Reading the Textbook Effectively in an IB Class

A student asked me for strategies today on figuring out what was important from the reading. I stated that I would personally use a four part strategy. If you are not currently doing one of the steps below as you read through a class textbook, you probably aren't maximizing your absorption of the material or are spending longer than you need to fully grasp the topics.

1.  Read through the chapter in its entirety. 

You never want to skip any reading altogether. Read through the entire chapter once from start to finish without stopping very much. Take it all in at once to get the broadest overview possible and try to absorb as many details as you can without slowing down too much.

In fact, if you have the stamina, time, and opportunity, I highly recommend that you read through the entire textbook as quickly as you can from cover to cover early in your class. For me, that means trying to finish the textbook in a couple weeks at the very beginning of the semester or even over summer if possible before returning to school.

2. Be able to verbally summarize all major chapter headings.

This means looking at the big section headings and then shutting the book and quickly summarizing what you believe are the most relevant pieces of that section. Of course, if there are subheadings, your summary should probably include them. An example from the economics book would be something like this:

• Section heading - 2.3 Determinants of demand
• Subsection heading - Shifts and movements along a demand curve
• Subsection heading - Non-price determinants of demand

Your verbally summary of the section heading above should certainly include the two subsection headings and how they relate to the major section heading. There may be even smaller sub-headings under the subsections, but those details can probably be reconstructed if you understand the major sections.

Never memorize what needs to be understood!

3. Memorize definitions and diagrams.

Most IB textbooks, including the economics course, will include many definitions. Most exams require you to be able to define them from recall. This means spending time with flashcards or whatever preferred method you have at your disposal. The point is simple - definitions are easy points, but require you to grind a bit. Do it.

The same is true of diagrams. If they show up on tests and you miss them, it means you simply didn't spend enough time working with them. They are easy points.

I relate this type of rote memorization to being in good cardiovascular shape. Not everyone will perform highly on the evaluation and synthesis required during exams, just like not everyone will be talented enough to be a starter on the varsity team, but everyone can memorize definitions of terms and show up to their sport in good cardiovascular shape. It just takes effort.

4. Be able to provide examples in real life of major concepts.

This might take some extra research or investigation beyond on your textbook. Some concepts will be elaborated on in the textbook and include examples, such as China having a lower Green GDP measurement than traditional GDP because of the destructive nature of China's economy relative to the environment. When these examples pop up in the textbook, steal them.

However, not every major concept will be served up with an example. If you finish learning a major concept and can summarize the theory, definitions, and diagrams associated with it, but cannot provide an example from your own head, you will most likely miss points on your exams. In addition to missing points, you probably won't fully understand a concept until you can attach positive and negative examples to it. This means you'll have to investigate on your own. Look through the news, watch videos, ask your friends, or discuss with your teacher. Just make sure you have an example or two before you move on.

That's it.

Arguments From Irrelevant Authority - The New York Times

Arguments From Irrelevant Authority - The New York Times

Look, in general you should argue based on logic and evidence, not authority figures, whenever possible. Sometimes there is technical detail that forces reliance on experts to summarize the evidence — but in that case you should cite experts in the relevant area, not people who are or were important for reasons that have nothing to do with the subject. Arguments from irrelevant authority are a sign that you don’t have a substantive case, you’re lazy, or both.

Using SnagIt for Voice Overs

Some people have said that the voice over isn't working for them in PPT once they transfer it to Google Drive. If you recall in class, I mentioned any voice over type is fine. PPT is not the only option and accomplishing the task of making a working voice over is part of this assignment.

If you are unsuccessful with the first option, start problem solving and figure out an alternative. Google and YouTube are great for learning new things.

Here is an alternative to the PPT voice over:

Robert Reich (Ranking Colleges)

Really cool post from Robert Reich on college rankings and what does or not qualify a university to be considered "elite" or highly ranked.

Of personal interest to me as a Californian, the University of California system as a whole had three of the top five schools and four of the top ten. If we add Stanford, California had five of the top ten spots on the recommended Washington Monthly link below!

Robert Reich (Ranking Colleges)

So, with college application season almost upon us, where should aspiring college students and their parents look for advice? 

In my view, not U.S. News and World Report’s annual college guide (out last week).

US New claims its rankings are neutral. Baloney.

We need another guide for ranking colleges – one that doesn’t look at the fatness of alumni wallets or the amount spent on each student, but does take account of economic diversity and dedication to public service. 

Fortunately, there is one. It’s a relatively new one, provided by the Washington Monthly.

Prize-winning DP students at Young Researchers competition | IB Community Blog

Some IB students in Norway recently won a handful of research competitions using the extended essays they finished for the Diploma Program. They didn't actually do any extra work; they simply submitted what they had already completed. Pretty cool way to rack up some extra honors as you apply to university.

Prize-winning DP students at Young Researchers competition | IB Community Blog

How do you use your research skills in life outside the classroom? 

I believe that research skills can be split into two categories: critical and analytical. Critical thinking skills allow me to intelligently question the validity of statements, sources and evidence, both inside and outside of research. Analytical thinking skills allow me to measure the importance of evidence, and extrapolate it to a conclusion. I would argue both skills are important in any context.

Noam Chomsky - On Being Truly Educated

Core requirements of fulfilled human beings are the abilities to:

1. Inquire
2. Create constructively and independently
3. Without external controls

What needs and requirements do you need met for a fulfilled human life?

This Student Who Got into All 8 Ivies Didn't Go For the Most Depressing Reason

Taking on debt of any large size for any reason should be carefully weighed, whether it is a house, car, or student loans in this case. Make sure you've thought about the decisions you choose to make before assuming they are the best because everyone else thinks so. This article is a great example of using some reflection and critical thought before decision making occurs.

This Student Who Got into All 8 Ivies Didn't Go For the Most Depressing Reason

The star student of Houston High School in Memphis, Tennessee, scored entry into all eight of America's prestigious Ivy League schools. Nelson was certainly qualified, graduating with a 4.58 weighted GPA, a 2260 out of 2400 SAT score and 15 AP classes. He was also a national merit scholar and president of his high school class, Business Insider reports, along with being a state-recognized alto saxophone player. 

Nelson, however, decided to forgo the big-name schools in favor of the University of Alabama. The reason, he said, came down to cost. 

Loans. Stories like Nelson's are becoming more common as America's most prestigious schools continue to grow financially out of reach for more and more students. Over the last 40 years, college expenses have been rising at a breathtaking pace. Since 1978, college costs have skyrocketed more than 1,100%. Today, the ten most expensive colleges in the United States all cost more than $60,000 a year. Predictably too, student loan debt has been growing in America every year since at least 1992, reaching more than $35,000 per average borrower in 2014. 

 The ballooning costs add further weight to questions about the relative value of attending other prestigious academic institutions. In a host of other metrics measured by the data company PayScale, less well-known colleges like the Oregon Institute of Technology and Brigham Young University performed better than Harvard and Yale in their return on investment to students.

Stiglitz on Improved Standards of Living

Below is a rather long video of Stiglitz discussing the importance of creating a "learning society". In the first few minutes of his talk (beginning around 15:00), he explains three explanations for increases in the standard of living over the past 200 years.

The three explanations include:

1. capital accumulation (savings that are utilized for productivity increases)
2. improvements in allocative efficiency of resources
3. learning (more outputs from a given amount of inputs) which accounts for 70-80% over the last 80 years (as researched by Robert Solow - Nobel Prize winner)

One really useful trick I've been using the last few weeks to watch more videos in less time or longer videos in less time is to adjust the video speed using the settings feature on the bottom right of YouTube videos. I usually adjust the speed from "Normal" to "1.5". This lets you watch an hour's worth of video in 40 minutes or 10 minutes worth of video in 6 minutes, but takes a little getting used to at first.

How To Learn Faster - Read 5 Books Simultaneously - Tai Lopez - YouTube

This guy is a little kooky, but his message is great. He claims to read a book a day and explains a couple methods he uses to learn faster in this video. I agree with his message 100%. 

My life, beliefs, and ideas completely changed a few years ago when I started to read a lot. For me, reading a lot means 82, 108, and 72 books over the past three years. This averages out to 23,078 pages each year from just books. This doesn't include any blogs, news, Facebook posts, documentaries, or YouTube videos I've watched in that time either.

I once read a blog which stated the only difference between you now and you in five years are the books you read, people you meet, and places you travel to. Even if it is a little glib, the message is dead on. Five years ago I had just graduated college and never been out of North America. Since then, I've read hundreds of books, traveled to over a dozen new countries, and met hundreds of interesting people along the way.