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

Written By Chouhab on mardi 20 janvier 2009 | 08:31

By Scott Edwards

When starting a new interactive training course, it's tempting to become a complete social outcast and immerse ourselves in our studies at every available opportunity. It's an exciting time, with lots of new, interesting subjects to get our teeth into. But apart from that being a rather strange thing to do, 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!

Repeatedly learning a smaller amount well is better and more sustainable than learning a larger amount less well. But however organised we are with our learning diary, there are always going to be occasions when the brain just glazes over, and nothing sticks.

When this does occur, it's essential not to get demoralised. There can be lots of reasons why we've reached a stalemate, and there are all sorts of ways to overcome the blockage. Taking a break, breathing deeply or going outside into the garden can all help. It's surprising how a hot drink and a piece of cake can fire up the reserves again.

It's not unusual to grapple with understanding the first time we look at something - anything new tests our mental agility, and sometimes we just have to accept that this is part of learning - it happens from time to time and it's uncomfortable, but with application we can push through until we get to the 'eureka' moment! Anything worth accomplishing takes a few failed attempts along the way - remember that awkward feeling when first behind the wheel of a car?

Sometimes it helps to leave it over-night and come back the next day with a fresh pair of eyes. Our mind has a habit of solving problems sub-consciously when we're not aware it was working on them - and suddenly the answer flashes into our head when we're least expecting it.

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

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

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