… if you can learn to recognize the particular way in which you got stuck, or the particular kind of trouble you’re in, that diagnosis can suggest more appropriate ways to think. Here are a few examples of these from chapter 7 of The Emotion Machine.

• If a problem seems familiar, try reasoning by Analogy. If you solved a similar one in the past, and can adapt to the differences, you may be able to re-use that solution.
• If the problem still seems too hard, divide it into several parts. Every difference you recognize may suggest a separate subproblem to solve.
• If it seems unfamiliar, change how you’re describing it. Find a different description that highlights more relevant information.
• If you get too many ideas, then focus on a more specific example—but if you don’t get enough ideas, make the description more general.
• If a problem is too complex, make a simpler version of it. Solving a simpler instance may suggest how to solve the original problem.
• Reflection. Asking what makes a problem seem hard may suggest another approach—or a better way to spend your time.
• Impersonation. When your ideas seem inadequate, remember someone more expert at this, and imagine what that person would do.
• Resignation. Whenever you find yourself totally stuck, stop whatever you’re doing now and let the rest of your mind find alternatives.
• Knowing How: The best way to solve a problem is to already know how to solve it—if you can manage to retrieve that knowledge.
• If none of these methods work, you can ask another person else for help.

– Thinking about Thinking about Ways to Think

Nice overview of several note taking strategies. I have seen these before, but having them all in one place is helpful to pass along to students.

Note Taking Systems
Student Academic Services – Study Skills Library, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Other online tutorials available…

On-Line Study Skills Improvement Information

• Listening
• Memorization
• Lecture Note Taking
• Procrastination
• Essay Test Preparation
• Post Test Analysis
• Time Management Strategies
• Time Saving Tips

GoBinder note-taking software was discussed in an article – new to me, but sounded interesting. They include tutorials for students, including a Note Taking Tutorial

What works…

• understanding of individuals, providing people with a sense of community and, engaging all three processes – Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic.

from WIIFM: are you listening?

“take in and process” information: Visually, Auditory and Kinesthetically.

Selling the Internet is a difficult thing, because the Internet is an intangible. AOL understood that by putting their colorful CD-Rom packages and disks in the hands of people, they provided a kinesthetically oriented individual the opportunity to get a “hold of” the Internet and what it offered. When you signed on, you were met with a beautifully simple and colorful screen to provide visually oriented people with a pleasant experience. However, the ultimate genius was the auditory cue that was used, it has become an icon and an anchor for millions of individuals? “you’ve got mail.”

But wait. There’s more… Visual can be images and pictures (V) OR words – reading and writing (R). Many people use multiple modes (MM), so this is an additional category.

Visual (V), Aural (A), Read/write (R), Kinesthetic (K), Multimodal (MM)

• The VARK Questionnaire – How Do I Learn Best?
• Study Practices Keyed to VARK Preferences – Your VARK preferences can be used to help you develop additional, effective strategies for learning.
  1. take in information;
  2. study information for effective learning;
  3. study for performing well on an examination.

WIIFM stands for What’s In It For Me? If I get something out of a course, a meeting or an experience, I’m much more likely to put in the effort. Good instructors, volunteer coordinators, sales people will tell you the WIIFM that really resonate for you. Finding the ITs yourself takes practice.

Boost Your Concentration: Load Up on WIIFMs

… It’s the motivating force behind nearly everything we do. Teens and adults alike can accomplish almost anything when their WIIFMs are strong enough. The most powerful WIIFMs are immediate – pleasure we’ll gain right away, rather than at some undetermined future time. They’re also positive. We’re more likely to motivate ourselves to gain pleasure than we are to avoid pain.

WIIFM is different for each of the four basic personailty types. Although they are talk about products and services, it works for education and training too.
from WIIFM: are you listening?

• Driver wants Accomplishment – These individuals have a deep appreciation for challenges. They enjoy being in control, are goal oriented and are looking for methods for completing tasks. They are usually quick to reach a decision. They want to know what your product or service can do for them to solve their problem.
• Amiable wants Acceptance – These individuals appreciate the personal touch. They like things that are non-threatening and friendly. They hate dealing with impersonal details and cold hard facts. They are usually quick to reach a decision. They want to know why your product or service is best to solve their problem.
• Expressive wants Applause – These individuals are very creative and entertaining. They enjoy helping others and are particularly fond of socializing. They are usually slow to reach a decision. They want to know who has used your product or service to solve problems.
• Analytical wants Accuracy – These individuals appreciate facts and information presented in a logical manner as documentation of truth. They enjoy organization and completion of detailed tasks. They do not appreciate the “personal touch” or disorganization. They want to know how your product or service can solve the problem.

1. The VARK Helpsheets Study Practices Keyed to VARK Preferences

   Your VARK preferences can be used to help you develop additional, effective strategies for learning. From the choices below, select your particular preference(s) to see how you should: 1. take in information; 2. study information for effective learning; 3

2. http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire

   How Do I Learn Best? Questionnaire version 7.0 More Information Choose the answer which best explains your preference and circle the letter(s) next to it. Please circle more than one if a single answer does not match your perception. Leave blank any quest

3. Boost Your Concentration: Load Up on WIIFMs

   It’s the motivating force behind nearly everything we do. can accomplish almost anything when their WIIFMs are strong enough. The most powerful WIIFMs are immediate – pleasure we’ll gain right away, They’re also positive.