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.

People are smart in different ways. Some people

can create a catchy song at the drop of a hat.
Others can memorize everything in a book, paint a
masterpiece, or be the center of attention. When
you realize what you’re good at, you can figure out
the best way to study. Based on Howard Gardner’s
theory of intelligence, these study tips can help
you tailor your learning for your intelligence type.

Word Smart (Linguistic intelligence) – Word

smart people are good with words, letters, and
phrases. They enjoy activities such as reading,
playing scrabble or other word games, and having
discussions. If you’re word smart, these study
strategies can help:

• make flashcards
• take extensive notes
• keep a journal of what you learn

Number Smart (logical-mathematical

intelligence) - Number smart people are good
with numbers, equations, and logic. They enjoy
coming up with solutions to logical problems and
figuring things out. If you’re number smart, give
these strategies a try:

• make your notes into numeric charts and graphs

• use the roman numeral style of outlining
• put information you receive into categories and
classifications that you create

Picture Smart (spatial intelligence) – Picture

smart people are good with art and design. They
enjoy being creative, watching movies, and visiting
art museums. Picture smart people can benefit
from these study tips:

• sketch pictures that go along with your notes or

in the margins of your textbooks
• draw a picture on a flashcard for each concept or
vocabulary word you study
• use charts and graphic organizers to keep track
of what you learn

Body Smart (Kinesthetic intelligence) – Body

smart people work well with their hands. They
enjoy physical activity such as exercise, sports,
and outdoor work. These study strategies can help
body smart people be successful:

• act out or imagine the concepts you need to

remember
• look for real-life examples that demonstrate what
you’re learning about
• search for manipulatives, such as computer
programs, that can help you master material

Music Smart (Musical intelligence) – Music

smart people are good with rhythms and beats.
They enjoy listening to cds, attending concerts,
and creating songs. If you’re music smart, these
activities can help you study:
• create a song or rhyme that will help you
remember a concept
• listen to classical music while you study
• remember vocabulary words by linking them to
similar-sounding words in your mind

People Smart (Interpersonal intelligence) –

Those who are people smart are good with relating
to people. They enjoy going to parties, visiting with
friends, and sharing what they learn. People smart
students should give these strategies a try:

• discuss what you learn with a friend or family

member
• have someone quiz you before an exam
• create or join a study group

Self Smart (Intrapersonal intelligence) – Self

smart people are comfortable with themselves.
They enjoy being alone to think and reflect. If
you’re self smart, try these tips:

• keep a personal journal about what you’re

learning
• find a place to study where you won’t be
interrupted
• keep yourself involved in assignments by
individualizing each project

• Be good to yourself.
o Keep physically fit and rested.
• Attitude is all-important.
o Use positive affirmations: "I can pass American
History."
 o Provide your own psychological edge, be it a
positive attitude or a "lucky pen."
• Be a chronic enthusiast!
• Used textbooks may provide insights on a
course.
• Sit in the front row;
o if you must sit toward the back of the room,
lean forward.
o Attentiveness and concentration increase
markedly.
• Don't miss the first and last minutes of class.
o They are crucial — important announcements,
questions on test, etc.
• Use a variety of study techniques.
o a. Tape chapters (find out if your textbook has
companion pod cast chapters). Listen on way to
school, work.
o b. Use index cards for quick review.
o Keep them simple. Throw your highlighter
away!
o Remember: frequent review takes facts from
short-term memory to long-term memory —
learning as opposed to cramming.
• Study in short bursts.
o (First and last facts are remembered best;
therefore, it will accelerate learning.)
• Review notes immediately after class.
o Even for five minutes.
o Something magical happens!
• Review your notes out loud.
o Read your chapters out loud.
• Appearance raises grades.
o Neatness counts.
o Word processors are a plus.
o If a handwritte assignment is acceptable, use
erasable pen.
• Don't waste time rereading.
 o Rely on "pen in hand" and SQ3R.
• Test professors before they test you.
o Ask questions about what kind of test to expect,
o what material will be covered.
• Become an expert test taker.
• Go with initial hunches.
• Stay with initial hunches.
• Study according to your biological clock.
o Are you "normal," a night owl, or an early bird?
• Eliminate stress in your life.
• EXERCISE is the best antidote.
• Make extra credit mandatory.
• Never miss a class.
o This is considered mandatory by "A" students.
• Be prepared to bail out.
o Don't be afraid to drop a course that is not
working for you., BUT be aware of all official
dates to withdraw and any vital state legislative
restrictions ( Texas has a limit on total number
of W hours.)
• Volunteer to edit a friend's paper.
o Use it as a learning experience.
• Study smart—not hard!
• Time management skills and discipline pay off.
• Stay mentally, physically and spiritually fit.