Nine Learning Principles

  1. The Principle of Motivated Interest

• Naturally interested.
• If not, create an artificial interest and enthusiasm.
• When you begin to learn something about a new subject, chances are great that you will find it genuinely interesting.

  2. The Principle of Selectivity

• Have the courage to select and reject.
• By evaluating and judging this, you will be learning.
• With practice you get better at this.
• May go through a chapter twice.
• First get main ideas.
• Second time fill in the details to the framework.

  3. The Principle of Intention to Remember

• Pay attention.
• Get it right the first time
• Understand before trying to remember.

  4. The Principle of Basic Backgrounds

• Your professional life begins with your freshman courses.

  5. The Principle of Meaningful Organization

• Use the category system.
• General headings and sub headings.
• Chunk information in groups of seven.
• Magnetic centers - once you learn a word or fact, you will see it repeated.
• Power of association - good background helps you see organization.

  6. The Principle of Recitation

• Transfers information from short term to long term memory.
• Saying aloud ideas you want to remember.

  7. The Principle of Consolidation

• Hold ideas in mind for 4 or 5 seconds.
• Review notes immediately after class.

  8. The Principle of Distributed Practice

• It is best to have several short study sessions, rather than one long session.
• Neural processes of learning continue to work during rest time.
  Holds both immediate and long term retention.
• This will prevent fatigue.
• You will be more motivated.
• Practice, practice, practice.
• Read, recite and review.

  9. The Principle of Metacognition

• Monitor your progress!
• Are you putting in enough time? 
• Do you have clear goals?
• Which are your hardest classes?  Easiest?
• What are your current grades and your desired grades? 
• What do you need to do to get your desired grades?
• What do you know about your learning?

  A tutor may help!  Call:

  Core Desk: (765) 285-3776 
  Math/Physics/Accounting/Economics Desk: (765) 285-3780 
  Writing Desk: (765) 285-3778 
  Study Strategies Desk: (765) 285-3779