HOW TO STUDY A TECHNICAL SUBJECTLESTER DAWSON

University of Alaska, College, Alaska

At the beginning of each semester, I make the following re-marks to each of my freshman mathematics classes concerninghow to study. Perhaps some of the suggestions are worth em-phasizing in an open letter addressed primarily to students.

To the student:If you have been having trouble with your mathematics,

physics, chemistry, or some other technical subject, you mayfind the following suggestions helpful in studying more effec-tively. (At least give them a trial.)1. Schedule your time.

Establish regular study habits. To master any technicalsubject where one day’s work depends somewhat upon the pre-ceding day’s work, one must study regularly. Regular habits ofstudy will make you more consistent and accurate and will saveyou time. In establishing a schedule of study, start studying aparticular subject on schedule and permit no exceptions tooccur.

Effective study is associated with good care of your body.Proper food, sufficient sleep and regular exercise are importantto good mental work. On your time schedule allow time forsleep and exercise.

2. Learn to concentrate.Before starting to study, make conditions as favorable as

possible for concentrated study by overcoming distractions. Asyou study, try hard to understand each idea as you read alesson. Since successful studying of a technical subject involvesnot only the acquiring of knowledge, but is followed by theprocess of constructive study, pencil out problem examples.Keep your mind alert on the subject. Read carefully, linking thenew ideas with the old.

3. Learn to reason.Try hard to develop your power to reason by knowing the

facts and associating these facts in problem solving. The stu-dent who uses reasoning in acquiring knowledge should find adelight in study.

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660 SCHOOL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

Do not give up easily when solving problems. If a problem"stumps" you, give time to something else for a while, thencome back to it later. Meanwhile you think about it subcon-sciously and may be able to solve it, upon returning your fullattention to the problem.4. Do not count so much on others.Even though studying with a friend is good at times, don’t

expect to get a command of the lesson by copying your friend^swork. Moreover, don’t expect your instructor to do your study-ing for you.

5. Study with the idea of retaining.Ideas are retained by repetition and expression of those ideas.

In regard to your technical subject, express yourself by recita-tions in class, by blackboard work, by explaining to others andby writing quizzes.6. Develop interest in your studies by securing extra information

about them.Talk informally with your instructor about the course. You

can learn to like any subject w^ich you have learned to un-derstand.

7. Think of examinations as an inventory of your knowledgeof the course.Tests are an incentive to work hard. Properly constructed

examinations should link up facts in new ways. In technicalsubjects, last minute cramming cannot replace regular con-scientious work.Get good sleep on the night before an examination and don’t

over-eat beforehand.Upon entering the examination room glance over the whole

test to see what is expected of you. Then carefully read eachquestion before you answer it. While taking the examination, ifit seems too long, proportion your time so as to cover the entireexamination as nearly as possible.

In the case of quizzes or tests, after your paper has beenreturned to you, rework any problems that you missed. Avoidmaking the same mistakes again. A man who had stumbledover a foot-stool in a dark room would be called crazy if hestumbled over the same obstacle each time he entered the darkroom, wouldn’t he? Do not repeat mistakes over and overagain.

A LECTURE ROOM STOP WATCH 661

To summarize, effective study should be enjoyable, concentrated,independent study done on a regular schedule with the idea ofretaining facts and developing reasoning ability.

BIBLIOGRAPHYBooks:

1. Kitson, H. D., "How to Use your Mind," Lippincott & Co. (1921edition), Philadelphia.

2. Headley, L. A., "How to Study in College," Henry Holt & Co. (1926edition), New York.

3. McMurry, F. M., "How to Study," Houghton Mifflin & Co. (1909edition), Boston.

A NOTE REGARDING LECTURE ROOM STOP WATCHEDW. B. COOPER, Brookline High School, Brookline, Mass.

The Warren Telechron Company of Warren, Mass. will supply on specialorder a synchronous motor and gear drive which gives a shaft rotation atthe rate of once in ten seconds or, as is stamped on the motor plate, at6 R. P. M. These motors are self starting and stop very quickly after thecurrent is shut off. A stopwatch with a dial eight inches in diameter wasbuilt and tested by comparison with a Cenco Impulse Counter whichcounts at the rate of 120 cycles per second and it was found that by addinga little friction (a rubber stopper on the shaft, rubbing against the motorframe) the two kept in exact step. The price of the motor is about $5.50.

ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)DR. E. NEIGE TODHUNTER, Washington State College

Fruits and vegetables are the only significant sources of ascorbic acid inthe diet. Some of these are much richer sources than others and theircontent may be influenced by differences in variety, soil conditions,methods of storage and handling.

Ascorbic acid^s functioning within the body is still far from completelyunderstood. But it is essential for normal development of bones and teeth;for cell respiration; for maintaining the structure of blood vessel walls.

Prospective mothers and those nursing children have an increased needfor ascorbic acid. An infant is born with some store of ascorbic acid in theliver, but this is rapidly depleted. Artificially fed infants should be givenfruit juice or some other source of ascorbic acid at an early age.Pure crystalline ascorbic acid is useful in some clinical cases, where

patients cannot use natural foods, or who need very high dosages. Thebody, however, appears better able to utilize vitamin C in the naturalform in which it appears in foods. Also, these foods provide other vitaminsand minerals.Oxygen of the air, especially when heated, can destroy ascorbic acid.

It is also soluble in water. That makes it important to cook fruits andvegetables properly to retain this essential dietary factor.Newer methods of measurement of ascorbic acid indicate that the

average person requires at least 50 to 60 milligrams of this vitamin daily.