Did you know that you are walking around with one of the most amazing computers right on top of your shoulders!?!
Yes, your NeckTop Computer! Even this wonderful organic machine needs software upgrades now and then. Teach it how to learn, remember and adapt. By consistently learning, you upgrade your software, which makes your life so much easier because you can understand information at a quicker pace, store that information longer and be able to show off just how much you have learned by being able to handle those pesky quizzes, tests or exams 😉
Brain Facts
- About 100 billion neurons make up the human brain.
- Each neuron connects approximately 10,000 neutrons together.
- The human brain weighs about 3 pounds.
- The cerebral cortex grows thicker the more it is used. That means you have more neural networks to process information and more memory capacity. The more you learn, the better your brain gets.
- For all of you environmentalists…your NeckTop computer is powered bio-electrically! Just eat things that are healthy for you…feed and power this computer!
Learning How to Learn
Learning how to learn starts with developing your Academic-Self Efficacy; the belief that you have the skills necessary to successfully complete your courses and that you have the ability to improve, when necessary. For example…
- Knowing how to schedule time to accomplish tasks.
- Knowing how to take notes.
- I knowing how to study to perform well on tests.
- Knowing that you are good at research and writing papers.
- Knowing and feeling that you are a very good student.
- Having the experience of usually doing very well in school and at academic tasks.
- Consistently finding ways to make your academic work interesting and absorbing (even when it is not at first).
- Knowing that, despite obstacles, you are very capable of succeeding in your post-secondary program.
4 Ways to Develop Academic Self-Efficacy Beliefs
- Performance accomplishments: The experience of mastery influences your perspective on your abilities. Successful experiences lead to greater feelings of self-efficacy. However, failing to deal with a task or challenge can also undermine and weaken self-efficacy.
- If you avoid doing class presentations because you feel anxious or nervous, you never have the opportunity to improve, adapt, develop skills and believe that you can do this. Yes, despite how anxious you are, you can learn to at least survive presentations. I did.
- Vicarious experience: Observing someone else perform a task or handle a situation
can help you to perform the same task by imitation, and if you succeed in performing a task, you are likely to think that you will succeed as well, if the task is not too difficult. Observing people who are similar to yourself succeed will increase your beliefs that you can master a similar activity- Look around your classroom and your life. Who seems to “have it all together” or seems to know how to write papers, to study or to write tests. Ask them about their process. Observe, try and improve based on the experience of others.
- Verbal persuasion: When other people encourage and convince you to perform a task, you tend to believe that you are more capable of performing the task. Constructive feedback is important in maintaining a sense of efficacy as it may help overcome self-doubt.
- Ask for feedback from friends, classmates, professors/instructors or tutors. Learn from the constructive; learn from the encouragement.
- Physiological states: Moods, emotions, physical reactions, and stress levels may influence how you feel about your personal abilities. If you are extremely nervous, you may begin to doubt and develop a weak sense of self-efficacy. If you are confident and feel no anxiety or nervousness at all, you may experience a sense of excitement that fosters a great sense of self-efficacy. It is the way people interpret and evaluate emotional states that is important for how they develop self-efficacy beliefs. For this reason, being able to diminish or control anxiety may have positive impact on self-efficacy beliefs.
- Learn about YOUR brain. Learn more about this awesome computer. I have written extensively on emotion regulation, stress management, anxiety, check out some of my other posts to learn more about managing, understanding and improving your own NeckTop computer.
Adapted from the following source: Click Here
Step-by-Step Process
- Academic Self-Efficacy Mindset: Start with building your Academic Self-efficacy mindset (above). This prepares your mind for the software upgrade process
- Study Skills Questionnaire: Start with an assessment of your study skills tool kit. What you have; what you need.
- Study Skill Toolbox: Make a list of skills that you already have. Make a plan for the areas you would like to improve (upgrade the software).
- Software Upgrade: Start searching online or in human interactions, for tips, strategies to learn different ways of improving in the following areas:
- Project Managing Your Academic Experience: Organization & Time Management
- Note-Taking Strategies: Capturing the Knowledge
- Leaning into Your Studies: Attitude, Learning Style, Active Learning and Memory Enhancement.
- Being Tested: Strategies for Writing Quizzes, Tests and Exams.
- Learning to Communicate: Research and Writing Skills
- Presentations: Learning the Tips & Tricks
- Working in Groups: Strategies for Making the Process Smooth and Effective.
*I used to have a 1969 VW Beetle that I painted red foot prints running from the back, over the top to the front. I could totally post rationalize that it was because I so strongly believed in the step-by-step human growth and change process, but really it was because I loved bare feet, I was very poor and the red paint was free 😉 I have grown 😉
Study Skills Questionnaire
Let me know what you think, what topics you would like me to cover or ideas you have. I would really LOVE to hear from you 🙂
Tell me about your journey!
#YouGotThis #LiveFully #MentalWellness
Dr. Heather Drummond, C.Psych.
Psychologist * Passionate Advocate for Flourishing * A Human Muddling Through
#EmbraceThisMessyLife