical stuff, too. Primarily I've just looked stuff up at this point. For example, I think I've scouted out some good articles on both influenza and depression and have made some pretty good posts, if I do say so myself.

Even just being one day ahead helps me greatly. But, unfortunately, many teachers don't let me do that.