Basic Science Vocabulary

Science is the systematic study of the natural world. Here are some of the words and their scientific meanings that you will probably come across as you study science.

The words are listed in alphabetical order. Any word in bold is one of the words in the list.

atom - the smallest unit of a chemical element

cell - the smallest unit of living matter

charge - the amount of electricity carried by an object (a charge can be positive or negative - if two objects each have a positive charge or a negative charge, they are attracted to each other - if one object has a positive charge and the other a negative charge, they repel one another)

clone - an organism that is genetically identical to the unit or individual from which it was derived

compound - a substance that is composed of two or more elements

conductor - any material through which electricity and heat flow easily (opposite of insulator)

electron - a tiny particle that has a negative charge and orbits the nucleus of an atom

element - a substance that cannot be broken up into a simpler substance (118 elements have been identified at this time)

gas - a state of matter that has no definite shape or volume, such as air

homeostasis - the tendency of a system to maintain internal stability

insulator - any material through which electricity or heat does not flow easily (opposite of conductor)

ion - an atom or molecule that has an electric charge

liquid - a state of matter that has definite volume but no definite shape, such as water

matter - something that has mass and can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas

molecule - two or more elements that are chemically joined

nucleus - the central part of an atom

organism - any living thing able to carry out life on its own

proton - a positively charged particle located in the nucleus of an atom

radiation - the movement of heat from one place to another by waves or particles

resistance - the extent to which a material opposes the flow of electricity (copper is used in electrical wiring because copper has low resistance)

solid - a state ofmatter that has both definite shape and volume, such as ice

solvent - a substance, usually a liquid, that can dissolve another substance

stimulus - anything in the environment that causes a living thing to react

substance - anything that has mass and occupies space

symbiosis - a close and prolonged association between two or more different organisms of different species (there is usually some benefit to each organism)

tropism - the response of a plant toward or away from a stimulus

velocity - the speed and direction of an object's motion

These are just some of the words whose meanings you will need to know when you study science. There will be many others. It is a good idea to write the science words and their meanings you encounter throughout school in a science notebook.

Studying for the Sciences

"Prescription for Success"

©Academic Skills Center, Dartmouth College 2001
Knowing how to approach the material is the first step in succeeding in a science course at Dartmouth. The amount of material covered, and the speed at which it is covered, may seem overwhelming; but if you follow these guidelines, your stress level will decline as your success increases. There are three elements to succeeding in a science course: Lecture, Time Management, and Test Preparation.

I. Lecture
A. Attend every lecture.
1. Everything you need to know will be covered in the lectures.
2. Go to lectures alert and awake.
3. Write down everything you can. Anything is fair game on the exam.
4. If you miss a lecture, get notes from at least 2 people.
B. Prepare for lectures.
1. Read over the lecture outline before class. This will help you focus.
2. Skim the reading that corresponds to the lecture outline.
C. Find a "Note Buddy".
1. Photocopy and swap your notes with someone after class every day.
2. Meet once a week and teach each other the notes.

II. Time Management
A. Start early
1. Use the first 2 weeks of the term. Don't start snowballing.
2. Start studying for your next exam 2 days after your first one.
B. Set deadlines
1. Make a term calendar.
2. Set new deadlines. Have all your studying done 2 days prior to the exam. This gives you 2 days to review.
C. Find your "Bio Hour".
1. Spend an hour a day reviewing your notes; make it part of your daily routine.
a. Three 20 minute sessions throughout the day
b. 40 minutes reviewing notes, 20 minutes preparing for lectures.

III. Test Preparation
A. Condense the material.
1. Make flash cards over your notes.
2. Write out answers to your cards.
B. Reading should be supplementary.
1. Use the reading to supplement all concepts covered in class.
2. Know all the figures that relate to the lecture.
C. Apply the material.
1. As you study, think of applications of the material.
2. Use old exams as guides to applying the material.
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~acskills/success/study.html

Hand-writing flashcards

I've written before about hand-writing flashcards as a two-time-winner study method because they increase reptition and form a product you produce. Here are some ways that you can improve your notecards as you go through them:

• Complete both sides. I generally make the first draft of my flashcards during lecture. This is a good time to do it, because it keeps me engaged in the lecture, thinking critically, and offers many stimuli to associate to the information. However, I don't always get the question and the answer written. If I got most of it, I probably managed to write down the answer. If I didn't really get it, I try to at least write down a question. This can be a good thing. I can go back later and fill in the other half, which also makes the review a meaningful use of time.

• Annotate the bottom left corner with the subject, block, lecture number (or date) and page numbers of books and notes. The more of these you can fill in, the better. Particularly write in table and figure numbers if the lecturer indicates these during lecture. Understand these figures.

• Expand abbreviations and acronyms. This is particularly helpful if you have a helper (spouse, significant other, particularly smart pet, whatever), who can read the flashcards for you, but who may not actually understand the material.

• Write two to five questions and answers on each card. Write your flashcards in pencil and keep some of those white erasers handy. If you wrote multiple facts on the answer side, think of multiple questions to ask on the other side. This increases the number of associations you've made. Don't, however, make simple questions if you can make easy complex questions. "What's the difference between amylose and amylopectin" is a better than splitting the content into two questions "Describe amylose" and "Describe amylopectin".

• Underline keywords in the answer so your helper (if you have one) can know if your right even if you don't regurgitate the exact same sentence that you wrote in the answer. I use a red fountain pen for this. I find I can easily filter it out if I'm reading the gray pencil markings, it doesn't smear the pencil markings, like highlighter would, and, again in favor of red over highlighter, it doesn't affect the background of the words indicated.

• Rewrite questions and answers for natural language (e.g., use contractions) and active voice. There's a very simple formula for converting passive voice to active voice: "Hydrogen ions are produces by the parietal cells." is passive. Remove the linking verb, and by; then reorder the remaining components as subject, transitive verb, direct object: "Parietal cells produce hydrogen ions." Besides being shorter and more vigorous, it is more accurate, e.g., hydrogen ions may enter the stomach from sources other than parietal cells.>

• Lay out all the handouts and lecture notes. Put the associated note cards on top of each set of handouts and notes. Look for glaring deficiencies in the piles, then go through each lecture and make sure your flash cards have all the right stuff.

• Put all the flashcards in order.

• Copy diagrams into your flashcards where you feel they add information. Keep in mind that the test will surely have more words than pictures.

• Identify the questions by placing an E, M, or H in the lower right corner of the question side, opposite the subject and lecture notes (see above), for easy, medium, and hard, respectively.

• As you get closer to the test, review all the flashcards and set aside the ones you obviously know. Just repeat the ones you don't know. This saves time and helps you organize your endgame as the test gets closer.

• Write comparitive questions. They are a more efficient use of mental space because they encourage you to form connections rather than just memorize more facts. A comparitive question, like "Does acetylcholine act faster or slower than serotonin?" requires you to know three things, while the two questions "Does acetylcholine act fast or slow" and "Does serotonin act quickly or slowly?" requires you to remember a total of four things, two of which, the rates of action, are actually quite vague standing on their own. Acetylcholine is quick compared to what?

http://nielsolson.us/Haversian/science/natural_science/medicine/medical_education/

Loss

From too much love of living,
From hope and fear set free,
We thank with brief thanksgiving
Whatever gods may be
That no man lives forever,
That dead men rise up never;
That even the weariest river
Winds somewhere safe to sea.
- Algernon Charles Swinburne

Advice for Becoming a Physician

How to Become a Doctor

First year medical school

How To Review

The Review Phase Must Happen Over Time!!!!!!!!!! Let me say it again. The Review Phase Must Happen Over Time!!!!! The best method of review is to do it over time, not all in one day.

Review 1: This occurs the day after lecture. Spend no more than 10-15 minutes reviewing a particular subject each day. But there is an art to reviewing also. Most students make the often repeated mistake that I used to make. They simply scan over the material and call it review.. Hell NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is how you review. Read over your previous notes – the ones you made the day before. You’ll be able to do this in about 5 to 10 minutes after you get a little bit of practice.

However, while doing this, you will need to do something else. You will need to do something that I haven’t seen mentioned anywhere else on the web. You need to challenge yourself to add at least 5 sentences to your notes.

Now, in these 5 sentences, you should be able to link concepts to something else. Write down the relationship in a brief sentence. You will become so good at this that you will be able to do this in 10 minutes. It is essential that you link your notes to existing concepts within your mind. This is how things stay in long-term memory.

It’s time for the second review.

2nd Review.. Now, you need to see the material a 5th time (prior to class, in class lecture, after class summary, nightly review). This time spend 5 minutes skimming over the lecture – mainly looking at the major points of your concise, diagrammed, lecture notes. Try to add at least 2 sentences to it. It should take no more than 5 minutes.

At this point, you are done with the material for one day.. So, let’s recap really quickly.

In review, you spent 10-15 minutes going over the previous days lecture. You added 5 sentences to your previous notes linking them to existing concepts within your mind. During the other 5 minutes (you need to spend 20 minutes reviewing), you went over the material that you reviewed before – adding 2 sentences to it. Once again, you are linking it to an existing concept within your mind. Concept building is the key to learning.

Okay, so by now.. You’ve seen the material 5 times in 72 hours!! You’re probably saying enough already.. But it is not over yet.

6th.. During the weekend, you must do a master review. You need to re-read over all the material that you were given. You can skim through it, but you need to go over it for around 2 and a half hours. And guess what.. You need to add more sentences. Try to add 5 to 10 sentences over the entire week of information. This will be the 6th time that you see the information.

In fact, spend every weekend reviewing the material for that entire unit!! So, that you never forget it.

7th.. Finally, let’s fastfoward. The day before the test. Spend 4 or 5 hours reading through all of your concise notes and sentences that you added. You’re ready to make close to a 100% on the test. Reread through the original lecture notes also.

One special note.. You will realize that you will see the material multiple, multiple, multiple times. But each time that you see it, you add something to it. In essence, you never get behind.

http://www.valuemd.com/medical-university-americas-mua-nevis/41542-study-methods.html

What Does It Take To Be A Good Student?

Work-ethic, Dedication, and Self-Confidence!

Take Your Own Notes

A good student takes their own notes and transcribes things into their own words. This is critical because you are translating the notes into a language that you understand. Students who don’t do this will end up failing. This is basic study strategy and it must be done. You must then review the material over and over again. You need to see the material at least 4 times with an optimum of at least 6 times. And finally, you need to review over several days.

How To Study - To Do List

1. Standardize a basic Chapter Review System (Q&A)
   
2. Improve Mapping System
3. Finalized a simple Memory Retention System
4. Standardized Index Card System
5. Limit chapter review to less than 2 hours
6. Index Card Self-Testing System
7. Self-Test Map system for each chapter - 1-2 sentences outline
8. Mind map from Memory regular exercises
   
9. Time Management regular updates
10. A method to continually improve studying system faster and more efficiently

Steps To Mapping

1. Map each chapter outline before reading- (table of contents + in-review) - list sub-topics main points
2. Use rectangles and circles to enclose table of contents outline. And ".." for 1 word phrases to explain each term
   
3. For each map heading, ask yourself (1) What is the purpose of it? as (2) you read the chapter
   
4. Read the chapter carefully and (1) connect each main points to map
5. On map, in your own words, in less than 1 word, or phrase, explain the main headings
6. On map, highlight in color, the topics prof is "focusing" on in class and on handouts
7. File out Index cards using Q&A format - especially the topics the prof is focusing on
8. Set-up a system to periodically review maps and index cards, preferably, (1) at class meetings, and (2) in between classes, (3) weekly review periods, etc
   
9. Independently draw each chapter map from memory
10. Use a memory link system to memorize important notes, esp if from prof handouts
    
11. Use a study buddy to help in reciting less than 1-2 sentences, each map topics
12. Write a brief essay of each map, from memory, and explain as if to a kindergartner

The Learning Process

The Scientific Method

Why Mind Map?

1. Adds Structure - Mind mapping can help you record information in a structure that suits your learning style and means something to you. The content may be coming at you thick and fast but a mind map allows you to put information where you want it and make the necessary connections.
2. Helps Review - highlight key areas, gaps in your understanding and list questions that need to be addressed.
3. Easily Updated - you can use the empty space in your mind map to add new information and to expand on your understanding of the work during the lecture session.
4. Better Recall - By having all of the information covered in a session incorporated into a single mind map, many students find this an aid to them remembering what was covered.
5. Prompts Questions - You mind map should raise some questions about the information you have received. These questions will need to be followed up on so it is important do develop your own set of symbols which will prompt further action by you.
6. Helps Exam Preparation - Imagine how useful it would be if you had a set of mind maps for each of your lectures! These mind maps would show you the areas where you had difficulty and include the follow-up information you added in order to clear these problems up. You would also be able to construct a mind map of the entire subject prior to the exam and this would help you identify the key themes and likely exam questions.

How to do a Mind Map

1. 
2. Focus on key ideas . Skim the chapter - read the abstract, introduction , conclusion, key headings or chapter headings. When skimming through the text observe any diagrams, pictures or graphs. This gives you an overview of what you are about to read, puts it in context and may already give you some clues as to where the most relevant parts are located.
   
3. Read the article in one sitting ( or chunk it into sections/chapters if it is a whole book) and go over any parts you are not quite sure of.
4. Mind Map - Turn the page on the side and do a mind map in "landscape" style. This will give the maximum space for other ideas to radiate out from the center
5. Study your mind map to discover the gaps in your knowledge and refer back to the source material to fill in any of these gaps.
   
6. Use lines, colors, arrows, branches or some other way of showing connections between the ideas generated on your mind map.
7. Personalize the map with your own symbols and designs
8. Draw quickly on unlined paper without pausing, judging or editing
9. Think creatively and in a non-linear manner.
10. Use capital letters for key points
11. Write down some explanatory notes in lower case
12. Leave lots of space, to highlight things, add information or add questions for the duration of a subject right up until exam time
13. Redo the mind map from memory
14. The trick now is to address all questions you have raised and to keep returning to your mind map with the answers! Questions relating to relationships, implications, alternative approaches, usefulness, clarity, personal experience should all be considered at this stage.

http://www.jcu.edu.au/office/tld/learningskills/mindmap/howto.html

The Power Of Mapping

Sample Lecture Mind Map

This mind map was produced from standard lecture notes so that a student could clarify the key points of the lecture. The mind map was produced in the first review after the lecture and was added to throughout the semester. It was then used for exam preparation.

Be Enthusiastic!

You worked very hard to get into college. Even if you hate it, show enthusiasm.

Prepare for the lecture

The greatest advantage is that

1. you are familiar with the subject
2. you know what to ask
3. you are not going to waste time by writing down stuff that is already there in your study material. Rather, you know what to write, where to pick links and to clear your concepts.

By the time the lecture is over, you are in a much clearer state of mind. This way, taking down notes becomes more meaningful and worth the time you spent doing it.

Study Break

For a study break, do something different from what you've been doing (e.g., walk around if you've been sitting), and in a different area

Sit in front of the classroom

Resist distractions by sitting in front of the room away from disruptive classmates and by focusing on the instructor through listening and note taking

Show Interest!

Show outward interest during lectures (attentive expression and posture) to self-motivate internal interest.

Lecture Rehersal

Before each lecture, look over the notes of the previous lecture and read the course material pertaining to the current lecture so that you can anticipate the main ideas that the instructor will cove.

Asking Yourself Questions, As You Study!

Avoid daydreaming by asking yourself questions about the material as you study it

A Personal Time Survey

1. Number of hours of sleep each night	________ X 7 = _______
2. Number of grooming hours per day	________ X 7 = _______
3. Number of hours for meals/snacks per day - include preparation time	________ X 7 = _______
4a. Total travel time weekdays	________ X 5= _______
4b. Total travel time weekends	_______
5. Number of hours per week for regularly scheduled functions (clubs, church, get-togethers, etc.)	_______
6. Number of hours per day for chores, errands, extra grooming, etc.	_______ X 7 = _______
7. Number of hours of work per week	_______
8. Number of hours in class per week	_______
9. Number of average hours per week socializing, dates, etc. Be honest!	_______
Now add up the totals:	_______
Subtract the above number from 168	168 - _______ = _______
The remaining hours are the hours you have allowed yourself to study.

Combine several activities

Another suggestion is to combine several activities into one time spot. While commuting to school, listen to taped notes. This allows up to an hour or two a day of good study review. While showering make a mental list of the things that need to be done. When you watch a sit-com, laugh as you pay your bills. These are just suggestions of what you can do to combine your time, but there are many others, above all be creative, and let it work for you.

Learn to Prioritize

Prioritizing your responsibilities and engagements is very important. Some people do not know how to prioritize and become procrastinators. A "to do list" places items in order of importance. One method is the ABC list. This list is divided into three sections; a, b, or c. The items placed in the A section are those needed to be done that day. The items placed in the B section need completion within the week. The C section items are those things that need to be done within the month. As the B, C items become more pertinent they are bumped up to the A or B list. Try it or come up with your own method, but do it.

Don't be a perfectionist

Trying to be a perfect person sets you up for defeat. Nobody can be perfect. Difficult tasks usually result in avoidance and procrastination. You need to set achievable goals, but they should also be challenging. There will always be people both weaker and stronger than you.

Act like a baby-sitter

Pretend that you're counseling a younger brother or sister about a particular class and you sense a negative attitude. You want to tell them how important such a course is and why it should be taken seriously. What advice would you give? By giving someone else good, solid advice, you teach yourself.

Think like an advertiser

In advertising, the first thing the ad must do is tell the customers how the product or service will benefit them. Otherwise, it's nearly impossible to sell anything. Therefore, find the benefit to you by looking at the syllabus and discovering two or three issues that you find interesting. Focus on those for starters. Other benefits will follow.

Attitude, not ability, will determine your success in college!

Remember the Tortoise and the Hare?. The two, as you recall, were in a race. The hare should have won hands down, no sweat. But he took his talent (aptitude) for granted and underestimated a competitor with great attitude. Attitude beats aptitude every time.

Essay Examinations

For essay examinations, try the "memory dump" technique. If permitted, write down everything you've memorized - facts, names, dates, ideas, events, and so on BEFORE you do anything else. Sometimes reading through the essay questions can distract you from what you've studied. The "memory dump" technique requires that you write down everything possible BEFORE you begin writing essay answers. This way, you are less likely to forget something important.

Think!

Thinking is one of the most important things you can do in class. If you just sit there passively, and not think, class can be deadly. Think about what the teacher is saying BEFORE writing down anything. Writing down each word is a WASTE OF TIME. Reorganize in your mind what the teacher says, and then write it down. This way you will be connecting the teacher's words with HOW you think. If you do this, your notes will make a lot more sense later on.

Break study material into short segments of length dependent on its difficulty. Remember, concise notes are more powerful than copious notes. Think about the material! Then take notes on what you don't know or are not sure of.

The SQ3R method

The SQ3R method has been a proven way to sharpen study skills. SQ3R stands for Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review. Take a moment now and write SQ3R down. It is a good slogan to commit to memory to carry out an effective study strategy.

Survey - get the best overall picture of what you're going to study BEFORE you study it an any detail. It's like looking at a road map before going on a trip. If you don't know the territory, studying a map is the best way to begin.

Question - ask questions for learning. The important things to learn are usually answers to questions. Questions should lead to emphasis on the what, why, how, when, who and where of study content. Ask yourself questions as you read or study. As you answer them, you will help to make sense of the material and remember it more easily because the process will make an impression on you. Those things that make impressions are more meaningful, and therefore more easily remembered. Don't be afraid to write your questions in the margins of textbooks, on lecture notes, or wherever it makes sense.

Read - Reading is NOT running your eyes over a textbook. When you read, read actively. Read to answer questions you have asked yourself or questions the instructor or author has asked. Always be alert to bold or italicized print. The authors intend that this material receive special emphasis. Also, when you read, be sure to read everything, including tables, graphs and illustrations. Often times tables, graphs and illustrations can convey an idea more powerfully than written text.

Recite - When you recite, you stop reading periodically to recall what you have read. Try to recall main headings, important ideas of concepts presented in bold or italicized type, and what graphs charts or illustrations indicate. Try to develop an overall concept of what you have read in your own words and thoughts. Try to connect things you have just read to things you already know. When you do this periodically, the chances are you will remember much more and be able to recall material for papers, essays and objective tests.

Review - A review is a survey of what you have covered. It is a review of what you are supposed to accomplish, not what you are going to do. Rereading is an important part of the review process. Reread with the idea that you are measuring what you have gained from the process. During review, it's a good time to go over notes you have taken to help clarify points you may have missed or don't understand. The best time to review is when you have just finished studying something. Don't wait until just before an examination to begin the review process. Before an examination, do a final review. If you manage your time, the final review can be thought of as a "fine-tuning" of your knowledge of the material. Thousands of high school and college students have followed the SQ3R steps to achieve higher grades with less stress.

Reading

A primary means by which you acquire information is through reading. In college you're expected to do much more reading than in high school. Don't assume just because you've "read" the assignments that is the end of it. You must learn to read with a purpose. In studying, you may read the same assignment three or four times, each time with a different purpose. You must know before you begin reading what your purpose is, and read accordingly.

Getting the Main Idea

Getting the main idea in reading is central to effective studying. You must learn what the author's central idea is, and understand it in your own way. Every paragraph contains a main idea. Main ideas are perfect for outlining textbooks. Make it a habit to find the main idea in each paragraph you read.

Extracting Important Details

Extracting important details means that you locate in your reading the basis for main ideas. There is usually one important detail associated with every main idea. The more important details you can identify, the easier it will be to review for examinations because you have made a link between an idea and information that supports it. The more links you can make between details and ideas, as well as ideas themselves, the more powerful will be the efforts of your study.

Don't Read Aloud to Yourself

Generally, reading aloud to yourself does not help you study more effectively. If you move your lips while you read, you're not reading efficiently. If you read aloud or move your lips while you're reading, you are reading slowly, so stop moving your lips. Try putting a finger over your lips. Your finger will remind you not to move your lips. Make an effort to read faster and retain more - after a while, you'll be surprised how little effort it will take.

Taking Notes

Like reading, note-taking is a skill which must be learned and refined. Almost invariably, note taking, or the lack of it, is a constant deficiency in the study methods of many high school and college students. Learning the ingredients of good note taking is rather easy; applying them to your own situation depends on how serious you are in becoming a successful student.

Where to Keep Notes

You must learn to keep notes logically and legibly. Remember, if you can't read your own writing a few days after taking notes, they are of little use. By all accounts, the best place to keep notes is in a loose-leaf notebook. Use dividers to separate the different classes you take. Make it a habit of using your notebook to record ALL your notes. If you're caught without your notebook and need to take notes, always have a supply of loose-leaf paper with you. Insert your note papers into the notebook as soon as you can. Be sure to buy a good notebook, as it will get a lot of wear and tear.

Outlining Textbooks

First of all, don't underline. Use a highlighter. Experience has shown that text passages highlighted are more easily remembered than the same passages underlined. In outlining a text, don't just read along and highlight what seem to important words. That technique rarely works. The act of outlining works much better.

Hannah Montana

How to Study Better and Faster

The race is won not by the smartest, but by the one who works the hardest!

1. Study after sleeping, your is brain is more active and receptive to new ideas
   
2. Think like an Olympic athlete. How to keep improving your study skills and become the best?
3. Focus on the quality of your study time. It's much more important than the quantity.
4. Use index card to test your knowledge with Q&A format
5. Keep ahead by studying +1-2 chapters beyond class requirement
   
6. Take short but frequent breaks.
7. Relate what you're studying to things you already know. This helps you remember information more easily.
8. Start with the most difficult tasks or assignments to focus maximum brainpower on the toughies. Then move on to the easier tasks.
9. Plan to spend more time (not less) on the subjects that are harder for you.
10. Get into the habit of studying every day.
11. Determine your best study time and plan to study at that time every day.
12. Think of homework as practice, not work. It takes practice to get better at sports or music or cheerleading. School is the same.
13. Ask questions if you're not sure about something. Asking questions is one of the most effective ways we learn!
14. After each study session, try to recall the main points and as many details as possible.
15. Reward yourself when you're done. Plan a fun activity or just relax.
16. Good thinkers see possibilities where others see only dead-ends. If you're not a good thinker, start now by developing habits that make you ask yourself questions as you read.
17. Create a planner to keep track of homework assignments, tests, and projects. Write in your planner every day so it becomes a habit!
18. Organize your notes and homework assignments by subject in separate notebooks and folders.
19. Keep a "To Do" list. Write down things you need to do. Then decide what you need to get done right away and what can wait until later.
20. Before each study assignment, decide what you want to accomplish and how long you will spend on each task. Break your workload down into manageable chunks.
21. Don't procrastinate (that's a big word that means putting things off).
22. Be aware of things that distract you or waste your time, and keep them to a minimum.
23. Don't cram. It's OK to spend extra time studying but don't try to learn everything in one night.
24. Get plenty of rest the night before test day.
25. Don't panic. If a question is too hard, skip it and come back to it later.

NOTE TAKING SKILLS

1. Focus on the main ideas. Don't try to write down everything the teacher says.
2. Use your own words.
3. Keep your notes organized. They will be as important as the textbook.
4. Review your notes every day. This will make things easier to remember when it's time to study for the test.

STRESS MANAGEMENT SKILLS

1. Don't sweat the small stuff. Prioritize your activities and focus on the most important ones.
2. Exercise. It takes your mind off things that are bothering you.
3. Take care of yourself. Eat right and get enough sleep.
4. Avoid drugs and alcohol. They do not reduce stress—they hide it.

All Things Possible

Imagine what you can achieve
if you are willing

to experience the feelings

of doing so.

You Are Where You Pretend To Be

One of the best ways to change our emotional state is to pretend we already feel the way we want to feel. So if you are feeling bored or unmotivated, simply pretend that you are incredibly driven and really motivated to get going. If you are feeling unhappy, then just pretend you are happy and it will start to change.

A key to this technique working is you have to be willing to feel a little silly at first. Smiling and laughing when we feel lousy or walking around with our head up when we feel nervous often feels awkward at first. However, if you can stick with it, in a short time your emotions will start to adjust to the physiology you are displaying.

This technique of pretending can be extended to more than just emotional control. If you’ve been having trouble motivating yourself to start working on a task or chore, simply start doing it. Once you start doing it, use this technique to put yourself into a state of confidence, ease or happiness. Do this and you will find it is far easier to work on a task that you normally find boring or stressful.

Controlling our emotions can sometimes be a difficult process. By pretending, first in our physiology then in our actions, we can gain a lot more of that control.

The Answer Lies Within

Sometimes the Search

for something outside

ends by finding it

inside

Breathing Exercises

You can calm yourself by consciously controlling your breathing. Try one of these exercises:

Exhalation breathing

This slows your breathing to help calm you down.

1. Lie on your back with your arms at your sides.
2. As you begin to breathe in, raise your arms towards the ceiling (elbows bent). Move your arms all the way up and over your head to the floor as you inhale.
3. Reverse the order: breathe out (exhale) slowly and smoothly as you return your arms to your sides. * After you have done this several times slowly inhale and exhale without moving your arms. You can do this exercise for ten minutes or longer -- it's up to you.

Deep Breathing

Breathing can be done anytime, anywhere. Deep breathing provides extra oxygen to the blood and causes the body to release endorphins, which are naturally occurring hormones that re-energize and promote relaxation.

1. Slowly inhale through your nose, expanding your abdomen before allowing air to fill your lungs.
2. Reverse the process as you exhale. Do this exercise for three to five minutes whenever you feel tense.

At least once each day, take ten deep breaths. Breathe in the following manner: Inhale for five seconds, starting the breath deep in your abdomen with your diaphragm. Now hold that breath for the count of twenty seconds to help it fully oxygenate your blood and activate your lymphatic system. Lastly, breathe out for a count of ten seconds.

Use Your Body To Change Your Mind!

Train yourself to rehearse the facial and muscular expression of desired emotions. Evoke positive images of success, happiness, etc. and make conscious efforts to assume facial expressions and body postures when negative emotion is experienced.

Don't Live To Regret!

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain

Happiness Secret Is The Acceptance Of Misery!.

What Is Love?

Love is patient

Love is kind
Love does not envy
Love does not boast
It is not rude
It is not self seeking
It is not easily angered
It keeps no record of wrongs
Love does not delight with evil
but rejoices with the truth
It always protects
It always trusts
It always hopes
It always perseveres
Love never fails

Helpful Hints For Studying

1. study for a while and then take a power nap (20 minutes are good, but no longer than an hour. set an alarm!) before studying again. there are proven benefits!

2. find the perfect place for YOU. it might be outside under a tree, at the library, in a quiet room, etc. for me, it's at the library where they have great lighting and really comfy chairs (but not too comfy to make me fall asleep!)plus seeing everyone else studying makes me feel like i should be too! it motivates me.

3. keep water handy to sip and keep you alert. mints have also been known to help you concentrate (mint gum is best as you are forced to keep alert with the chewing)

4. if you are studying for a test, break the material up. dont leave large amounts of reading for the night before. it's too daunting a task and your brain cant soak up all of the info in a limited amount of time. plus you'll get too stressed out and to do well, you need to be well-rested. keep up with reading!

5. MAKE FLASHCARDS OF KEY TERMS!

6. read a page (or a few paragraphs), cover up the page and summarize the main points out loud in your own words.

7. get a tutor or study buddy. actually, ive found that explaining/teaching someone else the material helps you understand it even better!

8. read over the notes you took that day, at night. if you don't understand something, you can ask the prof/teacher the next day.

9. if you are a college student, use your prof's office hours. if in high school, schedule a time to ask your teacher questions. when you go in, you get the material sorted out AND you show your teacher that you are a diligent student who is interested in doing well. brownie points!

10. look into taking a speed reading class. im trying to get faster myself. :)

11. if you are given essay questions to a test in advance, by all means make an outline! dont write out the entire essay as this will be much too difficult to study/memorize.

12. make a written schedule (i like using excel :)). put in time slots for school, activities you're involved in, mealtimes, etc. then schedule in studying times and stick to them. make sure you also schedule in fun activities as rewards!

13. always carry a school book with you (the smallest one, preferably). when i was in high school, i would carry whatever book we were reading for english class with me in my purse. that way, if you have 15 minutes waiting in the doctor's office, 20 mins in the car on the drive to school, 5 mins at the bus stop, etc. you use those minutes wisely.

14. also for english class reading, look into audiobooks. i had to read james joyce's "a portrait of the artist as a young man" and decided to try out audiobooks. by listening to it on my ipod (at night before going to bed, in the car on roadtrips, etc) i enjoyed it more (the guy had a cute irish accent!) and I finished it faster than if i had read it. i buy mine from audible.com. libraries also carry them.

15. i often get easily distracted with worries and the list of things to do (or random ideas even) while im trying to study. so what i do before i start is take a notebook and just write down everything that's floating in my head onto paper (what i need to buy at the grocery store, people i need to call, payments i need to make, etc) and leave the notebook nearby in case something else comes to mind.

16. here's a heavy-duty studying technique that my roomie and i developed last year during finals week that actually made us want to study! crazy, i know. this works best if you do it with a buddy who will keep you on track. Work/study/read for 45 mins (set an alarm). then watch 1/2 of a FRIENDS episode (or another 30 min show on dvd). again, make sure you set a 15-min alarm during the break. then read/work/study for another 45 mins and then finish the show! taking breaks is really important. you can mix up watching shows with taking a walk, getting a snack, stretching, etc. i find this method works best for me because im motivated to work hard in order to earn the reward and i want to find out what happens at the end of the episode!

17. stay positive. i know it sounds really silly, but it has been proven: if you think that you can do something, you really can. when you get stressed out, stop what you're doing. relax your limbs. close your eyes and take deep breaths. inhale for 5 seconds. exhale for 5 seconds. do this a couple of times and i swear you will feel better.

How to stay awake while studying

#1: Don’t get too comfortable. Forget about studying in bed or on the sofa. Your brain has been trained to sleep there, not studying. Don’t waste your serious study time there.

#2: Get enough rest before. To avoid getting sleepy, make sure you have enough sleep first. Avoid overnighters, else you have to pay back. It’s like credit card.

#3: Exercise daily. This one is obvious. Keep your body and mind healthy and you will be able to stay focused during studying.

#4: Avoid sleep too much. Sleeping too much makes you feel sluggish all day long, your study will not last.

#5: Take breaks. Use the 50-10 rule, study 50 minutes and reward yourself 10 minutes break. Don’t go for marathon study. It does not work well anyway.

#6: Use rich media. Instead of boring reading, try to find the rich-media tutorials with visual, auditory and hands-on. This will engage you more into the learning. You will forget about sleeping when learning is fun.

How to study faster and easier?

What I always do is make notes then create my own worksheets. (fill in the blanks)

For example, Physics, the notes would be
• Friction
o A force that appears when 2 things rub against each other
o Opposes motion
o High when surfaces are dry, rough
o Low when surfaces are wet, smooth

And the worksheet would be
• Friction
o A _______ that appears when 2 things _________________________
o __________ motion
o ______ when surfaces are ____, ______
o ______ when surfaces are ____, ______

Pick out key words to fill in. This way it lets you test yourself and also forces you to remember. If you get it right, good, if you keep getting it wrong, well at least for me, if it comes out in the test I'll say "Hey I kept getting this wrong!" And I'll remember the right answer. :)

Try it, it works well for me! (I do this for nearly all subjects)

Heritik

Life is Difficult

The sooner we recognize and accept this, the sooner we are able to deal with things much more effectively.

10 Tips to Study Smart and Save Time

I recently got my marks back from University. My grade point average was a 4.2 out of a possible 4.5, resting between an A and a perfect A+. In itself, this isn’t an incredible achievement. But I managed to do this while spending only a fraction of the time studying than many of the people I knew.
Is it just natural talent? Perhaps. I’ve always had a knack for understanding concepts and learning new ideas. But I also believe the way I learned the information played a role. Instead of cramming last minute or memorizing details, I try to organize information in a way that makes it easier to recall.
This strategy of organization I label holistic learning. Holistic learning is simply the process of organizing information into webs, that interconnect ideas. Instead of forcing ideas into your skull, you focus on the relationships between information. Linking ideas together to see the whole, instead of just the parts.

Building an Understanding
Learning is a process similar to building a house. You aren’t fed the complete picture. Limitations on communication prevent the instantaneous transmission of knowledge. Instead you listen to lectures, read textbooks and take painstaking notes to try and comprehend a subject.
You are fed building supplies, bricks, mortar and glass. It is up to you to assemble the building. Unfortunately, most learning strategies fall into two basic types:

1. Memorization – Instead of building anything you simply stare at each brick for several minutes trying to record its position.
2. Formulas – This is the equivalent to being blind, fumbling around a new house. You can’t see the building itself but you learn to come up with simple rules to avoid walking into walls.

There is nothing particularly wrong with either of these strategies, assuming they aren’t your entire strategy. The human brain isn’t a computer so it can’t memorize infinite sums of knowledge without some form of structure. And formulas no longer work if the questions they are designed to solve change scope.
Learning Holistically
The alternative strategy is to focus on actually using the information you have to build something. This involves linking concepts together and compressing information so it fits in the bigger picture. Here are some ideas to get started:

1. Metaphor – Metaphors can allow you to quickly organize information by comparing a complex idea to a simple one. When you find relationships between information, come up with analogies to increase your understanding. Compare neurons with waves on a string. Make metaphors comparing parts of a brain with sections of your computer.
2. Use All Your Senses - Abstract ideas are difficult to memorize because they are far removed from our senses. Shift them closer by coming up with vivid pictures, feelings and images that relate information together. When I learned how to do a determinant of a matrix, I remembered the pattern by visualizing my hands moving through the numbers, one adding and one subtracting.
3. Teach It - Find someone who doesn’t understand the topic and teach it to them. This exercise forces you to organize. Spending five minutes explaining a concept can save you an hour of combined studying for the same effect.
4. Leave No Islands – When you read through a textbook, every piece of information should connect with something else you have learned. Fast learners do this automatically, but if you leave islands of information, you won’t be able to reach them during a test.
5. Test Your Mobility - A good way to know you haven’t linked enough is that you can’t move between concepts. Open up a word document and start explaining the subject you are working with. If you can’t jump between sections, referencing one idea to help explain another, you won’t be able to think through the connections during a test.
6. Find Patterns – Look for patterns in information. Information becomes easier to organize if you can identify broader patterns that are similar across different topics. The way a neuron fires has similarities to “if” statements in programming languages.
7. Build a Large Foundation - Reading lots and having a general understanding of many topics gives you a lot more flexibility in finding patterns and metaphors in new topics. The more you already know, the easier it is to learn.
8. Don’t Force - I don’t spend much time studying before exams. Forcing information during the last few days is incredibly inefficient. Instead try to slowly interlink ideas as they come to you so studying becomes a quick recap rather than a first attempt at learning.
9. Build Models – Models are simple concepts that aren’t true by themselves, but are useful for describing abstract ideas. Crystallizing one particular mental image or experience can create a model you can reference when trying to understand. When I was trying to tackle the concept of subspaces, I visualized a blue background with a red plane going through it. This isn’t an entirely accurate representation of what a subspace is, but it created a workable image for future ideas.
10. Learning is in Your Head – Having beautiful notes and a perfectly highlighted textbook doesn’t matter if you don’t understand the information in it. Your only goal is to understand the information so it will stick with you for assignments, tests and life. Don’t be afraid to get messy when scrawling out ideas on paper and connecting them in your head. Use notes and books as a medium for learning rather than an end result.

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/10-tips-to-study-smart-and-save-time.html

Four pillars to emotional well-being:

1. Joy - The happiness that results from exercising one's strengths and competencies;
2. Contentment - The inner peace that comes from knowing that you've done your best;
3. Energy - The excitement and enthusiasm that spring from focusing on opportunity;
4. Affection - The bond that results from sharing your life with others of like values and visions.

Love & Hate

Big Bang

Hello Kitty