studywell

HOW TO MASTER RAPID READING SKILLS?

2012-03-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

Doing things effectively yet quickly has become a mandate in this world where time is less and work is more. Thus, the acquisition of rapid reading skills become important for students as it helps them to study more effectively in lesser time and also increases their power to assimilate and concentrate.

So what exactly is rapid reading?
Reading that is faster than a person's normal rate of reading, in other words, reading that is accelerated is called rapid reading. Rapid reading is often used for specific purposes, as to locate essential information only, to get an overview of text, etc.

Rapid reading skills enable you to improve:
• Your reading ability so that you can find the information you need quickly and easily
• The skills for making notes so that the notes you make are clear, easy to understand and quick to review
• Your revision techniques so that you can retain information in your mind

The key insight
The most significant secret of rapid reading is to know what information you want from a particular chapter before you start reading it. If you want only an outline of what the chapter consists of, then you can skim through the chapter quickly by running your eyes through the chapter with extreme concentration and extract only the essential facts. If you need to understand and assimilate the chapter in detail then you must read it slowly enough to absorb all nuances and concepts well and yet not too slowly as that will give space to your mind to wander.

Tips for rapid reading
Here are some helpful tips and tricks that will enable you to master rapid reading skills:

Increase the number of words to be read in one go
Yes! Expanding the number of words that you read at a time will take a conscious effort from your end but it will help you in achieving the larger goal. With practice, you will be able to read faster. Holding the text a little further from your eyes also significantly helps in increasing the number of words in each block. The more words you can read in each block, the faster you will read!

Reducing fixation time
The minimum length of time needed to read each block is probably only a quarter of a second. But most of us, when reading at peace or luxuriously, take much longer. By pushing yourself to reduce the time you take to read one block, you will get better at picking up information quickly. Again, this will largely improve with practice and confidence.

Skip obstacles and come back to them later
While reading a passage, if you don’t get a word’s meaning, do not get stuck on it. Keep a note book and keep writing the words you don’t understand in it or simply underline the words on the text itself. Then go back later after reading the material once and find out the meaning of these terms. These are words whose meanings you should know so that the material makes sense to you so don’t skip it either.

Do not try to pronounce each word – whether loudly or in your head
This habit of pronouncing each word internally in our head or loudly slows the process of reading. So do not indulge in it. Rather, just let your eyes glide on the sentences block by block and you will find yourself reading faster and with greater concentration.

Avoid the tendency to skip back
Most of us are lured towards re-reading or skipping back to previous lines. To reduce the number of times that your eyes skip back to a previous sentence, run a pointer along the line as you read. This could be a finger, or a pen or pencil. Your eyes will follow the tip of your pointer, smoothing the flow of your reading. The speed at which you read using this method will largely depend on the speed at which your hand guides the pointer.

The idea is to read fast but also to gather enough relevant information from the text. So master the trick of reading fast and you will find yourself with so much more extra time and yet ready for those exams.
All the best!

TIPS FOR SMART BOOK SHOPPING

2012-03-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

As a student, it is important for you to buy relevant study material using the limited financial resources that you have. Here are some tips that will help you buy the right books always and buy more with less.

1. Form a book pool
You don’t have to add each book that you may need currently to your lifetime book collection. So why itch to own a copy? Form a book pool with some friends and buy books collectively. Keep them till you need them and then sell them off to buy more relevant books. This will not only save money but also ensure that you don’t collect books you don’t require later.

2. Be sure of what you want
Have clarity on what you want the book to cover before you walk into a bookstore. Compare the contents of a few books to figure which one covers the relevant topics better before making the final decision.

3. Don’t base your buying decision on the index/content page alone
Though it’s fair to derive information on what the book comprises from the contents/index page, you still need to turn pages over to figure out how these content heads have been covered. Check for understandability of language, clarity of content, flow, depth required and so on. You can go through 4-5 topics at random to arrive at a decision.

4. Always be open to bargains
Ask your seniors if they have the books you are looking for. You might get a second hand copy from them at a great price. Also, always enquire at the bookstore for a second hand copy of the book you want, in usable condition. You anyway will want the book for a year or a semester so it’s cool to grab a second hand copy and invest the saved money in another book.

5. Ask your instructors for guidance on what to buy
Teachers tend to know some of the best reference books on their subjects. So ask them for their referrals. If you have come across a book that you think is better than one they have recommended, do mention the name and the details to them for a second opinion. After all, they will be the one who will check your answer sheets so might as well study from the books they approve of.

ETIQUETTE FOR GROUP DISCUSSIONS

2012-03-19T09:06:00.000-07:00

Almost all post graduation colleges and even some graduation colleges have group discussions as an essential part of their admission process. Group Discussions enables the jury to judge the student’s ability to think, communicate, solve problems and react to a particular situation or a subject. It is here that they will judge how well you can interact with your peers and how well you dodge an argument or take to opposition. Thus, it’s important to be aware of the unwritten rules of group discussions to court success.

Tips for success in group discussions
Keep these dos and don’ts in mind and you are unlikely to go wrong.

Speak enough and effectively
First, there is nothing wrong with being quiet. At the same time, you don't want to be too quiet. Speaking is important for being noticed but speaking too much is not recommended. It is important to make sure the statements you make are concise and to the point so think before you shoot out your words. You don't want to give the wrong impression by making statements that are not clear and you don’t want to reflect thoughts contrary to your belief either. So be careful about what and how much you speak.

Do not be over assertive or disrespectful
Never ridicule the comments or ideas of others. If you disagree with a statement made by another member, voice your disagreement in mature, respectful way. Instead of saying "that doesn't make any sense," say "I don't know if I agree. Could you elaborate?" This will not be as offensive as the other statement. On the other hand, if you do not allow others to speak or cut them down incessantly or speak rudely or sarcastically, you are likely to be perceived as disrespectful and arrogant and no one wants disrespectful and arrogant students in their college.

Listen before you react
In a group discussion, listening to the others views and assimilating what they have to say is as important as speaking out. If you speak out something without understanding the other person’s views, you are bound to come across as foolish and stupid. So listen carefully to where the discussion is going and then react.

Don’t speak for the heck of it
Speaking more is not considered smart but is looked at as attention gathering technique. You will be appreciated more for speaking sense rather then speaking more. So stay away from the habit of speaking for the heck of it.

Avoid conflict statements
Avoiding conflict in a group discussion is crucially important. Once a conflict has started, it is very difficult to control it. Everyone is different and will have strong beliefs about a topic that may differ from others. That does not mean you go all out and bash others for their different views. Never tell a member of the group that they are wrong. Instead, disagree with them by using phrases such as "it may be better to...." or "may be we should do it this way?" You are there to make it through the admission process and not to change a person’s thinking style. So stick to your goals!

Tackle trouble with tact
If someone is trying to argue with you just to pull you down, dismiss the argument with a smile and a firm statement. Say something like, “I respect you for your view but don’t really adhere to it” or something like, “I like the passion with which you believe in your views but I would still like to stick to my opinion. Maybe we both are right.” The idea is to try and end an argument politely so as not to make it a one to one verbal bashing match.Always remember be precise, be comprehensive, be focused on the issue and you will be able to hit the nail.

WHEN YOUR GRADES START FALLING...

2012-03-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

It’s the end of the academic year and you’ve noticed that your performance in class hasn’t been that good. Your grades have fallen and you need to pull up your socks to make sure you do well this year. Here is a list of things you need to pay attention to:

Background
What are the subjects your scores are low in? Is it the languages or science? While the sciences always require a lot more understanding and constant practice from the syllabus itself ; the languages would require you to do a lot of reading and writing outside of what is being taught to you in class.

Why are your grades falling?
Are you not studying enough, or finding it hard to comprehend and grasp concepts? Many a times, most students end up having a block towards one subject that they don’t fare too well in. At times like this, you just need to work on getting rid of that block. Once that's done, you'll find that you probably like the paper/subject.

Shortcomings
What are the others doing that you aren't? Take a look around and talk to your classmates. Are they doing extra reading or extra practice? Are they going for tuition lessons that you aren’t aware of? Or are there some lessons that you've missed out on in the previous classes that are making learning a tad bit difficult for you to comprehend what's being taught now?

Ask for help
If you're having trouble grasping, don't be ashamed to ask for help. If you're in a class filled with people, you're probably not the only one who has a doubt or a difficulty. So stand up and ask for clarifications; the teacher is there to assist you.

Be perseverant
The only way that you can make your way back to the top is by ensuring that you practice and persevere over time. It’s not good enough to redo your sums for a week, or read that extra lesson for just a month. Remember practice makes perfect so do it over and over again till you get it right. .

TOP 5 TIPS ON TAKING LECTURE NOTES EFFECTIVELY

2012-03-17T09:03:00.000-07:00

Learning how to take notes effectively during classes and lectures is a college student’s first step to making the transition from school to college easier. Once you master the art of taking notes, preparing for exams will become considerably less taxing and significantly more enjoyable.

1. Come prepared to class

Work with a three-ring binder instead of a spiral or bound book. It’s easier to remove pages for reviewing.

Bring highlighters to class. Professors will typically make comments like, "this is an important concept" or "make sure you understand this". These are important hints that this content will more than likely be on an exam and highlighting them will remind you of this later.

2. Improve your listening skills

Make a conscious effort to pay attention.

Try not to zone out when a lecture takes an unexpected detour, for instance, if a student asks a question you aren't particularly interested in. You may take this opportunity to tune out, but before you know it, the lecture gets back on track, and you’ve missed important information that should have been noted.

3. Organize your material for easy reference

Start each new lecture on a new page; date and number each page for easy reference later.

Write on one side of the paper only. You can set them out side-by-side for easier reviewing when studying for an exam.

Leave blank spaces as this will allow you to add comments or questions later.

Develop a system of abbreviations and symbols you can use wherever possible.

Mark or underline all unfamiliar words or concepts. This will remind you to look them up later.

4. Pay close attention to content

Knowing precisely what and how much to note down is sometimes difficult. Rely on some of the following tips for what to include in your notes.

Always include details, facts, or explanations that expand or explain the main points that are mentioned. Don't forget to include examples.

Make a note of definitions, word for word.

Jot down enumerations or lists of things that are discussed.

5. Go over and edit your notes

Reviewing and editing class notes is the most important part of note taking.

It is extremely important to review your notes within 24 hours while the concepts are still fresh in your memory.

Edit words and phrases that are illegible or don't make sense and write out abbreviated form for more clarity.

Note anything you don't understand by underlining or highlighting it to remind you to get a clarification from the professor.

Consider rewriting or typing up your notes.

ART OF QUESTIONING- MASTER IT!

2012-03-16T09:01:00.000-07:00

You are one of the most popular faces in class, not because you are funny or have great note taking abilities but because you ask the most number of questions. In fact, you might not know this but some of your classmates could recognize you by simply looking at your arm. Although, being inquisitive is not a bad quality, but it is important to ask the right questions so as not to irritate your instructor and others in the class and also to maximize learning. Here are a few tips for honing your questioning skills:

1. Be precise

A question needs to be crisp and to-the-point. It doesn’t need to have a beginning, middle and an end. If you beat around the bush, chances are your professors won’t be sure which part of the chapter you haven’t understood, or need an explanation for.

2. Be clear about what you wish to know

It can be a question that’s open and debatable, or one that’s closed and factual. The former kind would make for wide interpretation and opinionated answers which express a certain point of view. The latter are specific and accurate. So be clear about what you wish to know and frame your question accordingly.

3. Ask questions relevant to context

This means that if you have a doubt regarding a particular subject; clarify it when it is being discussed. Because many times, questions open up newer avenues and doubts about a subject, so addressing these would benefit the whole class.

4. Do not hesitate to contact your teacher post the class

If you’re feeling too uncomfortable to ask a question in front of your classmates, wait till the session is over and approach your professor. This will probably put you more at ease and help you listen, register, raise doubts and converse better with your teacher. One on one interactions are always much better than one to many.

5. Compile your questions

Doubts may crop up at any time; when you’re studying, reading or copying notes. Note these down on a piece of paper so that you get them clarified in class without forgetting. This is to make sure that you don’t have any unanswered questions when the exam approaches.

STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE

2012-03-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

Being a good student doesn't mean you have to drop all social activities and dive into your books. It's possible to have a healthy social life while earning good grades. Balance is the key. Here’s how you can go about doing so:

1. Decide for yourself at the start of the term that you won't let schoolwork sweep you away. It's important to have this resolve as a foundation.

2. Plot out your weekly schedule on a grid. Chances are, you'll have small gaps between classes during the week, and longer stretches of free time on the weekends. If you can manage to fit bits of schoolwork in these gaps that will leave effectively leave the weekend free and at your convenience.

3. Set aside at least one large chunk of time each week for free time - maybe all of Saturday, for instance.

4. Make sure that every time you find yourself in one of those between-class gaps, you use the time efficiently: Read a few pages, run some quick errands, spell-check your paper.

5. Keep in mind the law of diminishing returns. Past a certain point, studying harder will yield little. You're better off using that time to hang out with friends. Protect both your free time and your school time religiously. If you start to infringe on either, it's a long, slippery slope downward.

6. Encourage your friends to follow a similar plan, so you can co-ordinate your free time with theirs.

7. Whenever possible, find social activities that take you off campus and away from your schoolwork.

ARE YOU ALWAYS LATE FOR SCHOOL?

Are you perennially late for school? Do mornings bring nightmares to you? You can't seem to get to school without forgetting something at home? Mornings don't have to be like that. Some of us simply don't DO mornings well. Here are a few tips on getting around the morning fight.

Get enough sleep and make it a point to sleep for eight hours every night.
Skipping breakfast should not be looked upon as a time saver.
Let’s not forget the all important alarm clock. Make sure it works or better still have someone wake you up in the morning.
It would do you a world of good if you didn’t have to hunt for your books or school bag in the morning. Take care to see that you have all the books required for the next day and your bag is at a convenient place. Keep it there everyday.
Make sure your uniform doesn’t spring any surprises in the morning (like missing buttons, dirty shoes, and smelly socks). Arrange your school wear the night before.
Finally the most important part of school… homework. Finish all your homework the night before. Don't leave it for the next day.

STUDY MORE IN LESS TIME

2012-03-14T08:56:00.000-07:00

How often have you felt daunted by the sheer volume of text which you have to study? Here are a few tricks that will help you save on the midnight oil:

• Write down topics (assignments) that have to be studied.
• Cut off the trivia and concentrate on essentials. Do not waste time rummaging through unnecessary material.
• Do not waste time once you get to your desk. Get cracking immediately.
• Gather all essentials including writing material around you before you start off on the assignment.
• Make a brief plan of the topics that need to be covered.
• It is best to study at a scheduled time and place. Once you get into the routine, you will find concentrating easy.
• Break huge assignments into smaller bits and accomplish each small part.
• Maintain a record of assignments that have been accomplished.

BETTER STUDYING & TIME MANAGEMENT

Work that is well done and finished on time leads to unparalleled satisfaction. A few ways to work through clutter and chaos and streamline work:

•Be realistic about your capacity. Do not take on more than what you can handle
• Estimate the time required to perform the task before starting work.
• A small task finished well is better than a huge task left undone.
• It is better to split a large workload into small portions and work on each separately. This not only helps in saving time but also ensures that quality is maintained.

BITE SIZED PIECES

Is the prospect of having to wade through a huge lesson or worse - the whole syllabus, making you feel panicky? Relax. First tell yourself you can do it. Next step – assess yourself honestly and decide how much you can handle well without your concentration wavering. After having ascertained how much you can ‘chew’ determine the size of the ‘bite’. Assuming you can study one page thoroughly in five minutes, break down your lesson into ‘bite sized’ portions assigning five minutes to each page. Now take it one ‘bite’ at a time and before you know it you would have ‘eaten’ through the whole lesson and even ‘digested’ it well.

GET OVER YOUR MATHS FEVER

2012-03-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

Math is a rather queer subject. Some love it, some hate it and some others lie in between. If you’re one of the many who suffer from a severe dislike for numbers, read on and find out how you can make it disappear.

1. Practice
The golden rule of ‘practice makes perfect’ is extremely fitting as far as math is concerned. Ideally, you should allocate one hour a day for math practice. It’ll not only help keep you abreast about what’s been happening in class but also improve your performance drastically.

2. Back to basics
It’s extremely essential to get your basics of math right. Be it all your formulae, algebra, trigonometry or BODMAS, remember that if you jumble your primary equations, no matter how fast you are, you’ll still mess up the final answers.

3. Math trick
If you’re weak at basics such as addition, multiplication, division and the like, formulate simple games for yourself. For example, every time you’re travelling, try to sum up all the numbers that are on the number plate of various vehicles that pass you by. It might seem confusing in the beginning but soon enough, you’ll learn to sum faster.

4. Tables
One of the most underrated yet most important things in math is the tables. Make sure you start with table multiplications really early. To get better, keep a slate with the tables from one through thirty on your table as a ready reckoner and revise it daily. Do the same with squares, roots and cubes.

5. Get over the block
Just because you got a few answers wrong doesn’t mean that math is a difficult subject. More often than not, what restricts you is your fear of math or the ‘math is just not for me’ bug! None of these are true and with regular practice, you’ll get over both these blocks.

After all, math, just like any other subject, can be really enjoyable. Implement some of these pointers and give it a shot, numbers might not seem that bad anymore!

Note Taking Techniques:

2012-03-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

The most comprehensive note taking systems require attention on your part. You must be alert enough in class to take legible, meaningful notes. You can't rely on "writing everything down" because a lot of information in a given lecture won't help you actually learn the material. If you have problems determining the specific relevant points in a particular class, you can always ask the professor to clarify them for you.

The 2-6 Method:

The 2-6 refers to the way you divide the space on your notepaper. Make two columns, using the red line on the left of the page as your border. Then, when you take notes in class, use the 6 column for the notes and the smaller 2 column on the left as a highlighting system. Write main headings and important points on the left, including material you think you will be tested on. When you're finished, you should have a comprehensive page of information that you can quickly scan for important points. Studying is 99% perspiration; if you give it a real, concentrated effort over the course of a semester you will see an improvement. Your academic success is entirely up to you.
- By George Mason University

Split Page Method
Class lectures and your textbook--they're the primary sources of course content and you need to learn both. So combine them with the split page method of taking notes. Just divide your notebook page in half lengthwise. Draw a line down the middle of the page. Take class notes on one side of the page and outline the text on the other side. When you study you'll have both. Class notes and text together, integrated. Some students find it helpful to add a third column for questions they need to ask the professor.
- By Sherry Reynolds

Using Group Notes
Are you tired of struggling to keep up with a lecture while copying page after page of notes in class? My advice? Don't take the notes -- at least not every day. Instead, form a group with some of your classmates and take turns taking good class notes. When it's not your day to be the note-taker, really concentrate on what is being said in class. You might want to jot down a few particularly important points, but mostly try to participate in class. Ask questions when you can't understand the point your teacher is trying to get across, and score points by answering questions your teacher asks. After class you can either photocopy the notes from your classmate, or better yet, copy them over by hand while reviewing in your mind what happened in class.
- By Fred Weening

Secrets to Taking Better Notes
As a writer for Edinboro University and its Alumni News magazine, I spend a lot of time interviewing people. A key interviewing skill is taking good notes--a skill that is just as valuable in the classroom. There is no magic to taking good notes, just common sense. It's simply a matter of being thorough and accurate. Now, not many people can write fast enough to capture everything their professor says in class, so it is a good idea to also use a tape recorder. That way you won't miss something while you write, and you can double-check the tape for accuracy. Whether you use a recorder or not, it's important to transcribe your notes as soon as possible while the subject is still fresh in your mind. By re-writing or re-typing your notes, you become more familiar with the material. You mentally reinforce what was said in class. And you get practice writing the information, making it easier to write the material a second time whether it be for a test or a term paper.
- By Brian Pitzer

Noteworthy NotesAre your grades as good as you want them to be? Are your notes worth reviewing? Notes are phrases and abbreviations that we hurriedly jot down while trying to follow a lecture. Later, when we go back to review our notes, there are times when we can't seem to understand or remember what those key words and phrases meant; sometimes we can't even read our own handwriting. Here is a note-taking study tip that has proven to be effective. After you have finished class, immediately rush to the nearest computer lab and retype your notes. You need to rewrite those phrases as complete thoughts and sentences; dot your I's, cross your T's and use "cut and paste" to put your notes into some type of a logical sequence. While retyping your notes you are using several modalities: you review as you read your notes aloud, you use your hand to type, and you reread again as you proof read what you have typed. Research indicates that 80% of new material can be recalled if you review notes within the first 24 hours of presentation. Also, clean typed notes are easier to read and highlight as you study. If you retype your notes daily, you will keep the task from becoming overwhelming, you will learn good study habits that aid in memory retention and, at the same time, improve your grades.
- By Janet Jenkins

Attend Class
The most important advice I can give to you is to make sure you attend your classes. Attendance in class enhances the chance you'll get a passing grade in a course. In addition to attending class, it is important to brush up on your note-taking skills to really achieve optimum success. Some general recommendations for improving note-taking skills are to:

Read all textbook material relevant to the topic being covered prior to attending class.
Make sure you take notes in class. If you fail to take notes, much of what you learn from the lecture will be forgotten in a few days. If you have something written down on paper, you can always refer to the material later.
Ask professors who lecture too fast if you can tape record their lecture. You'll generally find that many professors are willing to assist you in your efforts to gain as much from their lecture as possible.
By attending class and utilizing the note-taking techniques just described, your chances for success in college will increase significantly.

- By Kiran Misra
Prepare for the lecture
The greatest advantage is that you are familiar with the subject you know what to ask
you are not going to waste time by writing down stuff that is already there in your study material. Rather, you know what to write, where to pick links and to clear your concepts.

By the time the lecture is over, you are in a much clearer state of mind. This way, taking down notes becomes more meaningful and worth the time you spent doing it.
- By Ms. Sreelatha Anand

Use Colors
This may take a little bit longer but it will work. Just give it a chance. When you are taking notes change the color of your pen! Don't write in blue or black ink. Writing in color will help you retain 50% - 80% more of the infomation without reading it a second time (also highlight in purple). I am a teacher of adult education and this is the rule for my class room.
- By Nicole Watts

Improving memory

2012-03-11T07:23:00.002-07:00

Improving memory tip 3: Keep stress in check

Stress is one of the brain’s worst enemies. Over time, if left unchecked, chronic stress destroys brain cells and damages the hippocampus, the region of the brain involved in the formation of new memories and the retrieval of old ones.

The stress-busting, brain-boosting benefits of meditation

Get depression in check

In addition to stress, depression takes a heavy toll on the brain. In fact, some of the symptoms of depression include difficulty concentrating, making decisions, and remembering things. If you are mentally sluggish because of depression, seeking treatment will make a big difference in your cognitive abilities, including memory.

The scientific evidence for the mental health benefits of meditation continues to pile up. Studies show that meditation helps improve many different types of conditions, including depression, anxiety, chronic pain, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Meditation also can improve focus, concentration, creativity, and learning and reasoning skills.

Meditation works its “magic” by changing the actual brain. Brain images show that regular meditators have more activity in the left prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain associated with feelings of joy and equanimity. Meditation also increases the thickness of the cerebral cortex and encourages more connections between brain cells—all of which increases mental sharpness and memory ability.

Improving memory tip 4: Bulk up on brain-boosting foods

Just as the body needs fuel, so does the brain. You probably already know that a diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and “healthy” fats will provide lots of health benefits, but such a diet can also improve memory. But for brain health, it’s not just what you eat—it’s also what you don’t eat. The following nutritional tips will help boost your brainpower and reduce your risk of dementia:

Get your omega-3s. More and more evidence indicates that omega-3 fatty acids are particularly beneficial for brain health. Fish is a particularly rich source of omega-3, especially cold water “fatty fish” such as salmon, tuna, halibut, trout, mackerel, sardines, and herring. In addition to boosting brainpower, eating fish may also lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. If you’re not a fan of fish, consider turning to fish oil supplements. Other non-fish sources of omega-3s include walnuts, ground flaxseed, flaxseed oil, pumpkin seeds, and soybeans.

Limit saturated fat. Research shows that diets high in saturated fat increase your risk of dementia and impair concentration and memory. The primary sources of saturated far are animal products: red meat, whole milk, butter, cheese, sour cream, and ice cream.

Eat more fruit and vegetables. Produce is packed with antioxidants, substances that protect your brain cells from damage. Colorful fruits and vegetables are particularly good antioxidant "superfood" sources. Try leafy green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, romaine lettuce, Swiss chard, and arugula, and fruit such as apricots, mangoes, cantaloupe, and watermelon.

Drink wine (or grape juice) in moderation. Keeping your alcohol consumption in check is key, since alcohol kills brain cells. But in moderation (around 1 glass a day for women; 2 for men), alcohol may actually improve memory and cognition. Red wine appears to be the best option, as it is rich in resveratrol, a flavonoid that boosts blood flow in the brain and reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Other resveratrol-packed options include grape juice, cranberry juice, fresh grapes and berries, and peanuts.

For mental energy, choose complex carbohydrates.

Just as a racecar needs gas, your brain needs fuel to perform at its best. When you need to be at the top of your mental game, carbohydrates can keep you going. But the type of carbs you choose makes all the difference. Carbohydrates fuel your brain, but simple carbs (sugar, white bread, refined grains) give a quick boost followed by an equally rapid crash. For energy that lasts, choose complex carbohydrates such as whole-wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal, high-fiber cereal, lentils, and whole beans.

Improving memory tip 5: Give your brain a workout

By the time you’ve reached adulthood, your brain has developed millions of neural pathways that help you process information quickly, solve familiar problems, and execute familiar tasks with a minimum of mental effort. But if you always stick to these well-worn paths, you aren’t giving your brain the stimulation it needs to keep growing and developing. You have to shake things up from time to time!

Memory, like muscular strength, requires you to “use it or lose it.” The more you work out your brain, the better you’ll be able to process and remember information. The best brain exercising activities break your routine and challenge you to use and develop new brain pathways. The activity can be virtually anything, so long as it meets the following three criteria:

It’s new. No matter how intellectually demanding the activity, if it’s something you’re already good at, it’s not a good brain exercise. The activity needs to be something that’s unfamiliar and out of your comfort zone.

It’s challenging. Anything that takes some mental effort and expands your knowledge will work. Examples include learning a new language, instrument, or sport, or tackling a challenging crossword or Sudoku puzzle.

It’s fun. The more interested and engaged you are in the activity, the more likely you’ll be to continue doing it and the greater the benefits you’ll experience. The activity should be challenging, yes, but not so difficult or unpleasant that you dread doing it.

Use mnemonic devices to make memorization easier

Mnemonics (the initial “m” is silent) are clues of any kind that help us remember something, usually by helping us associate the information we want to remember with a visual image, a sentence, or a word.

Mnemonic device	Technique	Example
Visual image	Associate a visual image with a word or name to help you remember them better. Positive, pleasant images that are vivid, colorful, and three-dimensional will be easier to remember.	To remember the name Rosa Parks and what she’s known for, picture a woman sitting on a park bench surrounded by roses, waiting as her bus pulls up.
Acrostic (or sentence)	Make up a sentence in which the first letter of each word is part of or represents the initial of what you want to remember.	The sentence “Every good boy does fine” to memorize the lines of the treble clef, representing the notes E, G, B, D, and F.
Acronym	An acronym is a word that is made up by taking the first letters of all the key words or ideas you need to remember and creating a new word out of them.	The word “HOMES” to remember the names of the Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.
Rhymes and alliteration	Rhymes, alliteration (a repeating sound or syllable), and even jokes are a memorable way to remember more mundane facts and figures.	The rhyme “Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November” to remember the months of the year with only 30 days in them.
Chunking	Chunking breaks a long list of numbers or other types of information into smaller, more manageable chunks.	Remembering a 10-digit phone number by breaking it down into three sets of numbers: 555-867-5309 (as opposed to5558675309).
Method of loci	Imagine placing the items you want to remember along a route you know well or in specific locations in a familiar room or building.	For a shopping list, imagine bananas in the entryway to your home, a puddle of milk in the middle of the sofa, eggs going up the stairs, and bread on your bed.

Tips for enhancing your ability to learn and remember

Pay attention. You can’t remember something if you never learned it, and you can’t learn something—that is, encode it into your brain—if you don’t pay enough attention to it. It takes about eight seconds of intense focus to process a piece of information into your memory. If you’re easily distracted, pick a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted.

Involve as many senses as possible. Try to relate information to colors, textures, smells, and tastes. The physical act of rewriting information can help imprint it onto your brain. Even if you’re a visual learner, read out loud what you want to remember. If you can recite it rhythmically, even better.

Relate information to what you already know. Connect new data to information you already remember, whether it’s new material that builds on previous knowledge, or something as simple as an address of someone who lives on a street where you already know someone.

For more complex material, focus on understanding basic ideas rather than memorizing isolated details. Practice explaining the ideas to someone else in your own words.

Rehearse information you’ve already learned. Review what you’ve learned the same day you learn it, and at intervals thereafter. This “spaced rehearsal” is more effective than cramming, especially for retaining what you’ve learned

How to Improve Your Memory

2012-03-10T07:07:00.001-08:00

TIPS AND EXERCISES TO SHARPEN YOUR MIND AND BOOST BRAINPOWER

If our brains were computers, we'd simply add a chip to upgrade our memory. The human brain, however, is more complex than even the most advanced machine, so improving our memory isn’t quite so easy. Just as it takes effort to build physical fitness, so too does boosting brain power.

A strong memory depends on the health and vitality of your brain. Whether you’re a student studying for final exams, a working professional interested in doing all you can to stay mentally sharp, or a senior looking to preserve and enhance your grey matter as you age, there are lots of things you can do to improve your memory and mental performance.

Harnessing the power of your brain

They say that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but when it comes to the brain, scientists have discovered that this old adage simply isn’t true. The human brain has an astonishing ability to adapt and change—even into old age. This ability is known as neuroplasticity. With the right stimulation, your brain can form new neural pathways, alter existing connections, and adapt and react in ever-changing ways.

The brain’s incredible ability to reshape itself holds true when it comes to learning and memory. You can harness the natural power of neuroplasticity to increase your cognitive abilities, enhance your ability to learn new information, and improve your memory.

Improving memory tip 1: Don’t skimp on exercise or sleep

Just as an athlete relies on sleep and a nutrition-packed diet to perform his or her best, your ability to remember increases when you nurture your brain with a good diet and other healthy habits.

When you exercise the body, you exercise the brain

Treating your body well can enhance your ability to process and recall information. Physical exercise increases oxygen to your brain and reduces the risk for disorders that lead to memory loss, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Exercise may also enhance the effects of helpful brain chemicals and protect brain cells.

Improve your memory by sleeping on it

When you’re sleep deprived, your brain can’t operate at full capacity. Creativity, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking skills are compromised. Whether you’re studying, working, or trying to juggle life’s many demands, sleep deprivation is a recipe for disaster.

But sleep is critical to learning and memory in an even more fundamental way. Research shows that sleep is necessary for memory consolidation, with the key memory-enhancing activity occurring during the deepest stages of sleep.

Improving memory tip 2: Make time for friends and fun

When you think of ways to improve memory, do you think of “serious” activities such as wrestling with the New York Times crossword puzzle or mastering chess strategy, or do more lighthearted pastimes—hanging out with friends or enjoying a funny movie—come to mind? If you’re like most of us, it’s probably the former. But countless studies show that a life that’s full of friends and fun comes with cognitive benefits.

Healthy relationships: the ultimate memory booster?

Humans are highly social animals. We’re not meant to survive, let alone thrive, in isolation. Relationships stimulate our brains—in fact, interacting with others may be the best kind of brain exercise.

Research shows that having meaningful relationships and a strong support system are vital not only to emotional health, but also to brain health. In one recent study from the Harvard School of Public Health, for example, researchers found that people with the most active social lives had the slowest rate of memory decline.

There are many ways to start taking advantage of the brain and memory-boosting benefits of socializing. Volunteer, join a club, make it a point to see friends more often, or reach out over the phone. And if a human isn’t handy, don’t overlook the value of a pet—especially the highly-social dog.

Laughter is good for your brain

You’ve heard that laughter is the best medicine, and that holds true for the brain as well as the body. Unlike emotional responses, which are limited to specific areas of the brain, laughter engages multiple regions across the whole brain.

Furthermore, listening to jokes and working out punch lines activates areas of the brain vital to learning and creativity. As psychologist Daniel Goleman notes in his book Emotional Intelligence, “laughter…seems to help people think more broadly and associate more freely.”

Looking for ways to bring more laughter in your life? Start with these basics:

Laugh at yourself. Share your embarrassing moments. The best way to take ourselves less seriously is to talk about the times when we took ourselves too seriously.

When you hear laughter, move toward it. Most of the time, people are very happy to share something funny because it gives them an opportunity to laugh again and feed off the humor you find in it. When you hear laughter, seek it out and ask, “What’s funny?”

Spend time with fun, playful people. These are people who laugh easily–both at themselves and at life’s absurdities–and who routinely find the humor in everyday events. Their playful point of view and laughter are contagious.

Surround yourself with reminders to lighten up. Keep a toy on your desk or in your car. Put up a funny poster in your office. Choose a computer screensaver that makes you laugh. Frame photos of you and your family or friends having fun.

Pay attention to children and emulate them. They are the experts on playing, taking life lightly, and laughing.

Concentration Tips

2012-03-09T08:04:00.000-08:00

The art or practice of concentration is to eliminate distraction and focus on the task at hand. If you find that you read through material and suddenly discover that you have no idea about what you've just read, or if you attend lectures and have difficulty paying attention to what is being said, these tips may help:

Stick to a routine, efficient study schedule
Study in a quiet environment
For a study break, do something different from what you've been doing (e.g., walk around if you've been sitting), and in a different area
Avoid daydreaming by asking yourself questions about the material as you study it
Before lectures, look over the notes of the previous lecture and read the course material pertaining to the lecture so that you can anticipate the main ideas that the instructor will cover
Show outward interest during lectures (attentive expression and posture) to self-motivate internal interest
Resist distractions by sitting in front of the room away from disruptive classmates and by focusing on the instructor through listening and note taking

Top ten exam tips

2012-03-08T07:55:00.000-08:00

Here are our top ten tips to help you study.
1. Find out about the exam

Know your enemy - find out as much as you can about the exam.
How much is the exam worth to your overall mark in the subject?
What type of exam is it? Is it a multiple choice, essay, open-book or take-home exam?
Will there be a choice of questions or tasks?
How much will each question or task be worth?
2. Ask for help

Don’t feel bad if you need to ask for help. Talk to your teacher or lecturer and pick the brains of other students. If you’re feeling really stressed you might also find it helpful to speak to a counsellor.

3. Sort out your subject material

Check that you have all the relevant handouts and get all your notes together from the subject. Read through the course outline or subject guide (if there is one) and use it to organise the information you’ve collected.

It might help to write your own summaries of each textbook chapter or section of the subject guide. This will make it easier to find what you need while you’re studying.

4. Check past exam papers

Get your hands on any old exam papers from the subject and familiarise yourself with the structure and format. Your teacher or lecturer should be able to let you know where you can get your hands on some. Your school or university library might have past exams on file, too.

Practise answering the questions within the specified time limits and check your answers against your notes to make sure you’ve got them right.

5. Know where to go

Check your exam timetable for details on when and where you’ll be sitting the exam. Make sure you have everything you’ll need to take with you (e.g. calculator, pencil, ruler, etc).

Try to do some study at the times your exams will be on. If you have an early morning exam it’s a good idea to practise getting up and doing some study earlier in the day.

6. Don’t cram

Stick to what you already know when studying the night before an exam. You’ll only make yourself nervous if you try to learn new information. Review your notes or test yourself on key points.

7. Keep your cool

Don’t talk to other students about the exam before the exam. It could confuse you or make you lose confidence in yourself.

The same goes for after the exam. Don’t hang around talking about what was on it or you’ll start to doubt yourself and stress out if you think you made a mistake.

8. Use your reading time

The way you use your reading time could make or break you in the exam. Use it to plan your writing time and start thinking about some answers.

Read the instructions very carefully then scan the whole exam paper. Be sure to check how many pages there are and how much each question is worth.

Plan how much time to spend on each answer and the order in which you’ll answer them. Start with the questions you’re most confident with.

9. Break the questions down

A great tip for any exam is to break the questions down to make sure you really understand what you’re being asked. If you don’t answer the question properly you won’t get full marks for it.

Look for the key parts in the question and these will give you clues on how to answer it. For example, for the question, "Explain the difference between study and revision", you can split this question into four parts:

Explain - give reasons to show how or why something is the way it is

The difference - what are the distinguishing factors between study and revision?

Study - what is study?

Revision- what is revision?

10. Review your performance

While there’s no use stressing out over an exam you’ve already done, it does help to look at what you can improve on. If you didn’t do as well on an exam as you would’ve liked, ask your teacher if you can go through it with them and find out what you did wrong.
Come up with your own strategies

Remember - these tips are only some of the things that you can do to get the most out of your exams. There might be other things that work even better for you.

Ask around - find out what your friends do for their exams - maybe some of their tricks will work for you too! Maybe your teachers have some good recommendations too.

Whatever it is, whatever strategy when you find something that works for you, put it into practise and good luck!

Top ten study tips

2012-03-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

Here are our top ten tips to help you study.
1. Find your study space

Everyone has their own idea about the best place to study. Find a space that works for you and stick with it.
Do you prefer to study in silence or listen to music?
Do you work better alone or with other people?
Do you like to study at home or at school/uni/TAFE/library?

2. Be organised

Make sure you have all the materials you need in your study space before you start studying. Getting up to look for a pencil sharpener or ruler will break your concentration and waste your time.

3. Clear your mind

If you’ve got a lot on your mind take a moment to write yourself some notes about what you're thinking about before you start studying. This will help to clear your mind you focus all your thoughts on your work.

It’s also a good idea to keep some spare paper next to you while you’re studying so if you think of anything you need to do later you can write it down and put it out of your mind, then get on with the studying.

4. Get motivated

Think about what it will mean for you if you do well in your studies. How will it make you feel? If you keep the end result in mind it will help you stay motivated.

You might like to find a quote or an image or something that represents success for you and put it somewhere you can see it while you’re studying.

5. Plan your time (and use it well)

It helps to plan when you will study and how you can make the most of your study time.

Use a calendar or a list of dates or a wall planner to keep track of exam dates and assignment due dates. Plan ahead. Space out your study time each week for the whole term/semester - don’t try to cram it all in the night before!

Do the hardest work when you’re feeling your best. Save the easy stuff for when you’re tired.

Set yourself a time limit for each task and follow it.

6. Know your learning style

Most of us have a preferred way of learning. Get to know your learning style and study in the ways you learn best.

Auditory learners learn by listening. If you’re an auditory learner you could try reading your notes aloud and discussing them with other people. You might like to record key points and play them back.

Visual learners learn by seeing. If you’re a visual learner you could use colours in your notes and draw diagrams to help represent key points. You could try to remember some ideas as images.

Tactile/kinesthetic learners learn by doing. If you’re a tactile/kinesthetic learner you could use methods like role-playing or building models to revise key points.

Courseworks at the University of Melbourne has a quick quiz you can take (new window) to see what kind of learner you are.

7. Use your notes

Taking detailed notes in class will save you heaps of time later. Re-writing and adding to your notes is a great way to revise what you’ve learned.

8. Make your own study materials

Think up some practice exam questions or create your own flash cards to help you study. This way you learn it all twice: once when you make the study materials and twice when you use them to revise.

9. Test yourself

Don’t wait for an exam to test your knowledge – test yourself first. Get a friend or family member to quiz you on key concepts or offer to help other students with their work. It’s a great way to get confident with what you do know and find out what you still need to learn!

10. Take time out

You study better when you're feeling good. So make sure you eat well and get enough sleep. Exercise is great but don’t overdo it.

It’s also a good idea to schedule regular breaks when you’re studying and keep hydrated. You’ll study better if you take care of yourself.
Come up with your own strategies

Remember - these tips are only some of the things that you can do to get the most out of your studying. There might be other things that work even better for you.

Ask around - find out what your friends do when they're studying - maybe some of their tricks will work for you too! Maybe your teachers have some good recommendations too.

Whatever it is, whatever strategy you come up with, when you find something that works for you, put it into practise and go for it!

Read Well

2012-03-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

Read – How to Read text Effectively

This method of absorbing material in three passes is useful for many students. It is a way of tackling each section of the text in a specific and analytical way, with ways to test knowledge and assist a student in retaining new knowledge.

The First Pass: “Skim” the text

Have your notebook, highlighter, pen and pencil handy for notes. It is probably best to have a separate notebook for each subject.

First, skim over the text you plan to read in this study session. As you skim the text, write down, in your notebook, the main headings or subheadings of each section. Leave about a half page of blank space under each note you make. Headings and subheadings, or other important text, is often made noticeable through use of bold, underlined or italicized text. Try to notice the main ideas in this first pass through the text.

Second Pass: Focused Reading

This time, read more intently. Go back to the start of the text. As you read the text under each heading or subheading, make notes of the main ideas. Try to list the main idea at the top, then list the more detailed points in the text that support the main idea. Bullet lists of these supporting points will usually work well.

Don’t forget to pay attention to pictures, bar graphs, tables or other illustrative methods used to support the author’s point(s).

Third Pass: Testing your reading

On a separate piece of paper, make a list of the questions at the end of each section which the textbook authors have written for you to test your knowledge. Go back to the start of each section, and just read through each section, one at a time. See if you are now able to answer the questions for each section after you read it all the way through. Don’t try to do this with more than one section at a time, especially with very difficult text.

If the text does not provide you with questions, you can formulate your own using the wording in the headings and subheadings. You can see if you are able to define what each heading is talking about after you have completed your third pass.

Explaining what you have learned to someone else helps you remember it.

One good way to review is to use flashcards. You can create your own to act as a study guide on simple, ruled index cards. You already have the perfect set of information to use on flash cards from your notes from the text. Your bulleted lists and your main headings can be used to create questions or “fill-in-the-blank” notes or definitions of relevant vocabulary terms, with the answers written on one side and the question on the other. You can also use the questions in the textbook as flashcards, with the answers written on the back.

10 Memory Tricks for Elementary Students

2012-02-10T09:04:00.000-08:00

It's not just parents who could use a memory boost; children can brush up on their recollection skills, as well. From kindergarten through third grade, your child can use memory techniques to remember lists and simple grammatical rules. Below are ten memory tips that will help your child excel in school and in life.

The alphabet system. Help your child associate images that are represented by the letters of the alphabet. This is a great method for remembering long lists of items in a specific order, and a useful tool for your child to practice alphabet order. For example, "A is for apple, B is for boy."

The link/story method. Help your child invent bizarre or funny stories to link items he needs to remember. For instance, if he needs to learn primary colors, have him develop a story such as: "The yellow bird grabbed its red parachute and flew into the blue sky."
Acronyms. Have your child make a word out of the first letters of the item to be recalled. For instance, the letters that spell HOMES represent each of the Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.
The journey system. This system uses landmarks on a journey. To remember the first four presidents of the United States, take this journey: On our way to Washington, we saw our friend Adam, who wanted to go to Jeff's house to play a new video game called Mad (Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison).
Movement learning. Songs that include movement help children remember the song's vocabulary. "Heads, shoulders, knees, and toes" is very effective.
Excitement and sound. When reading a book aloud, adding inflection and excitement to the story will help your child remember it. "Fee, fi, fo, fum," boomed the giant in "Jack and the Beanstalk." Children will pick up the emotion of the story through the words that you act, and their increased interest will help them retain more of the information.
Rhyme and rhythm. This is an effective tool for remembering dates or simple grammatical rules. Example: "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue." Or: "I before e, except after c."
The number/shape mnemonic. With this system, your child builds imaginary pictures and uses numbers to represent the shape of the object. The number seven could be a boomerang, for instance.
Color code. The use of color is linked strongly to memory. If your child needs to remember the original 13 colonies, have them color-code a United States map.
Acrostics. In a poem that is an acrostic, the first or last letter of each line combine to spell out a word or phrase. Here's an example:
Reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Earth needs us to do our best to keep things clean.
Caring for the planet is everyone's job.
You can do your part to save the environment.
Collect metal, paper, and plastic for recycling.
Litter free is how it has to be.
Everybody should work together to keep the planet clean.

Study Skill Planning

2012-02-10T08:59:00.000-08:00

Some people learn best in a teacher-guided, formal learning situation, while others prefer a self-directed, informal or independent study approach.

In The Adult's Learning Projects (1971) Dr. Allen Tough claims, "Almost everyone undertakes at least two or three major learning efforts a year, and some individuals undertake as many as 15 or 20. The median is eight learning projects a year, involving eight distinct areas of knowledge and skill."

Consider Jessie, who plans to re-enter the workplace after staying home for a number of years to raise her children. To prepare for this change, she must identify her learning needs, establish learning objectives, determine learning resources and strategies, and evaluate outcomes.

Identifying learning needs
Jessie's learning needs include understanding the labor market, upgrading her computer skills, updating her job search skills and finding child care. Each of these needs involves one or more learning projects.

Establish learning objectives
Jessie begins with a general idea that she needs to upgrade her computer skills. By surveying friends and family, she discovers that employers in her desired field most frequently require Windows 95/98, MS Word, Explorer and E-mail. By scanning employment ads, she discovers the degree of familiarity she requires in each. She has now established her learning objectives.

Determine learning resources
There are many ways for Jessie to develop her computer skills. She may choose to learn formally or informally. If she prefers to learn formally, she can take a continuing education course at a local school. She could also take computer-based training via distance learning, in her own home. If she would rather learn at home, at her own pace and schedule, she can use manuals from the library. She may decide to combine formal and informal options by taking a course in word-processing and learning to type by using typing tutor software at home. By considering her learning style, schedule and finances, Jessie designs the learning program that works best for her.

Evaluate outcomes
Jessie prepared the way for evaluating the outcomes of her learning projects when she established her learning objectives. For example, she may have discovered that employers will expect her to type at a speed of at least 30 words per minute and compose, spell check, send and forward e-mail to individuals or groups. She can evaluate her own success by measuring her own typing speed and communicating with the recipients of her messages to ensure that she has performed these functions correctly.

In formal education, institutions establish learning objectives, determine the means of learning, and assess learner achievement. This control is beneficial in that it ensures that standards are maintained, and that the certificates, diplomas and/or degrees issues by the institution are valued and respected. On the other hand, institutional control can lead to decreased flexibility and a reduced ability to respond to the interests and needs of individual learners.

Jessie's preparation for returning to work involves several learning projects. To meet her learning goals, she is likely to select a variety of learning resources which best meet her needs, resources and preferences. Self-directed learning is a flexible and responsive strategy in a rapidly changing world.

Taking Notes for Someone Else

2012-02-10T08:49:00.000-08:00

These are some practical suggestions for taking notes for someone else, as well as strategies to help you improve your own note taking abilities.

General Info:

· Be sure of your purpose and the speaker's purpose.

· Attend all lectures.

· Sit up front so you can see and hear better.

Format:

· Record the date, place, topic/title and presenter.

· Number your pages.

· Use dark ink and write on one side of the page.

· Use a double entry notetaking system (see "Cornell Notetaking System" handout)

· Write neatly. Make notes complete and clear enough to understand when you come back to them.

· Use shorthand ('Fe' for iron, '=' for equals, '@' for at, etc.) and abbreviations. Feel free to develop your own set of abbreviations, but please put a key at the top of the page so your notes can be understood.

· Highlight important items with asterisks(*) or draw circles or boxes around critical info. Mark important ideas, terms, concepts with different colors, underlines, or asterisks. Indentation, underscoring and starring are also effective for indicating relative importance of items. Show uncertainty with a circled question mark.

· Leave plenty of white space for later additions. Skip lines. Leave space between main ideas.

What to write:

· Definitely copy:

* Anything written on the board or presented on an overhead.

* Any info that is repeated or emphasized. Ways to emphasize include: tone or gesture, repetition, illustration on board, reference to text, and use of cue words such as: finally, remember, most important, another cause, etc.

* All numbered or listed items.

* All terms and definitions.

* Examples.

* New words and ideas.

· If the instructor refers to the text, mark the page number in notes to refer.

· When you cannot keep up with the speaker, jot down key nouns and verbs so that you can return to the latter and ask questions/fill in gaps. Leave blanks for words, phrases or ideas you miss. Ask a classmate to fill in the gaps.

· Include comments the class makes that the professor agrees with.

Listening:

· Listen carefully to what is being said.

· Pay attention to qualifying words(sometimes, usually, rarely, etc.)

· Notice signals indicating that a change of direction is coming (but, however, on the other hand)

· Look for meaning and implications; be an active listener.

Additionally:

· Ask questions if permitted; if not, jot down questions in your notebook.

· Soon after the presentation, review your notes, rewrite skimpy or incomplete parts, and fill in gaps you remember but didn't record.