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Week 5, Mission 4: VISUALS


 This week was all about “visuals”.  As a teacher, we are taught to cater to numerous types of learners.  As a visual learner, I am careful to include LOTS of visuals when I teach.  When I make a presentation, there are always pictures to go along with what I’m trying to talk about.  We learned this week just how effective pictures can be.

I type out my notes in class due to the fact typing is much quicker when my professors are speaking quickly and I want to get all the information down.  I could spend an entire lecture copying from slides word-for-word and not be able to reciprocate those words at all.  Thankfully, I know this.  I know that in order for me to learn, I have to write it down.  Many professors give us “study sheets” for tests and I spend hours not only writing but color-coding index cards in order to help me study.  When it comes to test time, I know the answer because I have visualized it with the definition.  Often times similar items are color-coded.  When studying for a literature test, I had each time period in a different color.  I may not have remembered the exact date of a piece of literature, but I remembered it was green so that was somewhere between 1820-1830.

Let’s go back to current life with me again.  I’m still struggling in history and making a lower grade than I thought on my first test made me even more upset.  Clearly how I’m studying is not working.  I also know that reading a book or listening to a lecture is not going to do me good either.  Perhaps there is some insight to this whole “picture” thing.  I do remember pictures much easier than written words.  The great thing about learning things like this now is that I can actually experiment on myself!  In order to prepare for the next test, instead of “definitions” to go with each term (or biographies for people), I’m going to draw them out!  Thankfully, the drawings are for me and they don’t have to be picture perfect.  I specialize in drawing stick figures!  I’ll report back soon on how this goes.  If you have any more tips for helping me study PLEASE let me know!  I’m open to experimenting with ANYTHING at this point!
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