Goodreads
Math is a tricky subject, but it is not tricky if you understand the best way to learn it. You need to take advantage of both your diffused and focused mental state to achieve mastery in math.
Quotes that stood out:
Math can be a wicked stepmother. She is utterly unforgiving if you happen to miss any step of the logical sequence - and missing a step is easy to do.
Notes:
- There are 2 modes of the brain: the Focused mode and the Diffused mode. Contrary to popular belief both modes are important for learning.
- Focused mode is a highly attentive state of the brain.
- Diffused mode is a more relaxed state of the brain.
Chunking
- Step 1: Simply focus all your attention onto the information that you want to chunk.
- Step 2: Understand the basic idea of the information that you are trying to chunk.
- Step 3: Gain context so you can see not just how but when to use this chunk.
- The only place you will have to apply will power is when you change your reaction to the cue that makes you procrastinate.
4 components of a habit
- The Cue > Recognize what makes your procrastinate. It could be a time, place or how you feel.
- The Routine > After you recieve the cue your brain has a routine of procrastinating. This is where you need to focus on and change this routine to something else more productive. The key is to have a plan.
- The Reward > Give yourself a reward so that you can rewire your brain into following this new routine the next time the cue appears.
- The Belief > Belief that this new system works is what will get you through and complete the process of rewiring your brain. Use this technique called mental contrasting where you compare where you are right now vs what you want to achieve.
Ideas:
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Rather than devote a long session to the study or practice of the same skill or concept so that overlearning occurs, students should divide their efforts across shorter learning sessions. This doesn’t mean that longer study sessions are necessarily a bad thing.
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Long study sessions are fine as long as students don’t devote too much time to any one skill or concept.
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When doing a type of problem in math, do not do 10-20 similar problems consecutively, it is a waste because it is not effective. You are simply mimicking what you did on the previous sum.
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Instead go back and forth between different exercises. Learn to switch gears frequently so that you are used to it during an examination. It improves concentration and attentiveness.
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Always be able to see the finish line. It will motivate you a lot.
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Break your work into bite sized pieces, then work intently, but briefly.