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Tamerlain · 04-05-2006, 12:45 AM

I don't have a lot of time at the moment to really get into the subject, but I do want to post an anecdote concerning the subject of learning.

In my first year of university, I took notes. Pages of notes. Books of notes. Surely, with notes such as mine, I must know the information in my classes quite well. And sure enough, I did. I did well on my tests and was pleased (relatively) with myself.

After my first year of university, I took some time off to earn money and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Within a month of working, I had forgotten everything I had "learned." I couldn't remember much, if anything, from my pages and pages of notes.

I figured out that what I had been doing in my first year of university was simply regurgitating information. I wrote down what the professors lectured about, memorized it and spat it back out come test time.

Skip forward two years to my second year of university (present). I rarely take notes. I sit and listen to what the professors are saying and ask questions. Then I think about the answer I'm given and ask more questions. And more questions. I've become involved in my learning. I think about what is being lectured instead of simply writing down what is being lectured. This has helped me immensely.

I find now that I'm applying what I've learned in class to my life outside of class, too. It's not simply material I have to learn to pass a class in order to get a piece of paper. School seems more worthwhile now, because I'm taking something away that's useful. A degree is useful in proving that I've attended school, but it does not prove that I've learned anything.

It's hard sometimes to be this involved in class, but I keep pushing myself. I'm happier now with school than I've ever been. The secret was to become involved in my learning. I think this is something that more people in general need to do.

-Tamerlain

04-05-2006, 12:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
Tamerlain Insane Location: Victoria	I don't have a lot of time at the moment to really get into the subject, but I do want to post an anecdote concerning the subject of learning. In my first year of university, I took notes. Pages of notes. Books of notes. Surely, with notes such as mine, I must know the information in my classes quite well. And sure enough, I did. I did well on my tests and was pleased (relatively) with myself. After my first year of university, I took some time off to earn money and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Within a month of working, I had forgotten everything I had "learned." I couldn't remember much, if anything, from my pages and pages of notes. I figured out that what I had been doing in my first year of university was simply regurgitating information. I wrote down what the professors lectured about, memorized it and spat it back out come test time. Skip forward two years to my second year of university (present). I rarely take notes. I sit and listen to what the professors are saying and ask questions. Then I think about the answer I'm given and ask more questions. And more questions. I've become involved in my learning. I think about what is being lectured instead of simply writing down what is being lectured. This has helped me immensely. I find now that I'm applying what I've learned in class to my life outside of class, too. It's not simply material I have to learn to pass a class in order to get a piece of paper. School seems more worthwhile now, because I'm taking something away that's useful. A degree is useful in proving that I've attended school, but it does not prove that I've learned anything. It's hard sometimes to be this involved in class, but I keep pushing myself. I'm happier now with school than I've ever been. The secret was to become involved in my learning. I think this is something that more people in general need to do. -Tamerlain __________________ I never let school interfere with my education.