Tip #3: Use all available resources

Regardless of the subject or level of complexity, most academic textbooks are teeming with resources that students underutilize.  One such example is a chapter summary.  Without question, it is beneficial to read the summary after studying a chapter.  It emphasizes main points and restates important details central to comprehending the material.  Why not also read that same chapter summary before starting a new unit of study?  

A good chapter summary is like a preview of coming attractions: it presents highlights of the chapter just as a movie preview often presents highlights of a film.  A well-crafted preview entices the viewer to want more of the story by including compelling aspects of a movie plot; a well-crafted summary facilitates the learning process by succinctly presenting important points contained within the corresponding text.

Learning information after reading a chapter summary is like putting clothes into a closet pre-designed to hold those items compared to putting clothes into a closet with no racks and no drawers.  When students read a chapter summary first, it prepares their brains to process complex material in a logical manner.  Subconsciously, the brain crafts a rudimentary, malleable framework that will later be used to analyze and understand the contents of that chapter.  As the topic is studied and information is introduced, knowledge fits onto the pegs of the brain’s framework in an organized manner if the summary was read first.  This saves the student time and makes learning more enjoyable.

As we move through time and space, an abundance of resources exists for our use.  Much has been written about changes our communities experienced because of the pandemic.  Neighborhoods lost people and places that will never return.  The positive side of that coin is that as society moves forward, resources emerge that were not present before our lives were turned upside down.  Explore parts of your locale you haven't seen recently—look for resources that have sprung up.  Interact with new (and old) residents in your area, and you may meet a potential business associate, exercise buddy, or friend for life.  We have spent so much time staring at the screens in front of us.  Have you missed what’s going on in the periphery?  Step aside with purpose, and venture to discover the resources around you.