Topic: Becoming an active learner

Review your notes: It's generally a good idea to go over your notes within a day or two of taking them. Notes when first taken are generally fairly rough, and often have missing information. If you rewrite them within a few days, it's not too hard to remember what you meant by what you've written, and to fill in the blanks from your memory of the lecture/class/etc.

Compare, compare, compare: “Don't rely on any one source of information. Compare, compare, compare! Though different texts and supplemental materials may agree on all the main points (or not), they each speak in different voices, adding dimension to the subject matter and giving you a better grasp of the subject.”

Apply it: “If possible "apply" or experience aspects of the course material in everyday life. Visit a museum or historical landmark, do something "hands-on" that relates to what you are learning. It may involve volunteer work, viewing a masterpiece up close, strolling through a historical district or perusing a rare manuscript. Create an adventure out of it and become part of the action. The world can be your lab. In the massage context almost all of the learning is linked to application. In each massage you do you should really be considering how the massage application is affecting the emotional state of the receiver, the physiology of the body, any medical considerations, etc... the list goes on. (well after the 2nd practical block anyway).

What does it mean to be an active learner?

Active learners pursue information rather than waiting passively for an instructor to “pour” information into them. Active learners attend each class meeting prepared to discuss the assigned materials. This means, for example, an active learner will have read before class, and in addition to reading the materials, the active learner will create questions and note main ideas. How do you know what to read? In high school, your instructor probably reminded you of the reading assignments for the next class meeting, but do not expect this in college. The course syllabus is very important since it serves as your guide for the entire course. Study your syllabus, and place assignment due dates on your phone or calendar. This way, you will know what to read even if you do not have access to your syllabus. Also, be sure to note the course requirements listed on the syllabus. You will be expected to complete all course requirements as stated in the syllabus and most of these requirements will follow a specific, stated format. The syllabus is your course roadmap, so use it to help you navigate through the course material.