Msg: 5372 *Conference*

08-23-94 00:11:08

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : BRYAN COSTIN

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #5364 (GREETINGS!)

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Welcome aboard, Bryan.  I noted your member request and will mail you a
catalog.  In the mean time, allow me to address your school, note-taking
application.  I have experience in this area, both as a graduate student in the
field of Management, and Information Systems in the 80's and as a
college/university educational contractor for 12 years.  I have an MBA in
Information Management and college credentials in Computer And Related
Technologies, and Industrial Managment.

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Axiom #1:  The depth and breath of your education (knowledge and skills) is
directly related to your personal involvement.

During lecture, your attention should be totally focused on the dynamics and
relationships presented, not on the actual words, e.g., when admiring the
presentation of a forest, you do not focus on each tree.

Make the moment real ... ask questions, not just for answers but for reactions
... participate in the discussion, free from the mundane and fruitless note
taking process ... engage the lecturer.  The group process, the experience of
participation, is the most important thing you want to do during lecture.  Of
course, be reasonable.  Don't get wordy.  Don't be weird.  Don't get off the
subject.  Be polite and respectful.

Review the entire course during the first two weeks of class.  That's right,
the entire course.  Know what's going to be covered before it's covered.  Take
control.  Get organized
 - Make a calendar of what's due and when.
 - Start each paper or project, even if its just the presentation binder.
 - Review the entire text, ansering as many of the questions therein as you
can.
 - Schedule appointments with the instructure during office hours.  Have
questions ready.
 - Be a tutor (teacher) ... remember, you learn things better when you have to
explane them to others ... head up a study group.

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Axiom #2: Employ that technicalogy most closely linked to the form of
information desired.

During lecture, words flow like water--a pen or keyboard does not, but a tape
recorder will.  Use a tape recording device.  Let the tape take the notes.
Your job is to participate, not a court reporter.  After lecture, during your
study time, gleen from the tape those notes you feel capture the lecture.
Study with a friend.  Also, remember ... and don't ever forget ... for each
hour of lecture you should spend at least 3 hours study.  Thus, a class that
meets 3 hours a week requires 9 hours of intense study.

During lecture, the board is normally used for examples.  These are pictures.
Use a camera to take pictures--carry and use a Poloroid camera.

When in the library, use the copy machine.  Take the copies with you.  Cut and
paste, or tape the words into notes for reference and quotes.

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Axiom #3: You are the customer.

Be polite but firm ... you are the customer.  You are going to spend money and
time investing in your education.  Do not let the administration or faculty
bully you.  You are not their child.  You are the customer.  You are the most
important person in that school.  Be polite but firm.

Do everything in your power to present yourself and your work in a professional
manner.  Word process everything you hand in--proper grammar, proper
spelling--and keep copies.

Keep a notbook of what you turned in and when; appointments you made with
instrucures; who said what during discussions with administration.  Be
prepaired to respond to questions like, "Who told you that?" with ... Mrs.
Janson in the Dean of the School of Business office on April 22nd at 10:30 in
response to my question about such-en-such; and here is a copy of what she
handed me during that session.

Track your own progress.  Don't wait until after finals to know what you final
grade is, get in there and work with the instructure to assure your grade.  No,
you're not going to cheat.  You "are" going to actively review your progress
throughout the term with your instructures during office hours.

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I'll stop here and let you captuer and study these ideas offline.  To reread
the message simply select A for <A>gain.  Before doing so, open a capture file
so you can have this information available in a file when you log off.

At your service... -Rick-