Common Student mistakes: What We Can Learn From Socrates, the Cognitive Sciences and The Simpsons
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COMMON STUDENT MISTAKES: WHAT STUDENTS CAN LEARN FROM SOCRATES, THE COGNITIVE SCIENCES, AND THE SIMPSONS
description
``To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes; the wise and good learn wisdom for the future.''---Plutarch. Have you ever wondered why you, being a university or college student, aren't progressing despite your effort? It may be that you are working frustratingly hard but without commensurate results, due to deficient mindset and/ or methodology. While a wide variety of problems can result in sub-optimal learning performance, there are 7 main categories of student mistakes that recur with alarming regularity. You may be making one, or more, of the these mistakes. Not to fret though; each of these debilitating hindrances can be surmounted with self-awareness and some effort, paving the way for enjoyable, and productive, learning experiences.
Transcript of Common Student mistakes: What We Can Learn From Socrates, the Cognitive Sciences and The Simpsons
COMMON STUDENT MISTAKES:
WHAT STUDENTS CAN LEARN FROM SOCRATES, THE COGNIT IVE SC IENCES, AND
THE S IMPSONS
1
H AV I N G A F I XE D M I N D S E T
“The mind is everything; what you think you
become”
"Imagine that one day, you go to a class that is really important to you and that you like a lot. The professor returns the midterm
papers to the class. You got a C+. You’re very
disappointed.
That evening on the way back to your home, you find that you’ve gotten a parking ticket. Being really frustrated, you call your best friend to share your experience but
are sort of brushed off.”
How will you react?
But I thought you were smart …
Will you react with …
I am a failure;
I'm a loser;
I'm stupid and life just stinks;
or even something as grim as “I’m the most unlucky person
on this earth.”
SOLUTION :
HAVING A FIXED MINDSET
CO N Q U E R YO U R M I N D T O R E AL I Z E YO U R
P O T E N T I AL
A better approach“I’d start thinking about studying harder (or studying in a different way) for my next test in that class, I’d pay the ticket, and I’d work things out with my best friend the next time
we speak.”;
“I’d look at what was wrong on my exam, resolve to do better, pay my parking ticket, and call my friend to tell her I was upset the
day before.”;
“Work hard on my next paper, speak to the teacher, be more careful where I park or contest the ticket, and find out what’s wrong
with my friend.”
A. H AV E A GROWTH MINDSET
B. A I M F O R M A S T E RY
C. U S I N G INTR INS IC
MOTIVAT ION
2
T H E FA I LU R E T O E N G AG E ‘ YOURSELF ’
I N L E A R N I N G
“To move the world, we must move
ourselves.”
SOLUTION :
THE FA I LU RE TO ENGAGE ‘ YOURSELF ’
I N L EARN I NG
KNOWL EDGE W I L L NOT G I VE A PART OF I TSEL F U NT I L YOU
G I VE TO I T AL L OF YOU RSEL F.
A . ASK Q U E S T I O N S
B. S T U DY M O R E
ACT IVELY
C. E N J OY YOUR STUDIES
3
T H E FA I LU R E T O MANAGE T IME
SOLUTION :
T H E FA I LU R E T O MANAGE T IME
U N T I L WE C AN M AN AGE T I M E , W E CAN M ANAGE N OT H I N G ELSE .
A . F O RM GOOD HABITS
B. M I NDF U L NE S S AND TH E ART OF FOCUS
C . P R I O R I T I Z AT I O N A N D D I S C I P L I N E
4
FA I L I N G T O R E A L I ZE T H AT FAIL ING IS KEY
“You tried your best and you failed
miserably.
The lesson is: Never try.”
M I S TA K E S A R E N O T A P R O B L E M ; N O T L E A R N I N G F R O M T H E M I S .
SOLUTION :
FA I L I N G T O R E A L I Z E T H AT FA I L I NG I S K E Y
E R R U N A B A S H E D LY A N D L E A R N — L I K E A C H I L D D O E S
A . E M BRAC E FAILURES
B. DON’T B E I N T I M I DAT E D BY
C ON F U S I ON
C. VALUE EFFORT OVER INTELLIGENCE & THE
PROCESS OVER REWARDS
5
FA I L I N G T O R E A L I ZE T H AT LEARNING IS SOCIAL
SOLUTION :
FA I L I NG TO RE AL I Z E TH AT LE ARN I NG I S S OC I AL
N O O N E CA N D O I T F O R YO U , BU T YO U CA N ’ T D O I T
A LO N E .
A . H AV E A MENTOR O R A
COACH
Advice on finding effective mentors1. Seek Someone Who Gives Short, Clear Directions; 2. Seek Someone Who Loves Teaching Fundamentals;3. Seek Someone Who Does NOT remind you of a Courteous
Waiter;4. Seek Someone Who Scares You a Little.
Daniel Coyle
DRE A M
BIG A N D H AV E
I DE A L S
B. S E E K FEEDBACK
B. S E E K FEEDBACK
C. T O L E A R N , TEACH
6
B E I N G A LEARNING M ON OG A M I S T
SOLUTION :
BE I NG A LE ARN I NG M ONOG AM I S T
E N COU RAG E LEARNING POLY G A M Y.
A . AVO I D T H E I LLUSIONS OF
LEARNING
Frogs are Frogs, and Fish are Fish. And That
is That.
T H E TA D P O L E T E L L S T H E F I S H T H AT
B I R D S H AV E W I N G S
B. S E E K DIVERSE K N O W LE D G E S O U RCE S
C. DIVERSITY I N S T U DY T E CH N I Q U E S
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N OT L E A R N I N G HOW TO LEARN
“Books are useless!
I only ever read one book, “To Kill A
Mockingbird,” and it gave me absolutely no insight on how to kill
mockingbirds!
Sure it taught me not to judge a man by the color of his skin... but what good does that
do me?”—Homer Simpson.
"Good books are over your head;
they would not be good if they are
not”
SOLUTION :
N O T L E AR N I N G H O W T O L E AR N
D O N ’ T BE A N H I G H LY Q U A L I F I E D A G RA D E S H E E P.
A . DEVELOPMETACOGNIT IVE
SKILLS
B . L E A R N C R IT IC A L TH IN K ING
C. B ECO M E A L IFELONG
LEARNER
COMMON STUDENT MISTAKES:
“ I S T HE RE AN YON E S O W I S E AS T O LEARN BY T H E E X PE R I E N C E OF
OT H ERS ? ”—VOLTA I R E .
7 C O M M O N S T U D E N T M I S TA K E S
1 Having a fixed mindset
2The failure to engage yourself in learning
3 The failure to manage time
4 Failing to realize that failing is key
5 Failing to realize that learning is social
6 Being a learning monogamist
7 Not learning how to learn
7 C O M M O N S T U D E N T M I S TA K E S
