Some Learning Tips

Open course from famous univeristies

2012-01-20T14:38:00.002+08:00

http://open.sina.com.cn/index.shtml has the web link "Open Course" created. It provides access to many good lecture series from various well known universities with Chinese Transcript added to the video.

Here is one that I would like to recommend:

耶鲁：罗马建筑

讲师：E.E.Kleiner

学校:耶鲁

E.E.Kleiner是耶鲁大学艺术史与经典讲座教授、耶鲁大学开放课程首席审查者，是耶鲁大学原副校长助理。她有许多关于罗马艺术的著作，其中包括罗马雕塑（耶鲁大学出版社)。

http://open.sina.com.cn/IntroductiontoRomanArchitecture.html

本课程是对罗马及其帝国伟大建筑和工程奇迹的介绍，其重点是城市规划和个别的古迹以及他们的装饰包括帝国的壁画。罗马、庞贝和中央意大利发展将突出显示。

If you like to look at the original video from Yale University, here is the link I found via google:

Introduction to Roman Architecture \| Yale History Lecture
► 42:31► 42:31	academicearth.org/lectures/intro-roman-architecture22 Oct 2009 - 43 minYale Professor Diana E E Kleiner lecture on Introduction to Roman Architecture from the course Roman ...

Course Index

I like to follow the links systematically in 24 weeks, and learn something I like in 6 month's time!

Join me if you like to be e-classmate!

Cheers!
Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

On failures

2012-01-18T10:52:00.000+08:00

Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the
success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult
task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find a joy
in overcoming obstacles.

-- Helen Keller (1880-1968) American Writer

Learning by reflection and imitation etc...

2012-01-17T18:13:00.000+08:00

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is
noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience,
which is the bitterest.

-- Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC) Chinese Philosopher

Slow vs standing still

2012-01-05T12:54:00.000+08:00

Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.

--- Chinese Proverb

Think in random manner: problme solving method

2011-12-06T13:57:00.002+08:00

When facing new problems, most people tend to view their problems the same old way and solved it with old methods.

This fixed way of problem solving will not be the best way out and it does not lead them to any new ideas.

Try taking some form of random stimulation to knock problems off their current track and think differently.

Use a dictionary and pick words in random to trigger your mind.

Use the random word to your match your problems and find a connection to the solution.

Do it in a three to five round, then ask yourself how each word can help you view your problems differently.

Words selected randomly will trigger unexpected ideas and solution in your mind, which lead to fresh associations and connection.

When you use words in random, you link your thought in random directions and enable new ideas and solution to emerge.

Hence, remember, if you are stack in your problem solving process, one of the way to un-struck it is random thought that move you out of the problems, which enable you to think out of the box.

Dictionary is just one of the convenient tool, and other things that you can create the out of box thinking perspective may carry you through the same way!

Dexterine

Fun Fast Multiplication Trick

2011-12-04T20:13:00.000+08:00

Fun Fast Multiplication Trick! A neat trick to quickly multiply two 2-digit numbers together!

2011-11-29T16:28:00.001+08:00

Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to "jump at the Sun."

We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground.

-- Zora Neale Hurston (1903-1960) American Writer

Imagination is the first step to creative learning!

We move a baby step one at the time, we might not land on the sun!

But we, get off the ground and move to other objects up over us and explore the sky!

Dexterine Ho

Take time to set small goals

2011-11-28T14:30:00.000+08:00

Take time to set small goals and slowly accomplish as much as you can.

Exercising after long hours of study may relieve some of the stress from the heavy day.

Dexterine Ho

Accepting tough jobs

2011-11-27T16:24:00.001+08:00

When we accept tough jobs as a challenge to our ability and wade into them with joy and enthusiasm, miracles can happen.

-- Arland Gilbert

Can you be as organized?

2011-11-10T14:51:00.000+08:00

Spending time with someone has you inspired.

Can you be as organized, energized and dedicated as they are?

Challenge yourself, then watch the results.

The Secret

2011-11-03T21:05:00.002+08:00

The Secret is a best-selling 2006 self-help book written by Rhonda Byrne. I read it more than once and would like to share the followings:

Secret to Success?

*Focus on What You Want! As the law of attraction work that way!

*Not What You Don't Want! If you only focus on what you do not want, you will get it too, it is just "law of attraction" in the way you make it works in reverse!

In your learning journey, the most powerful techniques you can use to ensure your immediate and continued success is to stay focused.

Learn all aspects of the subject matter! If you have worry, doubt, or fear of failure, use it to move you into different direction and focus on acquiring more knowledge to clear your doubt and eliminate your fear.

If you worry of not making progress in your study yet laying in bed day and night with the same focus. What you worrying about will certainly be materialised in your near future.

You predict the future by your own focus. The law of attraction work that way!

Dexterine Ho

Who is your enemy?

2011-10-12T22:41:00.002+08:00

When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.

-- African Proverb

Who is your enemy?

Who is hurting you?

Who is preventing you from any progress?

You may look outside for answer and you can blame others for all the problems you have.

Yet, it is good to reflect the other way:

"If you blame others for your failure, do you credit them with your success?"

-- Author unknown

Hence, if you fail, you may need to search within for the answer and do something about it! You may find a way to fix it if you are not running away from it!

Dexterine Ho

Desire in study

2011-10-11T11:44:00.002+08:00

Study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in.

--Leonardo da Vinci, Italian engineer, painter, & sculptor (1452 - 1519)

Laugh at your own mistakes

2011-09-11T10:50:00.002+08:00

Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life.

Laughing at someone else's can shorten it.

- Cullen Hightower

If you put it in study:

Laughing at our errors and mistakes can lengthen the benefit of failure experience in our study life.

Laughing at someone else's can shorten it!

Hence, to laugh more at your own mistakes and learn from it....

Rather than laughing at someone else's and do nothing about it!

Cheers!

Dexterine Ho

Have patience with yourself

2011-08-10T23:23:00.000+08:00

Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself.

Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them -- every day begin the task anew.

-- Saint Francis de Sales

If you want to learn more

2011-08-04T10:44:00.003+08:00

No one limits your growth but you.

If you want to earn more, learn more.

That means you'll work harder for a while; that means you'll work longer for a while.

But you'll be paid for your extra effort with enhanced earnings down the road.

-- Tom Hopkins

No input = No output

Some input = Some output

More input = More output

The more you put into your learning, the more knowledge you earn in your learning journey!

No one can limits your growth but you may set a limit and block your own path of learning.

Dexterine Ho

Do something about your idea

2011-07-31T17:40:00.000+08:00

Everyone who has ever taken a shower has had an idea.

It's the person who gets out of the shower, dries off, and does something about it that makes a difference.

-- Nolan Bushnell

If you try out your idea before, you understand that it is doing something about your idea that makes a great difference in your life!

If you have some good idea in the process of preparing for your examination/study, instead of shelving the idea for later time, take time out and test the idea out!

If you fail, you know the idea is good and not working the way you imagine, then you can take the next step to refine it or change it!

Act on and you will go one step nearer to your plan!

Dexterine Ho

Goal is visualization of your wish

2011-07-14T23:03:00.000+08:00

People with goals succeed because they know where they're going. It's that simple.

-- Earl Nightingale (1921-1989)

If you do not set a goal to excel in your learning journey, you will not likely to excel.

If you do not see passing an examination as a goal, you will not likely to put in enough efforts in your revision, and you may not pass the examination.

Goal setting is the visualization of something that you wish to have in reality!

Just thinking about it may help you to channel your energy subconsciously!

With that, you will reach your goal with focus efforts and success will be the outcome of your input!

Dexterine Ho

If you like to be a genius...

2011-07-12T22:51:00.001+08:00

Everybody is a genius.
But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.

-- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

If you like to be a genius, choose to do what you can excel!

Choose the subject(s) that best match your interest and abilities, you will find learning a joyful journey and you will be able to do well without much struggle!

If you are good in Sciences, go to science stream. If you like language, literature, history and geography, then arts stream is good for you!

Do not live your whole life believing that you are stupid because you listen to others in choosing the subject(s) of specialization in your secondary and higher education!

Everybody is a genius. Yet you need to discover it yourself!

Dexterine Ho

Learn to share your knowledge

2011-06-04T10:42:00.000+08:00

Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will never be shortened.
Happiness never ceases by being shared.

-- Chinese Proverb

Learn to share your knowledge and you will notice the learning journey is made easy and your understanding of the subject matter will expand along the way!

When you lit the candle in other's hand, the light both of you have will illuminate the room than a single light you hold in your hand!

Likewise, study with a group of like-minded and share your learning outcome will make the journey fill with great joys and new discovery!

Dexterine Ho

Aim for achievement

2011-06-04T10:32:00.000+08:00

"My mother drew a distinction between achievement and success.

She said that 'achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others, and that's nice, too, but not as important or satisfying.' Always aim for achievement and forget about success."

-- Helen Hayes (1900-1993)

Do your best and aim to achieve what is within your abilities!

Achievement is something within your reach!

Just do it and you will be more successful in your learning journey!

Dexterine Ho

What happen when you fail?

2011-05-25T18:14:00.001+08:00

Nick Vujicic, No Arms, No Legs, No Worries! Part 1

If you watch this video till the end, you will get the answer.

Yet it is not the answer that matter, but your understanding of the process!

To fail is easy, to try to learn from failure and make it the other way round is something that matter to you!

With the courage to face your failure and work out a solution, the process and the outcome will change you and your way of life.

Dexterine Ho

Stumble over the truth

2011-05-23T08:06:00.000+08:00

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened."

- Winston S. Churchill

Just pay attention to what you need to learn and study, you will discover a lot of written truth recorded by others who picked them up and passed on to you!

With the attentive mind, you will always find joys in learning when you stumble over the truth occassionally!

Dexterine Ho

If you blame someone else

2011-05-06T22:39:00.000+08:00

A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame someone else.

-- John Burroughs

When we fail in our study, we may blame our schools, our teachers, our classmates, or the educational system etc...

When you think carefully and notice that in the same school, with the same teachers, and the same classmates, there are people who excel in their study.

What make them passed with flying colours?

Any success in learning is a personal victory!

Hence, if one encounters any failure, one needs to reflect and takes note of the factors. Eliminate them, and walk a different path, until you success!

Remember, Thomas Edison is a person who fails many times, but he isn't a failure as he never blame others!

Dexterine Ho

Practice continuous improvement

2011-04-10T11:45:00.000+08:00

Practice the philosophy of continuous improvement. Get a little bit better every single day.

-- Brian Tracy

Doing your revision from time to time. Improve your understanding in any subject matter periodically is the easier way to any successful learning.

It is a very simple and basic theory, yet having the perseverance to practise it continuously is not something that everyone can do. Hence, that is the different between successful learner and those who cannot make it.

Dexterine Ho

To begin again

2011-03-31T11:09:00.002+08:00

Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.

-- Henry Ford (1863-1947) American Industrialist

Through discussion, we progress

2011-03-31T11:05:00.000+08:00

The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.

-- Joseph Joubert (1754-1824) French Philosopher

Through discussion, we progress!

Remember, if you wish to progress, do your study with group discussion!

Yet, avoid argument!

Dexterine Ho

Winners Vs Losers

2011-03-16T15:00:00.000+08:00

In life or in your learning journey, remember:

Winners Have Dreams. Losers Have Schemes.
Winners See The Gains. Losers See The Pain!
Winners See The Present. Losers See The Past.

Winners Make It Happen. Losers Let It Happen!

Winners See Possibilities. Losers See Problems.

Winners Makes Commitments. Losers Makes Promises!

Winners Are A Part Of The Team. Losers Are Apart From The Team.

Winner Always Has A Programme. Loser Always Has An Excuse!

Winner Says "Let Me Do It For You"
Loser Says "That Is Not My Job"

Winners Say "I Must Do Something"
Losers Say "Something Must Be Done"

Winner Is Always A Part Of The Answer
Loser Is Always A Part Of The Problem

Winner Sees An Answer For Every Problem
Loser Sees A Problem For Every Answer

Winner Sees A Solution To Problem
Loser Sees A Problem To Every Solution

Winners Believe In Win/Win
Loser Believe For Them To Win, Someone Has To Lose

Winner Says "It May Be Difficult But It Is Possible"
Loser Says "It May Be Possible But It Is Too Difficult"

Winner Makes A Mistake And Says "I Was Wrong"
Loser Makes A Mistake And Says "It Wasn't My Fault"

What is your choice?

A winner in learning or a loser in the journey of learning?

Success in your learning journey

2010-12-17T15:55:00.000+08:00

You can choose success in your learning journey. Do you believe you can?

If you do not, then you have already decided to choose a different path and success will not be the goal in your study!

If you choose success in your learning journey and taking the necessary steps to achieve that goal. You will not let anything stops you until you get there!

If you choose success in your learning journey, you will learn to remove whatever is holding you back.

Reflect upon your learning journey for the last 5-10 years, has something happened in the past affected your self esteem and your learning attitude?

If you do not choosing success in your learning path, it is very likely that simple problem will block your ability to overcome and change your learning path.

In study and learning. to remove any obstacle and mentle block you must have focus.

To have focus you must first have a dream or goal of where you want to be.

Only when you have defined that dream or goal of success can you start to focus on it.

Focus intently that everything you do is done with your dream and goal in mind.

Only then can you move toward that dream and achieve the goal.

Choose to live your success in your learning path and make the dream and goal a reality in your learning journey!

Dexterine Ho

Be content with a little ...

2010-12-16T17:54:00.003+08:00

"Beware of undertaking too much at the start. Be content with quite a little. Allow for accidents. Allow for human nature, especially your own."

- Arnold Bennett

Be content with a little learning at a time. You cannot digest the whole elephant within a meal by yourself.

Knowledge in any field is too much for our mind if we wish to know and acquire it in total instantly.

No one can do so, hence you just demand yourself too much if you were to force it upon your mind from the beginning.

Working very hard the night before the examination is only helpful if you have good understanding throughout the course of study.

Beware of undertaking too much at the start or at the end. Be content with a little learning daily.

Allow for mistakes made in your journey of learning, especially your own, learn from it and you will be a better problem solver then!

Hence give yourself time for making errors and corrections. Learning from your own mistakes, and move on...

Understand that you have human nature and simply things like dullness and tiredness will happen in your learning journey. Take some time to rest, recharge and reset your body. With a break and some rest, tune it back to learning mode is a pleasant experience.

Learning a skill or a subject is like growing a plant, overloading your mind by undertaking too much at one time is like watering the plant whole day, it will kill your mind like the way too much water is killing the plant.

Just be content with a little...

Dexterine Ho

Ask for success ...

2010-11-30T14:16:00.002+08:00

Perhaps the most important word in success and happiness is the word, 'ask.'

-- Brian Tracy

In any study and learning, asking question is the starting point of clearing your doubt.

Once you are able to answer or find a way to resolve it, you are on your way to success. With that learning is a joyful and happy journey!

Dexterine Ho

Perseverance

2010-11-25T17:02:00.000+08:00

The following quotation tell use what is truth about life and it is the same in the process of learning:

===
Economic disaster begins with a philosophy of doing less and wanting more.

-- Jim Rohn

===

There are no shortcuts. To be a big success, start a little earlier, work a little harder, and stay a little later.

-- Brian Tracy

===
There are two ways of attaining an important end, force and perseverance; the silent power of the latter grows irresistible with time.

-- Anne Sophie Swetchine (1782-1857)

Concentration

2010-11-24T17:26:00.000+08:00

The ability to concentrate and to use time well is everything.

-- Lee Iococca

In any study, concentration and focus is the key to success. If you are able to focus and use your time well, you do not need to repeat your work.

If you do not exercise your ability to concentrate, or to use time well in class, you are unable to do the homework without the help of tuition teacher.

If the work you do is not directly from you, it may not be with you in your comprehensive mind or long term memory even if you have done it. All learning will be a painful process of recall and confusion!

On the contrary, if you are able to listen in class with full concentration and understand the lesson, you do not need to attend remedial class or have tuition after classroom hours.

You will use your time to build something new upon something you know well.
If your foundation is good and stable, you can excel with new acquisitions of knowledge, and learning become interesting and stimulating.

With that, your learning become part of you!

Learning something new is not difficult and you will always find it joyful to add new understanding!

Dexterine Ho

To seek the mountain view

2010-11-20T14:16:00.004+08:00

When we tire of well-worn ways, we seek for new.

This restless craving in the souls of men spurs them to climb, and to seek the mountain view.

-- Ella Wheeler Wilcox

In learning, we are renewing our interest in the subject by adding something new to explore everyday.

If you stay where you are, you will get tire of what you already know.

Only when you climb one level up, you are able to seek a better view. No primary school pupil likes to repeat primary one every year! You will like to be promoted to primary two and three etc.

Learning is hard, yet no learning is dull!

Repeating something you already learnt is easy, yet it is not meaningful for you and that may drive you and lock you in a "restless" mode.

Without external force, the natural craving in you may spurs you to explor and climb new height, and learn someting new in order to have the mountain view of the knowledge world.

The education system just design the path for your to walk through systematically. If you have your own way to seek the mountain view, you need not follow the present system or path in your country or society.

If you have a choice, would you like to be in secondary school after your PSLE, or repeating primary six years after years?

Mia Hamm said "Celebrate what you've accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed."
When you are tired of the known facts and knowledge, will you seek and explore for new information and understanding?

It is up to you, anyway!
Dexterine Ho

Learning English: some tips for Chinese educated

2010-11-18T18:16:00.000+08:00

沈春華Life Show : 搶救英文能力提昇職場競爭力 (2/5) 20070731
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoPTF0SEuts&feature=related

沈春華請到英語大師賴世雄教授和其他來賓暢如何搶救英文能力，提昇職場競爭力。

This Chinese programme hosted by Ms 沈春華 invited Professor Lai 賴世雄 and other guests. Their pleasant characters and sense of humour make learning English natural and interesting!

If you like the programme, just follow the link from this page on youtube and view all the five parts.

Knowledge vs wisdom

2010-11-18T14:56:00.000+08:00

To attain knowledge, add things every day.

To attain wisdom, remove things every day.

-- Lao Tzu

When we are reading to gain new information and learning to gain new knowledge, we are doing the adding task!

When we are exercising our thinking mind, we need to know how to untie things and remove the obstacles blocking our way!

Have great knowledge do not necessary make one a wise person.

To have wisdom, we need to unload the knowledge that burdening us and look at the core issue in life.

Study skills is to master the tools to access and accumulate knowledge. It may not help one to gain wisdom.

Dexterine Ho

See the door which has opened

2010-11-09T16:41:00.003+08:00

"When one door closes, another opens;

but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened."

- Alexander Graham Bell

No one learns the same way, no teacher teaches the same way too.

If one access or one methed of acquiring the subject knowledge is closed or not accessible from one's way of learning, use another which is opened.
We often look so long and so regretfully upon the futile attempt that we do not see or try the one which may open a new way of learning!

"Alternative" is alter your way of solving the same problem. "Creative" is creating or applying something new and unknown to you.

If learning something the old way is an futile attempt, try and use other new ways.

Do not waste time on futile method when you have try and proved that it is not working for you.

Use the same time to test something new and you will find a new horizon in your learning landscape!

Dexterine Ho

Attains eminent success

2010-11-06T21:28:00.000+08:00

No one ever attains very eminent success by simply doing what is required of him;

it is the amount and excellence of what is over and above the required that determines the greatness of ultimate distinction.

-- Charles Kendall Adams

Success and enthusiasm

2010-11-05T21:26:00.000+08:00

Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.

-- Sir Winston Churchill

Enthusiam is the key to any success!
With it, failure is just a process, and not an end!

Success is from failure to failure first, follow by success at the far end. Enthusiam is the fuel that allow you to face it without losing hope and see light at the far end!

Dexterine Ho

Acknowledge a mistake

2010-11-04T21:17:00.000+08:00

It is important to acknowledge a mistake instantly, correct it, and learn from it.

That literally turns a failure into a success.

Success is on the far side of failure.

-- T.J. Watson (1874-1956)

In the process of any study or learning, it is a journey of collective "correction".

We acquire new learning when we know our mistakes in the past and unlearn it to go further and move forward.

It is not possible to acquire 100% right knowledge at any stage of our learning and study. It is always something we learn now add to our understanding of the subject domain.

Failure or have some mistakes in any learning is not a big issue.

Have the courage and attitude to acknowledge it and correct it is what makes us different today as compare to what we were yesterday!

That attitude will turns a failure into a success as you know success is on the far side of failure.

Dexterine Ho

Retain things you learn!

2010-10-13T18:15:00.002+08:00

I was alerted by Technology Integration in Education Group Members group-digests@linkedin.com to the following article:

"Effective Ways to Retain Everything You Learn!" Posted by Bhanu Priya at
http://blog.commlabindia.com/elearning/retain-learning

Here are some points I pick up:

*We sometimes get stressed out with ‘over learning’ because of which there is a tendency to forget some important things.

*Reasons for forgetting:

Lack of interest
Lack of proper understanding of the concept
Disuse – Memories do not stay for long when not reviewed or visited frequently
Increased preoccupations in the mind (both necessary & unnecessary)
Mental tensions

* In order to avoid these causes of poor retention, one must effectively plan his / her method of ‘internalizing’ learning, so that it can be retained for a longer time.

* Some simple techniques that will help:

Identify a clear purpose for learning
Get a thorough understanding of the material / information that you need to learn
Build a strong background on the subject matter
Avoid mental overcrowding of immaterial / unnecessary things
Be determined to implement whatever you learned in practical life
Divide the learning into manageable bites
Make a habit of writing while learning – Notepad helps
Exercise your brain – This keeps your mind fit just like body fitness

* Apart from these techniques, there is a concept called “visual learning”, which involves learning from seeing a task performed ... is more interactive and engaging as it includes pictures, diagrams, graphics etc., that help in remembering concepts for longer period.

To read the complete article, please click on
"Effective Ways to Retain Everything You Learn!" Posted by Bhanu Priya at

http://blog.commlabindia.com/elearning/retain-learning

Re-order your thinking

2010-10-01T20:59:00.000+08:00

You can take control of your own thoughts, actions and emotions, which means you can take control of your life. The best way to deal with problems is to re-order your thinking and see them as opportunities to grow or mature.

-- Zig Ziglar

To remove mountain?

2010-09-30T22:02:00.000+08:00

The person who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.

-- Chinese proverb

If you can carry away a few small stones from a mountain today and do it everyday, you may remove a mountain in years to come.

If you can study for a few minutes and understand a word today and do the same thing everyday, you will be a good language learner after six years of primary education.

A language expert is someone who does it ever after university education.

A mountain can be remove slowly, any subject knowledge can be acquired with a bit of effort each day!

It is not difficult to someone who did it, yet it is not easy for everyone to do it!

Simple tips is easy to acquire, yet perseverance and hard working is the key to any success in study!

Dexterine Ho

What little thing can you do today?

2010-09-25T22:13:00.001+08:00

It's the little things you do that can make a big difference.

What are you attempting to accomplish?

What little thing can you do today that will make you more effective?

You are probably only one step away from greatness.

-- Bob Proctor

Learning is one lesson at a time!

Primary school is six full years!

Each day is scheduled with many lessons, one after the other!

Secondary is four years, and you only get a degree after 16 years of learning!

No learning is a like cooking instant noodle, so do not expect instant learning the night before examination.

Dexterine Ho

Making friends

2010-09-24T21:54:00.000+08:00

You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.

-- Dale Carnegie

Dynamite

2010-09-23T22:02:00.000+08:00

People are like sticks of dynamite. The power is on the inside, but nothing happens until the fuse gets lit.

-- Mac Anderson

If you are like the stick of dynamite, your intelligent and your power is on the inside, but nothing happens to your intelligent and power until you find something worthwhile to fuse and lit it up!

Dexterine Ho

No one can force you to learn

2010-09-23T21:53:00.001+08:00

When someone asks you a question, answer him or her sincerely, and when you are not asked, do not force your teaching upon others.

-- Jae Woong Kim, "Polishing the Diamond"

You may have the best teacher in the world around you, yet you will not learn anything if you do not have any interest to learn.

When you are interested in learning, you will ask question sincerely and the learning journey will take you to the best teacher you need!

Good teachers do not force their teaching upon others!

To learn something, you need to be a willing learner!

When there is a will, there is a way!

Dexterine Ho

Dream and reality

2010-09-23T20:37:00.000+08:00

Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so.

-- Belva Davis

Learning something and mastering something maybe a dream.

If you can really dream about it at night, you have the ability to make it a reality!

Dexterine Ho

Just do it

2010-07-24T09:50:00.002+08:00

What you want to do, you do. The rest is just talk."

- John Cleek

You can plan what you like to do for days, yet if the plan is not executed, it is still a plan and you will not see any result from your planing!

Plan, Do, Check, Re-do, and the change will take place and you will harvest what you had planned for with doing, checking and Re-doing to meet your goal!

Dexterine Ho

One step at a time

2010-07-22T17:08:00.000+08:00

One may walk over the highest mountain one step at a time.

-- John Wanamaker

Any subject, any study is like a mountain when you start to explore.

In exploring, it is always one baby step at one time.

We start our learning in nursury, kindergarten, primary, secondary, pre-u or junior college, polytechnic, university and then continue with post-graduate study.

No one, however intelligent, can skips most of the steps and be good in any field of study overnight!

If one is intelligent and hardworking enough, it just takes lesser in time!

Still, it is one step after another that makes one a GCE"O" level holder, GCE"A" level holder, Degree holder, Masters Degree Holder, Ph. D Holder etc...

Fast food is to fill your hunger, slow and traditional cooking is the one that makea the food taste best and more valuable in term of nutrition and health!

Evening with all the study and learning tips you have learned so far, it is still a step by step approach that makes you a good learner with strong foundation in the discipline that you like to pursue futher!

Dexterine Ho

Difficulty and problem solving skills

2010-07-20T16:14:00.003+08:00

A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.

-- English proverb

If you do not encounter any difficulty or face any problem in your learning and study journey, you will never have problem solving skills!

The way school design learning now based less on text book teaching, but more on project work, case study or simulation of work place problem solving.

Unlike the text book teaching method, answer is not given.

As the problems and answers may be multi-facet, they, may only be explored and derived from your own research and discovery with group work and brain storming.

The learning in school, polytechnic and university nowadasy is not to make you a learned person, but gloom you to be an independent learner, yet capable communicating with others, able to find information needed, think creatively and solve problems along the way. It is to equip you and prepare you for a real life journey!

A project work is to let you finding room to "project" your thinking, your view and your ways of problem solving. There is no standard answer, and that is the reason such an assignment is being called "Project Work"

Cheers!

Dexterine Ho

The rule of success: 10,000 hours

2010-07-11T14:38:00.000+08:00

The following quotations are from Daniel Levitin, a neurologist and the author of "This is your brain on music":

"The emerging picture… is that 10,000 hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert — in anything. In study after study, of composers, basketball players, fiction writers, ice skaters, concert pianists, chess players, master criminals, and what have you, this number comes up again and again."

"Ten Thousand hours is equivalent to roughly three hours a day, or 20 hours a week, of practice over 10 years"

"No one has yet found a case in which true world-class expertise was accomplished in less time. It seems that it takes the brain this long to assimilate all that it need to know to achieve true mastery"

I think 10,000 hours is just an approximation, yet it seems to reflect reality.
Three hours a day, seven days a week, is about 10,000 hours — in 10 years.

Malcolm Gladwell, the author of "The outlier" also mentions the "10,000-Hour Rule", and claims that the key to success in any field is practicing a specific task for 10,000 hours:

"To become a chess grandmaster also seems to take about ten years. And what's ten years? Well, it is roughly how long it takes to put in ten thousand hours of hard practice. Ten thousand hours is the magic number of greatness"

If one wants to be the best at anything, beside the special talent one is gifted, it's also about putting in the hours of practice daily for years!

Talent along will not make one outstanding if one has not put in the time to practice and perfect it.

It is practice that makes perfect!

Dexterine Ho

You become what you believe yourself to be

2010-07-10T12:13:00.000+08:00

Man often becomes what he believes himself to be.

If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it.

On the contrary, if I shall have the belief that I can do it.

I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it, even if I may not have it at the beginning.

-- Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

If you think you will fail your examination and do nothing about it, you will fail definately!

If you set your mind to do well in your study, set a goal for yourself to achieve, you will head toward it and get your goal nearer to you every time you add a little bit of effort.

Goal setting and work toward it, you will have higher chances of getting it!

If you aim for nothing, you will get what you aim for!

Life and study is that simple!

Dexterine

Success is not based on luck

2010-07-09T23:05:00.000+08:00

When I thought I couldn't go on, I forced myself to keep going.

My success is based on persistence, not luck.

-- Estee Lauder

Success is not based on luck, it is perserverance and persistence that make it!

In work or study, if you do not have the endurance power to persist, you just have no luck of success!

Dexterine Ho

Time management with a long term perspective

2010-07-08T21:48:00.002+08:00

Maturity is achieved when a person postpones immediate pleasures forlong-term values.

-- Joshua L. Liebman

Study skills is time management with good allocation of limited resources, ie., time at you disposal.

Time management with a long term perspective only come with maturity.

If you are not able to control your child-like thinking and place pleasure before study, you will not gain much in your study in the long run.

You need to exercise your choice and your success is, indeed, in your hand!

Dexterine Ho

If your cup is already full

2010-06-22T10:27:00.003+08:00

The cup that is already full cannot have more added to it.

In order to receive the further goodto which we are entitled, we must give of that which we have.

-- Margaret Becker

When you share your learning and knowledge of the subject you "EXPERT" in, you will feel very light and fulfilling in giving what you have. In the process of doing so, your mind is able to create new room for new input.

It is good to share and enrich other! You are doing so not just to benefit your friends and others, but to enrich your mind too!

Reflecting on my library and teaching work experience, I must say that I benefited and learned a lot from those who have the big heart in sharing, and I try to mirror them in my life!

I find sharing knowledge, skills and experience a way to unload and refresh my memory on the subject matter. It is very encouraging for me to see the smile and feel the joys of colleagues and students when they hear or experience something they like to acquire!

So, do so if you feel that you cup is rather full and cannot have more added to it. Just remember that in order to receive the further good to which you are entitled, you must give of that which you already have!

Cheers!

Dexterine Ho

Do your best today

2010-06-07T15:24:00.002+08:00

"You better live your best and act your best and think your best today,

for today is the sure preparation for tomorrow and

all the other tomorrows that follow."

-- Harriet Martineau

No sure how to excel in your study?

Just do your best for today and you are sure to have a better tomorrow than if you idle away your time today!

Dexterine Ho

Common sense

2010-05-23T11:19:00.002+08:00

"Common sense is not so common."

- Voltaire

We have to acquire common sense with uncommon efforts!

At the age of 30, if you have acquired and retained some "common sense" in most of the subjects you study in primary and secondary school, you are a person not so common!

We learn and we forget, that is the reason for us to keep learning and retaining what we had already acquired. If we can build something on top of what we retain, we can be name "expert" in that particular field.

It is that simple.

Yet, simple things are not easy to acquired!

Dexterine Ho

The quieter ..., the more you can hear

2010-05-16T10:47:00.003+08:00

The quieter you become the more you can hear.

- Baba Ram Dass

In study, the quieter you mind become, the more you can read with understanding.

In a learning environment like a study room or a library, quietness is well received by reader or learner who are busy communicating with their own mind. Hence, exteral noise is not welcome!

Dexterine Ho

Expert knowledge

2010-04-25T10:40:00.002+08:00

"An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less."

- Nicholas Murray Butler

If you like to be an expert, try to learn more about a small object or subject. Focus on something minus, and you will have a better chance of knowing more than your peers/others and be an expert in that field!

Dexterine Ho

To success

2010-04-21T13:38:00.000+08:00

There are no shortcuts.

To be a big success, start a little earlier, work a little harder, and stay a little later.

-- Brian Tracy

All achievement is desire

2010-04-06T13:10:00.000+08:00

The starting point of all achievement is desire.

Keep this constantly in mind.

Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat.

-- Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)

Determination to concentrate

2010-04-01T13:10:00.000+08:00

I never could have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one subject at a time.

-- Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

Spelling: Synonym

2010-03-05T17:38:00.004+08:00

Do you have problem with this words:

Synonym

I overcome the problem this way:

S and non are the letters I can remember easily.

Syn is hard for me!

I have to convert Syn to Sin, and the sound of sin help me to remember the word.

nym is also hard for me!

I have to convert nym to nim, and the sound of nim help me to remember the word.

As "non" is the one that connect and overlap, hence

Sin + "non" + nim = Sinonim, I then convert the "i"s back to "y"s

Synonym

It is a round about way, yet it works for me!

You may find your own way!

Just keep trying!

Dexterine Ho

Spelling: Egypt

2010-03-04T17:26:00.002+08:00

Do you have problem with this word:

Egypt

I remember how to spell it now:

E and t, are the two letter that I can remember as ET is a movie title that I remember.

gyp is hard for me.

I have to convert gyp to gip, and the sound of gip help me to remember the word.

With E + gip + t = Egipt, I then convert the i back to y

E +gyp + t

Egypt is now in my mind!

Dexterine Ho

How To Read a Book You Hate But Have To Finish

2010-03-03T16:04:00.000+08:00

Finishing a terrible book may seem impossible, but there is a way to conquer the task.

This is a very practical guide and I think you will get some reading done if you follow the advice!

How To Speed Read

2010-03-02T15:46:00.000+08:00

I attended speeding reading class some time back and the basic pricinples are very similar to the following video.

How To Speed Read

Improve your efficiency by learning how to read up to three times faster with these proven speed-reading techniques.

After learning the method, discipline and constant practice is the key to mastery of speed reading!

Cheers!

Dexterine Ho

Gagne's "Nine Events of Instruction"

2010-03-01T05:08:00.000+08:00

Here is a review and simplification of Dr Robert M. Gagné's Nine Events of Instruction, which can be used to teach anything, inside or outside of a classroom. Try it with your children!

Gagné's Nine Events of Instruction

The nine events of instruction are:

1. Gaining learners attention
2. Informing learners of the objectives
3. Stimulating learner's recall of prerequisiites

4. Presenting the stimulus materials
5. Providing learning guidance
6. Eliciting the performance

7. Providing feedback
8. Assessing performance
9. Enhance retention and transfer

If you have problem applying Gagné's Nine Events of Instruction, view this video and see how a music teacher teaches C major scale this way!

Demonstration video of Gagné's Nine Events of Instruction and theory of Instructional Design. Created for: Psychology 450, Learning Inquiry Project, Harlaxton College Fall 2008

In summary, it is

T : Talk about your objective
E : Exchange knowledge
A : Aid learning (examples)
C : Check learning (tests)
H : Help fit into learner's mind

Dexterine Ho

Nothing glory comes easy!

2010-01-06T16:38:00.000+08:00

If you want a place in the sun, you had better be prepared to put up with a few blisters.

--Abigail Van Buren

Nothing glory comes easy! Likewise, good results in any field of study are obtained through a lot of hard works!

Dexterine Ho

Hard work pays off

2010-01-05T16:11:00.002+08:00

We all know that hard work pays off, but motivating yourself to do the hard work is the trick for all of us from time to time.

My trick is, if I have no other choices, I will make all decisions based on what I love to do. After enjoying what I like to do, I am more motivated to do what I should do in study/reading/teaching.

If you are unlike me and prefer to choice an opposite path. It is good to know that it works too.

If you prefer to reward yourself later, you can do what you should do, with the anticipation that what come next is something lovely worth waiting for.

Cheers your day with something you like to start with or end with.

Just put in your efforts and work hard to make it happen the way you like!

Just remember: Hard work pays off and you can reward yourself first or later!

The choice is in your hands!

Dexterine Ho

Applying various learning methods

2010-01-04T14:53:00.001+08:00

It would be wise not to rely on just one learning method or tip.

If you encounter some difficulty in learning something new with an old method you, don't become too depressed if it does not work the way you wish.

There may be other methods or tips for you to apply.

Invest some time in exploring new learning methods or tips after you fail with the old one, learing new tips maybe something you neglecting lately.

We all need constant reminder...

Dexterine Ho

Bookmarks and blogs your learning sites

2010-01-02T17:25:00.001+08:00

Learning online is fun, yet searching for URL from memory can be frustrating!

If you use web for quick reference and like to go back to the same site from time to time, the tip will served as a good reminder.

*********************************************

Use your browser’s Favorites (in Internet Explore) or Bookmarks (in Mozilla Firefox) capabilities to organize those sites and pages you want to find on the Web again.

By creating specific folders for various aspects of your study, you can get information you need very quickly.

For example, I created a “Learning tips” folder for general study tips and e-learning sites, a "Spelling” folder, and other folders such as a “School displays” folder and a “DDC” folder ... the list goes on.

It is important to go through your favorites/bookmarks at least monthly or re-organize as you need to.

To save time searching, you may move frequently used favorites/bookmarks to the top of the lists within each folder, and the most frequently used folders to the top of their hierarchy.

If the items in some of the folders is growing, it is good to create sub-folders to keep them in sub-groups. Most of us get lost if the list run beyond 10, so it is good to keep less than 10 items within each folder.

When I have too many bookmarks in my system, I started to put them in my blogs and add some annotations.

When I published it on my blogs, I can review it from time to time. As the date I collate or review the sites is recorded on the blogs, it is very easy for me to do the update. Only those sites that are still accessible will be kept and republished.

It is nice to share with other and keep my bookmarks organized at the same time.

To keep the sites manageable, I will review my blogs at least monthly and as ease of access is invaluable to me in terms of time management and reduction of frustration.

Stay... longer

2010-01-01T14:30:00.000+08:00

It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.

-- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Giving up

2009-12-16T16:00:00.000+08:00

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up.

The most certain way to succeed is always to try one more time.

-- Thomas Edison (1847-1931)

Learn everything you can

2009-12-16T15:04:00.001+08:00

Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can -

there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did.

-- Sarah Caldwell (1924 – 2006)

2009-12-15T15:05:00.000+08:00

It is not helpful to help a friend by putting coins in his pockets when he has got holes in his pockets.

-- Douglas Hurd

A teacher cannot teach you if you are not willing to learn.

All the input from teachers, or from good books will be trashed by you if you mind is set to reject the input from the beginning.

Dexterine Ho

Aim at something high.

2009-12-14T15:10:00.000+08:00

In the long run, men hit only what they aim at. Therefore, they had better aim at something high.

-- Henry David Thoreau

If you always aim at only passing the subject, you will likely to get it and not getting more!

Dexterine Ho

Made mistakes

2009-12-13T15:44:00.001+08:00

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.

-- Albert Einstein

Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.

-- Confucius

Did you ever think

2009-12-11T15:51:00.001+08:00

If you look to someone else to provide you with all the answers, why are you needed?

You may have to search a little bit and, perhaps, have some irritation, anxiety, and upset, but did you ever think that it might all be set up that way, just to help you grow, just to help you take another good look and reach just another step higher?

-- John-Roger

Success

2009-12-10T15:58:00.000+08:00

The successful man is the average man, focused.

-- Source Unknown

Take a step back

2009-10-11T09:58:00.002+08:00

Try to take a step back and refocus if you are having problems with your study.

Reflects on how the problem occur and how it ballon to the size that is beyond your ability to solve.

Some of the issues are beyond your power to correct, but the ones in your domain are easy to fix.

Once you do whatever you can to minimize it, you will see the problem less daunting!

Just get to work ASAP (As Soon As Possible)!

Dexterine Ho

Team work

2009-09-14T17:13:00.002+08:00

If you understand that your assistance are vital to the success of the team, you will treasure and appreciate the assistance of others to make the team excel.

I like to attend workshop. In a learning environment like that, my learning flows and a lot of difficult tasks can be made easy by team work.

If you watch the TV programme: "Are ou smarter than a 5th Grader", you will understand that learning is easy with the help of a team, even the team is a group of 5th graders.

If you usually like working solo and enjoy reading and learning alone, try to work with a team and learn differently. If you have any doubt, seek out someone to help and unlock your doubt.

But remember, sometime even if the team work method doesn't directly benefit you, the experience you have will be a worthwhile experince.

Don't Procrastinate

2009-08-29T12:03:00.002+08:00

The greatest thief this world ever produced is procrastination,
and he is still at large.

-- Henry Wheeler Shaw (1818-1885)

More failure in learning is a result of procrastination!

-- Dexterine Ho

Facing new and awkward challenges

2009-08-28T11:54:00.002+08:00

In any learning situation, in order to advance from know to unknown, one may face new and awkward challenges from time to time.

Most of us hesitate when asked to perform an unfamiliar task as we afraid we lack the knowledge, techniques and skills to do it properly.

Do the best you can, as the attitude is the one that really counts. You may be surprised or amazed at what you are capable of.

By trying your best and putting your heart and soul to the new challenges, it could lead to some new finding or some break through.

It is the same for most of the new discovery.

You will master new knowledge/technique and skills to go through the difficult path if you have the right attitude.

The same path which looks difficult to cross will become managible if you are willing to put your heart and soul in crossing it.

Dexterine Ho

Don't rush

2009-08-27T17:56:00.000+08:00

When you rush forward but get nowhere, part of you wants to say 'just forget it.'

But listen to your other half, instead.

Sometimes making progress is as easy as going with the flow, so force yourself to slow down.

Undo your bad habit

2009-08-26T15:41:00.001+08:00

A bad habit never disappears miraculously; it's an undo-it-yourself project.

Abigail Van Buren US advice columnist (1918 - )

Learning create opportunity for success

2009-08-25T12:08:00.001+08:00

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

-- Thomas Edison (1847–1931)

Learning create opportunity for success!

Successful people are learner all the time!

-- Dexterine Ho

Problem solving

2009-08-01T10:33:00.000+08:00

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

- Albert Einstein

A little bit more.

2009-07-22T21:41:00.000+08:00

Four short words sum up what has lifted most successful individuals above the crowd; a little bit more.

They did all that was expected of them and a little bit more.

-- A. Lou Vickery

If you force a child to do ...

2009-07-21T21:03:00.001+08:00

If we continually try to force a child to do what he is afraid to do, he will become more timid, and will use his brains and energy, not to explore the unknown, but to find ways to avoid the pressures we put on him.

-- John Holt (1923 - 1985) American Educator

Visuwords™ online graphical dictionary

2009-07-09T22:04:00.002+08:00

Visuwords™ online graphical dictionary

at
http://www.visuwords.com/

If you like to check up words to find their meanings and associations with other words and concepts, Visuwords is the one to use!

Visuwords produce diagrams reminiscent of a neural net and let you learn how words associate.

Enter words into the search box to look them up or double-click a node to expand the tree.

It's a dictionary!

It's a thesaurus!

Visuwords™ uses Princeton University’s WordNet, an opensource database built by University students and language researchers.

Combined with a visualization tool and user interface built from a combination of modern web technologies, Visuwords™ is available as a free resource to all patrons of the web.

Spelling make easy!

2009-07-08T21:23:00.002+08:00

Woman has Man in it;

Mrs. has Mr . in it;

Female has Male in it; She has He in it;

Madam has Adam in it;

History has His in it.

Limiting belief

2009-06-28T09:20:00.000+08:00

If you accept a limiting belief, then it will become a truth for you.

-- Louise Hay

2009-06-24T15:49:00.002+08:00

Tell me and I'll forget.

Show me and I'll remember.

Involve me and I'll understand.

-- Native American Proverb

In learning, listening is good, yet not good enough, as you may forget when you hear easily!

In learning, observation is better than listening, as you can hear and see at the same time, hence you can remember better.

Nevertheless, the best learning is to have hands-on experience yourself!

Your experience will internalized the learning and make it part of your knowledge!

Dexterine Ho

2009-06-20T09:34:00.000+08:00

When we blame, we give away our power.

-- Greg Anderson

When we blame, we give away the opportunity of fine tuning our inner channel and look for ways to improve ourself.

Instead of getting angry and blame others for anything that is annoying, ask for advice from friends alike on how to improve.

Sometime talking to a close friend make you feel better as you are likely to accept the view and look at things from a different perspective.

With the calm and peace you have at that moment, you will be able to concentrate and do things well.

Dexterine Ho

Yahoo! Education Reference

2009-05-15T19:42:00.001+08:00

Yahoo! Education Reference
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/

"Yahoo! Education offers a handy selection of searchable reference materials to help you find the information you need.

Look up the definition of a word in the Dictionary, find its synonym in the Thesaurus, or translate it into Spanish.

Search for facts and information in the Encyclopedia, find country and regional maps and flags in the World Factbook, and much more."

The reference tools listed on the page includes:

The American Heritage® Dictionary, Fourth Edition

The American Heritage® Spanish Dictionary, Second Edition

Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Columbia Encyclopedia

Columbia World of Quotations

etc...

Infoplease: Homework Center

2009-05-09T17:42:00.002+08:00

Infoplease is the world's largest free reference site. Access to Encyclopedia, Dictionary, Almanacs, and Homework Help on English, math, history, geography, science, and social studies are organized in systematic way.

For students who need Homework Help on English, math, history, geography, science, and social studies, just go to:

Infoplease: Homework Center

I like the language help and you may find other sections useful!

Amazing way to do multiplication 神奇的乘法

2009-05-05T17:32:00.001+08:00

Smarter way to do multiplication 必學算術小技巧

2009-05-04T17:01:00.002+08:00

The Simple way of Multiplying 9 神奇數學9的秘密

2009-04-30T17:41:00.000+08:00