I used to believe that the world was made up of people who were smart and people are weren't smart. I used to believe that "good" students were smart people and "bad" students... well, you get the idea.
I don't believe this anymore. I've seen way too many so-called "smart" people roll through their classes without really learning anything useful or benefiting in any way.
I have also seen lots and lots of students who didn't come to college believing in their own inner smartness but who were willing to work really hard, go to class, take meaningful notes and study, study, study. These students were successful and often go on to lead great, powerful, interesting lives.
What's the difference? It isn't smartness. I'm not really sure I believe in smartness anymore. At least not in the way I used to.
Intelligence is not really about smartness. Intelligence is the ability to use the available tools in creative ways to adapt to new situations.
Think about cave men picking up clubs, making axes, building fires.
Think about children stacking blocks, climbing on chairs to get what they are after.
Think about students using the library, learning center and other student learning support services to learn how to learn.
Yes, that's right. You can actually learn how to learn. Want to know more? The Academic Success: Smart Tips for Serious Students video series provides really good tips on how to be a better student.
Watch videos online about:
You can get to these videos and more all the time from the library database list at http://www.roanestate.edu/library/databases_az.htm#a.Labels: databases, help, learning, SAILS, students, success, tips, video