You Never Learn While You’re Talking

Cornell MILR students may pursue a dual degree...

Image via Wikipedia

The best way to learn while you’re in college is to close your mouth and open your ears. As simple as this sounds, many students miss opportunities to learn about the people, ideas, thoughts and experiences around them because they fail to hear what their instructors and other students around them have to say. Even when you disagree, there is much you can learn from others in the classroom.

Take Part in Discussions

Be an active participant in classroom discussions, but make it a priority to hear and consider other points of view. Instead of being so wrapped up in expressing your opinion, develop an interest in the ideas and opinions of others. When you are talking, you’re not learning anything new. Hearing what your classmate from the Kazakhstan Democracy has to say will enlighten you on another world viewpoint.

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Making friends that are much like you doesn’t give you a balanced picture of the world around you. Make friends with different interests, talents, major studies and backgrounds. Part of being a well-rounded person is learning about the world and people around you. The jocks, nerds and foreign exchange students have much to teach you, if you will listen.

Volunteer

Take an active role on campus and in the surrounding community. When you’re helping others, you’re learning about their needs and how to focus on people and things apart from yourself. Find ways to help out, and learn while you’re doing it. Also, it looks really good on a résumé.

Continuing Education for Medical Professionals

Continuing medical education, called CME, helps medical professionals stay up to date with changing technology and medical advancements. CME may involve online webinars or actual events. This content is created by experts in the medical field, like faculty members at medical schools.

CME programs are run by hospitals, universities, professional associations, nursing schools, and so forth. It’s even possible to get medical credits on a cruise! There is a professional certification for CME planners who pass a standardized exam.

Interestingly, CME credits are somewhat controversial, since they are sometimes supported by commercial interests. If a particular pharmaceutical company hosts an event, for example, it’s easy for them to advertise to doctors, or pitch something. This creates a conflict of interest. Furthermore, these industry sponsored events may actually violate federal statutes.

Physician careers often require CME credits. Many states set regulations for medical professionals; in order to maintain a license, they need to take a certain number of CME sessions.

It’s important to understand the CME requirements specific to your medical profession. You will most likely learn this during your certification. To clarify, you can check with a licensing board, or a professional association.

Some employers provide reimbursement for CME training, and may even offer additional paid time off to complete the courses. The cost may involve registration, sometimes travel, and materials.

CME is an important component of almost all medical professions. It used to be voluntary, but it is now necessary. As noted, in order for healthcare professionals to stay current, it’s essential that they understand advancements and new techniques.

How to handle College Stress

College students always face challenges and changes almost everyday. Though this can be exciting, it also brings in a lot of

ANNAPOLIS, MD - MAY 17:  Members of the United...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

stress to them. Dealing with the stress is very important to perform well in the academic as well as in the social life. Here are few simple tips to deal with the college stress.

First, students must learn their limits and accept the way they are. It is better to avoid perfectionist or unrealistic goals as it increases stress. Therefore, it is better to set achievable goals. Students must use any systematic method to get rid of stress other than using drugs. Some of the useful methods are yoga, meditation, breathing techniques, and progressive relaxation.

Next important step is to manage time as disorganized lifestyle may lead to forgetfulness, confusions, and feeling highly overwhelmed. Being positive is very important and this means a student must think positive about others as well as about them.

Next important step is to maintain healthy lifestyle and this can be achieved with proper sleep, balanced diet, and good exercises. Sleep is very important to help the mind focus, re-balance, and recharge, and this can be achieved by following regular sleep pattern.

Exercise does not mean heavy workouts in the gym, it is even better to go for a walk. Students must do any exercise that they enjoy very much. Students must increase social and fun time. They should reward themselves for achieving any target. Talking is the best way to reduce stress, students can talk with their parents, friends, and roommate.

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

The Stereotype of Studying: Breaking the Mold

Studies in high school or college have received such a bad rep. Name anyone who can actually say they like doing it; you won’t find many. The fact is studying is difficult. It’s time consuming, draining, and stressful. But guess what?

A Student of the University of British Columbi...

Image via Wikipedia

There’s a Way to Battle the Lack of Motivation!

That is probably the number-one cause to a lack of studying habits: many students become unmotivated. Here’s why: take your job, for instance; if you don’t show up for the workday, your boss will definitely care, instilling you this motivation that says…. “I do not want to get fired!” However, with studying…. It’s a different story. You don’t study, and no one will care. Your fellow students won’t care, your professor won’t care, maybe even your parents won’t care. After all, you’re one your own, you’re paying for your tuition, room and board. Why should anyone else care?

This fundamental truth lends to you the true secret to motivating yourself, breaking the mold of un-motivation: it’s called a reward.

Reward Yourself? How So?

Seriously, reward yourself for studying so hard! Because you have so little reinforcement when it comes to studying, it’s up to you to pat yourself on the back when you do a good job. Your reward, of course, can be whatever you like it to be.

Try it and marvel at the results. The more you do it, the more you set up an actual routine. It’s like working out, only for the brain. Soon you’ll find your brain pumping iron so hard that it’ll make your bicep look like a bumpkin!

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

Effective Reading

Burning the midnight oil never looked so unappealing — when it came to reading! Why? Because as a reader — one of the most paramount aspects of effective studying — you won’t be exemplary in it if you’re lacking in rest. In a nutshell, effective reading is restful reading.

Sometimes you can’t always read during the daylight hours in a coffee shop with a mocha frappuccino in hand, though. What do you do? Here are a few tips….

Reading list

Image by jakebouma via Flickr

Slow Down!

Generally, you retain a lot more understanding if you give your brain some time to catch up. Sure, it takes longer, but that’s a small price to pay for the comprehension of your material. Obviously, when it’s late at night, your brain will lag a bit. Slowing down while reading will help.

Rephrase!

That simply means this: trick your brain into comprehending something you are saying to yourself, not what the book is saying to you. You’re more likely to listen to yourself when it’s late at night than you are to read the words on the pages, especially if your eyes blur from the fatigue.

Use Your Voice!

This means read aloud. That’s Reading 101 for little kids! So if it works for little kids, why not do it yourself? Your brain will hear a lot better if you’re using your voice; so don’t get self-conscious. Force yourself to read aloud and not worry about what others might think.

Effective, Yes?

It should be; you made it this far in the article! Hopefully you read this while the sun was still out, though. Happy reading!

Enhanced by Zemanta

How to Get Quick Cash for Your Tuition

en: Photo of Euro coins and notes. da: Foto af...

Image via Wikipedia

If you’re a college student and you’re paying all or part of your tuition yourself, you should have already gotten into the habit of setting money aside in a special account to cover your educational costs. Unfortunately, emergencies can happen, and you may have to withdraw money from your tuition fund, leaving you short when it comes time to pay your school.

When this is the case, you may need to look into short term loans. These are exactly what they sound like — loans that are taken out for a very short period of time. The time period can be as little as two weeks or up to a year.

There are different types of short term loans. One type is a payday loan, which usually lasts two weeks or until you get your next paycheck. Some loans are referred to as “90-day notes” because you have 90 days to pay back the borrowed money. Other loans are granted for a specific period of time, like a year, at the end of which you will have to pay the loan off or make arrangements for refinancing.

Short term loans are intended to be paid back as soon as possible so that interest charges and other fees will not accrue. For this reason, it is important that you borrow only the amount you need. If you have a set tuition payment and you’re taking out a short term loan to cover it, only borrow that amount and no more.

Paying for college can be an important step for your future. This step is worth getting quick cash to cover the cost.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Less Noise, Better Score

So this is probably one of the most hidden secrets to the Key of Better Studying, and it’s a huge wonder as to why some might not notice it. Here’s a clue: it’s about college. What about college?

Gillson Dorm Room

Image via Wikipedia

Think about what it’s like in your dorm room. Do you have a roommate? Is your hall a “party” hall? Do you constantly get distracted by a TV, games, the opposite sex, and beer? Maybe you’re always rolling your neck, getting stressed at the time, cramming as you shouldn’t — because that doesn’t promote healthy studying habits — and eventually failing as you should.

It’s sad that you should fail because you’ve missed one key element to the quality of your studying. It’s simply this: less noise!

Typically, you do a lot better with studying, reading, and writing, if you don’t have a whole lot of noise around. Think about it. While you have your desk there in the dorm room, know that you may never get much done at all if you’re constantly bothered by other students, phone calls, and pizza.

So here’s the tip to solve it all…. Get out of the dorm room!

That means go somewhere quiet. Look for something outdoors, too — such as a forest preserve, local gardens, or just a bench in the quiet side of the downtown area. Let the air refresh you, let the quiet world calm you. And if it’s the middle of winter, simply find a Panera, Starbucks, or any other coffee shop or easy-going restaurant.

Whatever you do, get out of the college noise! You’ll get a better score for sure.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Popular Studying Spots

Group of students studying Bible

Image via Wikipedia

Finding the time and place to study is very important if you want to have a successful college career. Once you know when you have the time, you will need to figure out where. You will want a place that is quiet and where you won’t be disturbed. Popular places are a quiet place in your home or at a library.

A good study area will allow space for you and your books to spread out. You need room to study; you do not want to feel cramped. When you are studying, it is important that you feel comfortable and relaxed. Many people will study at a big desk or table. It is also important that you have plenty of light.

Try going somewhere where you will have no distractions and no temptations to get distracted such as a TV or a room full of people and loud noises. You may want to turn your phone off and avoid getting up often to go do something else. Try to keep yourself focused only on your schoolwork. If you need more information, contact Canada 411.

Wherever you choose to study, it is a good idea to study in the same place every time. This should be a comfortable place where you can focus. Having one place dedicated to studying will help you become more motivated and you will be able to get your work done. Avoid studying when you are tired; this is almost as bad as not studying at all. Your mind will not be able to focus and you will not be able to get the information you need.

Enhanced by Zemanta

No Cramming Allowed

It’s a biological, undisputed fact: our brains actually retain more information not when we constantly stuff it with information until we’re sure it stays there, rather when we quickly file it away and mark the location!

Take this analogy: the library. As typical of many of these establishments, how they’re organized matters. If the organization is off a bit, you’ll find many visitors having a lot of trouble locating the books they want.

Disorganization can happen several ways: one of them is constant ‘cramming’ of books, stuffing them on the shelves, moving too fast, getting too overworked. The result is poor organization, less neatness among the aisles, and more dissatisfied guests to your library.

Can you imagine how your brain would feel if you were cramming and not studying?

The two words aren’t synonymous at all. Don’t be fooled. When you study in short spurts, you actually remember a lot more of what you read and drilled.

This goes in line with the fact that your body needs the rest, so don’t stay up late at night burning the books with the midnight oil and burying your brain in all the crazy mess that is the information you’ll never remember because you didn’t give your head enough rest. It should be plainly obvious that your brain works a lot easier if you had enough sleep the night before.

Repeat for emphasis: no cramming allowed. That’s Basic Studying 101. If you want a better chance at a good test score, study in short periods over a long stretch of time. You’ll see that the “A” will come a lot easier!

Enhanced by Zemanta

4 Study Habits You Should Employ Now

You should have already learned adequate study skills before you ever entered high school. If not, you should have learned them in high school, so the four study habits listed below may sound familiar, but there will be slight differences. Put together, the study habits you learned previously as well as the ways to build on them will make you a better college student.

Re-think the time of day you study.

When you were in high school, you probably had to wait until after school to study. This may not be necessarily true in college; you may have hours between some classes, or your classes may start later in the day.

If either of the above situations is true, utilize the extra time. It may be tempting to sleep in or to hang out instead of hitting the books, but using that time to study may give you more free time in the afternoons or evenings.

Re-think where you study.

Your room at home may have been the perfect study environment, but your college dorm room may not be. You may have to go to the library or other place in order to have the best study environment when pursuing a bachelor degree.

Re-think the order in which you study.

You may have one class three times a week, with a day in between. Or, again, you may have free time before a class is scheduled.

Re-think how you study.

The same tricks you used in high school may not work in college. There may be more reading than writing, or the opposite may be true, and you’ll need to make adjustments for that.