Educational Edge: Want to Learn Deep and Get A’s, B’s, and C’s ?
- By Juanita Malonson Holliman, Ph.D.
- Published 08/16/2009
- Education
- Unrated
Juanita Malonson Holliman, Ph.D.
Dr. Holliman is available as a presenter and/or consultant for workshops and seminar on the topics of: Assessment and Evaluation of Student Learning Outcomes, Implementing Critical Thinking Across Curriculum, Critical Thinking Teaching Strategies, Interpreting Educational Standards for Accreditation of Nursing and Allied Health Programs, Adult Education/ Context of Society, and other educational themes.
View all articles by Juanita Malonson Holliman, Ph.D.
Dear Students,
No matter which setting you’re in … home school, elementary school, high school, college or university, trade schools, and/or schools for offenders (prisons), you will be assigned by the teacher, (or you may elect) to read, write, research, debate, do a presentation to the class, or to prepare an essay say, on the topic of: Mothers and Babies Living with the HIV Virus, Pros and Cons of Chemotherapy, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, President Obama’s Economic Stimulus, History of Prison Systems in America, Child Rearing Practices of Gay Couples, or Teaching to the Test in Public Schools. The topics are endless. Staying ahead of the game, you turn the pages, began to read with highlighter in hand, and suddenly, Bingo! Presto! pages suddenly turn pink, green, yellow or blue.
You have chosen to highlight only those paragraphs you think are important to remember and sections you think will be on the final examination. Want to empower yourself to learn deep, retain knowledge, learn smart, get A’s, B’s or C’s, and have fun at the same time? You have the power to take control of your thinking by simply reasoning through the logic of any content in any subject(s) you are studying.
The great philosopher, Socrates, believed that one should be taught to ask questions, examine propositions, ideas, beliefs, concepts, and theories presented to learn deep while dispelling the tendency to memorize everything. This can be achieved through the use of “Elements of Reasoning” or a set of “Questions” you ask about the subject or topic (s) you are studying. When you read a chapter, or an article, write an essay, prepare a presentation, pretend that you are having a conservation with the person who wrote what ever it is you’re reading, and ask him or her the following questions, to achieve a deeper understanding of the topic:
1. What are the author’s goals or objectives, what is the author’s purpose for writing the topic? (Purpose)
2. What are the broader issues associated with problem? (Problem)
3. What are the ideas and beliefs related to the topic (concepts)? Defining terms such as marriage, religion, (Concepts)
4. What is being taken for granted or believed to be true about “Low Income Housing”? (Assumptions)
5. Is there enough facts, observations, evidence presented/available in order for me to take a position and make a conclusion? (Information)
6. Are there different view points presented? (Point of View)
7. What is the author proposing is the end results or who will be impacted (individuals, society, environment, etc.)? (Conclusion)
After you’ve completed the assignment, evaluate using prescribed Universal Intellectual Standards, by asking yourself: Is it clear? Is it accurate? Is it relevant? Is there breath and depth to issues presented? “Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.”—Chinese Proverb
No matter which setting you’re in … home school, elementary school, high school, college or university, trade schools, and/or schools for offenders (prisons), you will be assigned by the teacher, (or you may elect) to read, write, research, debate, do a presentation to the class, or to prepare an essay say, on the topic of: Mothers and Babies Living with the HIV Virus, Pros and Cons of Chemotherapy, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, President Obama’s Economic Stimulus, History of Prison Systems in America, Child Rearing Practices of Gay Couples, or Teaching to the Test in Public Schools. The topics are endless. Staying ahead of the game, you turn the pages, began to read with highlighter in hand, and suddenly, Bingo! Presto! pages suddenly turn pink, green, yellow or blue.
You have chosen to highlight only those paragraphs you think are important to remember and sections you think will be on the final examination. Want to empower yourself to learn deep, retain knowledge, learn smart, get A’s, B’s or C’s, and have fun at the same time? You have the power to take control of your thinking by simply reasoning through the logic of any content in any subject(s) you are studying.
The great philosopher, Socrates, believed that one should be taught to ask questions, examine propositions, ideas, beliefs, concepts, and theories presented to learn deep while dispelling the tendency to memorize everything. This can be achieved through the use of “Elements of Reasoning” or a set of “Questions” you ask about the subject or topic (s) you are studying. When you read a chapter, or an article, write an essay, prepare a presentation, pretend that you are having a conservation with the person who wrote what ever it is you’re reading, and ask him or her the following questions, to achieve a deeper understanding of the topic:
1. What are the author’s goals or objectives, what is the author’s purpose for writing the topic? (Purpose)
2. What are the broader issues associated with problem? (Problem)
3. What are the ideas and beliefs related to the topic (concepts)? Defining terms such as marriage, religion, (Concepts)
4. What is being taken for granted or believed to be true about “Low Income Housing”? (Assumptions)
5. Is there enough facts, observations, evidence presented/available in order for me to take a position and make a conclusion? (Information)
6. Are there different view points presented? (Point of View)
7. What is the author proposing is the end results or who will be impacted (individuals, society, environment, etc.)? (Conclusion)
After you’ve completed the assignment, evaluate using prescribed Universal Intellectual Standards, by asking yourself: Is it clear? Is it accurate? Is it relevant? Is there breath and depth to issues presented? “Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.”—Chinese Proverb