Push-Pull

OK, so some of you (well, all of you now) know that I'm headed for training for a federal LEO position. This involves 4~5 months of various law, procedure, and spanish. Given that my last formal education was high school 20 years ago, what I'm looking for is some real world study advice to help me get through this fast paced schooling. In particular, I understand that I'll need to be doing a lot of memorization. What tips can TFP'rs offer?

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"No laws, no matter how rigidly enforced, can protect a person from their own stupidity." -Me-

"Some people are like Slinkies..... They are not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." -Unknown-

DAMMIT! -Jack Bauer-

Hain

As I know nothing about the way a federal LEO position is taught I will post some basic habits.

1. Things required
   • Lots of colored pens
   • A spiral notebook
   • Highlighters
2. Follow these basic steps while in class:
   1. Number every page
   2. Only write on the back sides of any page in the notebook
   3. Come up with a nifty color coordination to various items discussed during class
3. When outside of class and need to study
   1. Begin copying your sloppier notes from the back side [left] to the open right page
   2. Highlight the important stuff on both left and right pages
   3. Make additional notes that you find
   4. Enforce your suggested color scheme in the transcribed notes

That has gotten me through 2 years of high school and 3 years of college thus far.

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Jinn

When preparing for a test that will require rote memorization or repetition, like definitions or explanations, do two things:

1) Create a "blank" test based on the topics that you believe will be on the test, and try to answer the questions cold, like you were staring at them on a real test. Look at your answers only when you can't remember. I recommend using a computer for this, as you can use your "blank" as many times as it takes. It's a great way to determine if you're ACTUALLY ready for the blank test that you'll eventually get, or just "feel" like you're ready.

2) Say the answers out loud. Things spoken have to be implicitly memorized, as the brain must 'cache' what you're going to say. You'll be amazed at the difference between things you think you memorized and things you memorized and verbalized.

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"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

Baraka_Guru

I'm sure you're going to get a lot of good advice. Heck, you've already received some.

What I will say is indirectly related to studying, but it is essential nonetheless: eat right and get lots of sleep.

It might seem like a no-brainer, but it's easy to fall into bad habits when you're overwhelmed with study. You retain what you learn far better when you get adequate sleep (shoot for at least 7 hrs) and you avoid junk foods that you eat for that "pick me up" when you're trying to use your brain. Your brain demands glucose, and if you don't get enough through complex carbohydrates, you crave things like sugar and fat. Unfortunately, this only causes energy peaks and crashes. It can lead to a vicious cycle. You need to avoid this.

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Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot