Dans mes lectures de « développement personnel » (Self-Improvement), j’ai lu beaucoup de livres anglophones, principalement américains dont ceux qui expliquent comment être plus efficace dans ce qu’on veut étudier. Celui du canadien Kevin Paul « Study smarter not harder« m’a beaucoup inspiré. J’avais acheté son édition internationale à Suva Fidji en août 2006, lors de mon voyage avec mon fils Boris pour obtenir son student visa F-1 exigé pour faire des études aux Etats-Unis.
J’ai conclu tardivement après mes études universitaires malheureusement que l’école telle que je l’ai connue, nous a enseigné le « savoir du contenu de la connaissance » sans insister au préalable sur l’acquisition d’une « méthodologie pour mieux assimiler la connaissance » : c’est le point n°1 infra.
Pour garder mes bons réflexes estudiantins, je relis de temps en temps le résumé ci-dessous que j’avais rédigé voilà des années déjà.
- Effective habits of learning is more important than content of study.
- Successful life = interpersonal (social talent) and intrapersonal (unbiased self-analysis for self-improvement) intelligence
- Brain is like a muscle. Always learn new things and revive your intellectual curiosity.
- Kinesthetic learner: learning best by actually doing it.
- Super learning = (Preparation + Memory + Concentration)
- Preparation = most important part of learning: set goals and plan to achieve, be confident, don’t say “May be or probably”, but have high self-esteem, and repeat constantly “I can do it”.
- Expect to often fail because of being out of your comfort zone; but never give up, new habits for success, take time.
- For best memory, JUST AFTER readings, reread, review and practice.
- Write down (repeat loudly) the main points in key words, phrases, concepts.
- Try to find a pattern in key ideas; mind mapping method.
- Write down your precise goals; write a plan of study and always update it.
- Set priorities to achieve your study goals, within a time frame.
- Discipline yourself: stick to your priorities in hard times.
- Persistence is more important than talent, genius or luck.
- Divide in smaller steps to achieve your main goal; cross them when done.
- Be an information filter: when reading, identify only what is important to remember.
- Be an “active learner” Vs. “passive learner”.
- Make a commitment: doing it right the first time.
- Practice OUTPUT (do problems), not just study data INPUT.
- Mistakes = best teacher; without mistakes no improvement.
- As soon as you learn a new thing, use it and practice immediately.
- Study reading the hardest and most satisfying of all reading.
- Forget speed reading! There is no short cut. Have habits to ask oneself questions
- Study reading techniques : surveying + previewing
- read the back summary;
- read the table of content;
- read the introduction and conclusion;
- read the first topic sentences.
- Have “flash cards” at all times.
- “Mind mapping” = drawing of ideas; best study power tool ever invented.
- Challenge your mind with new ideas.
- Life-long learning = kaizen + consistency + passion.
- Kaizen = constant little improvements every day.
- Be consistent and take action to apply these techniques daily.
- Nurture a passion for learning, apply these techniques every day.
- Put your brain on a permanent training course.
- Never give up: find your weaknesses and push out your « comfort zone » by studying new subjects that can help you better understand the world we live in. For me they are :
- Mathematics : Linear algebra, Statistics & Data science are driving every thing nowadays; Hans Rosling has a brilliant présentation of statistics
- Public health & Epidemiology : Covid-19 caught the world by surprise and there is still more to come
- Physics & Chemistry & Biology & Biochemistry
- Three subjects, in my view, of certainly great interest to the future of mankind :
- Geopolitics in globalisation : yes that « dismal » activity of making decisions based on national interest first, that ultimately affects the future of the world
- Global warming & Energy policy
- Genetics & Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) produced by using the recombinant DNA technology and reproductive cloning where, a nucleus is extracted from a cell of the individual to be cloned and is inserted into the enucleated cytoplasm of a host egg (an enucleated egg is an egg cell that has had its own nucleus removed). The process results in the generation of an offspring that is genetically identical to the donor individual. The recombinant DNA technology is already saving hundreds of millions lives :
- see the numerous existing applications of the recombinant DNA such as :
- the recombinant human insulin for diabetes patients estimated at 463 millions in 2020-2021
- the recombinant Erythropoietins for dialysis patients estimated at 2 millions but in fact 10% of the world population is affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD) : ie. about 700 millions
- see in 2016 alone, growing GMO crops helped decrease CO2 emissions equivalent to taking 16.7 million cars off the road for an entire year
- see over the last 20 years :
- GMO reduced pesticide uses by 8.2%, hence reducing adverse environmental effects; let’s not forget Rachel Carlson’s alarming message in her book « Silent Spring« ;
- GMO increased crop yields by 22%, hence reducing the risk from world famine; let’s not forget the earth food production capacity has to cope with the world population growth estimated to flatten at 11 billions by 2100; according to the United Nation, by 2050, the demand for earth food production will increase by 70%;
- GMO (specifically precision agriculture) was supported on 29th January 2016 by 158 Nobel prize laureates; so we can’t go wrong with them recommending GMOs.
- see the numerous existing applications of the recombinant DNA such as :
Analyze your progress and keep improving. Be smarter than yesterday and never quit!
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