This webpage contains
excerpts of copyright protected
material. All rights are
reserved.
Available:  November 2007     
                             
Go Boldly
Victoria Pilate, Ph.D.     
                              


Head Check
Students have low self-esteem for a variety of reasons.  Some are
carrying around the negative voices from their childhoods. These
voices cripple their ability to perform and even to enjoy life.  

In undergrad, I came across two people who, in retrospect, I came to
Madelyn, she had been raised by her grandparents.  Her mother had
had her out of wedlock while the mother was a college student.  Her
mother had gone on to graduate and have a career but Madelyn was
raised by her grandparents from infancy to high school.    In talking
with Madelyn, it became clear she had a first-class chip on her
shoulders. When talking about her father and her early years, a hint of
resentment was clear.  I tried to be understanding that her upbringing
may have been painful and it influenced her behavior.  Although I
considered her a friend, she would periodically make verbal jabs at
me and others.  I usually would ignore the comments but did confront
her sometimes about them.  

At one job, my office nemesis, LizBeth, would take verbal potshots at
me quite often to my face and to my office friends.  It would range from
a giggle about what I was wearing to a negative comment about an
idea I had raised in a meeting.  In dealing with LizBeth, at first I couldn’
t figure out the source of all her negativity.  Then, during a business
trip, LizBeth, another coworker and I were eating dinner together.  
LizBeth started talking about her father and quoting something he
used to say to her and her siblings. Suffice to say, her dad apparently
wasn’t the kindest person.  Her constant criticism was just what she
had learned at home and she never shed that conditioned behavior to
ridicule someone else.  
After that, her periodic critical volleys took on a different meaning.  Her
goal, no doubt, was to make me feel inferior or angry.  Instead, I felt
sorry for her.  

Study Skills
Research has found that studying in long uninterrupted blocks is more
effective thank studying in short bursts of time.  However, short burst of
time can augment those long study sessions.  Treat study and learning
as a continuous process.  Look over notes at end of day even if you’ll
study a few days hence.  It helps to refresh the day’s lecture and also
with retention.  

Your body posture is important for learning.  I hesitate to say never, but
never study lying down.  Although you should be in a comfortable,
relaxed position to study, lying down is too relaxed and too conducive
for falling asleep.  The consistent advice of cognitive scientist is to be
seated comfortably, preferably at a desk. Give yourself periodic
breaks to stand and stretch; this also is associated with better
learning.  I admire multitasking people who can read while they
exercise on a stationary bike or treadmill.  It’s never worked for me.  

Distractions should be at a minimum.  Libraries are preferable to the
distractions of dorm rooms.  I find empty classes rooms too barren for
study; I need the background buzz of libraries and the availability of
learning tools (computers, periodicals, books) to study.  Periodically
when working at home, I will use a foot roller to massage my feet while
reading or writing.

Higher levels of alertness lead to better learning.  I’m a morning
person so I am at my best and do my best work in the mornings.  If  
you’re an afternoon person, e.g., at your best alertness in the
afternoon.  Try to study in the afternoon and not at night.  No amount of
caffeine at the end of the day can replace the alertness and retention
that comes with studying while you’re fresh.  

Research has shown that moderate exercise before study helps with
concentration; in fact, having a daily exercise regimen helps with
concentration.  I keep a hand-held weights near my desk to pump
periodically during the work day.  It helps to get my daily quota of
exercise and also helps me focus.  

Memory and Recall
Some people learn better when music is played.  Before you turn on
your hard rock radio station; know that this research is usually based
on instrumental classical music.  And not all classical music is
associated with better learning.  Not long ago, research suggested
that environmental sounds like ocean waves or the call of whales
would help with learning and relaxation.  

Tutoring  
Tutoring is a good idea to augment the learning process of classes.  It
should not be a substitute for attending classes or interacting with
professors.  Though rare, some students use tutoring as a substitute
for dealing directly with professors.  

The success of a tutoring session depends largely on you.  Just as
you would prepare for a class or an exam, you should prepare for a
tutoring session.  Read the material first.  In undergrad, a friend asked
me for tutoring on economics, about five minutes into the session I
had to ask her if she had read the chapter.  She hadn’t. Her
expectation, apparently, was for me to explain the material from
beginning to end.  It doesn’t work that way.

Tutoring is not osmosis.  You’re not going to learn just by talking with a
tutor.  Go into the tutoring session prepared with questions on
problem areas.  If it’s a session on a mathematics problem, try the
problems yourself before going in.  The tutor needs to know where
things aren’t clicking for you. (S)he can’t figure that out readily without
something to go on.

Internship Tip
Too often students will not pursue internships because of housing
costs concerns.  Though some companies do provide housing, more
often housing arrangements and costs are the responsibility of
students.  If you don't have relatives that can help, the best low cost
housing options for interning students are hostels or college dorms.  
Many universities will rent dorm rooms to traveling young people for
their summer semesters when college campuses become ghost
towns.