[kim_johnson]

I've studied a number of different subjects at University / College level, now, and one thing that I've learned most recently is that half the battle is in figuring out what they want from you so you can figure out how to be able to do that.

What I mean is that I've had to adapt my study techniques for the different classes because the different subjects required different things from me.

I'm pretty good at essays. At the blend of summary and then using that as a platform to argue for / defend / present my own view.

I've had a lot to learn about solving equations. And I've had a lot to learn about study habits for science, more generally. I'm alright at the memorization that is required for much of biology, but chemistry and physics have come much harder to me.

Khan Academy is something that I've kept coming back to and I wanted people to know that it's out there, in case they don't, and people are doing subjects that are covered over there.

There are a bunch of little youtube videos that take you through vast chunks of the Secondary School / early / general University / College curriculum for science and for maths.

The videos vary in quality quite a bit. Some of them have known mistakes, were recorded years ago in very low resolution. Others of them are just glorious. Different colored chalk to track different variables through equations, some of them in association with the American Medical Colleges, and so on. There is a whole MCAT preparation 'stream' that I've discovered if pretty useful for me to work through.

One of the things with the videos... Is that it shows you a way of studying. What the presenters are doing, I mean. That's what I try and do (out loud!) when I'm studying. Try and tell someone... The way things are. To describe it. Then you get to a bit and realise you forgot or you aren't sure so you need to look it up. But being able to present the video without reference to other material... To be able to work simple numeric examples like that... Is a great way of learning. And one that is (in some sense) fun.

Anyway... Check it out, if you haven't already.

How to think of intelligence:
https://www.khanacademy.org/youcanlearnanything

The Alveolar gas equation
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/...quation-part-1
But, of course, before you get to the Alveolar gas equation it is helpful to know about various other things like this:
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/...ates-of-matter

Originally Posted by kim_johnson

I've studied a number of different subjects at University / College level, now, and one thing that I've learned most recently is that half the battle is in figuring out what they want from you so you can figure out how to be able to do that.

What I mean is that I've had to adapt my study techniques for the different classes because the different subjects required different things from me.

I'm pretty good at essays. At the blend of summary and then using that as a platform to argue for / defend / present my own view.

I've had a lot to learn about solving equations. And I've had a lot to learn about study habits for science, more generally. I'm alright at the memorization that is required for much of biology, but chemistry and physics have come much harder to me.

Khan Academy is something that I've kept coming back to and I wanted people to know that it's out there, in case they don't, and people are doing subjects that are covered over there.

There are a bunch of little youtube videos that take you through vast chunks of the Secondary School / early / general University / College curriculum for science and for maths.

The videos vary in quality quite a bit. Some of them have known mistakes, were recorded years ago in very low resolution. Others of them are just glorious. Different colored chalk to track different variables through equations, some of them in association with the American Medical Colleges, and so on. There is a whole MCAT preparation 'stream' that I've discovered if pretty useful for me to work through.

One of the things with the videos... Is that it shows you a way of studying. What the presenters are doing, I mean. That's what I try and do (out loud!) when I'm studying. Try and tell someone... The way things are. To describe it. Then you get to a bit and realise you forgot or you aren't sure so you need to look it up. But being able to present the video without reference to other material... To be able to work simple numeric examples like that... Is a great way of learning. And one that is (in some sense) fun.

Anyway... Check it out, if you haven't already.

How to think of intelligence:
https://www.khanacademy.org/youcanlearnanything

The Alveolar gas equation
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/...quation-part-1
But, of course, before you get to the Alveolar gas equation it is helpful to know about various other things like this:
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/...ates-of-matter

deffenetly a useful post, and will help a lot of people.

thanks for sharing!

[kim_johnson]

Thanks.

I forget just how rare that attitude is. The: You can learn anything! attitude.

So very many people in life are all about: You can't! And then we internalize that.

I think the You can't! Attitude often comes from those who are too scared to try. Perhaps because they got told that they couldn't from when they were young.

Or... Sometimes I do think that we set people up to fail. Instead of giving disadvantaged people a genuine opportunity to learn (that they can!) we give them material that is confusing and convoluted or that assumes they know a bunch of stuff that they don't know because we haven't taught them... Then (often to excuse poor or lazy teaching) we try and persuade them that they are stupid. Of course there are all kinds of feedback loops going on here. From how not having a healthy breakfast will make it harder for you to concentrate and how having parents who think you are stupid won't help you do your homework etc...

Even at University... The other day... Some people have this whole attitude thing... See... I got to the top of one field (in some sense). Well... I never handed my thesis in... But... Anyway... But the attitude I keep finding is people saying 'But why do you think that success in that field will result in success in this field?' And of course the answer is:

BECAUSE I CAN LEARN ANYTHING!

But... Seems... They still don't get it.

Of course the real issue is... That you have to work at it dilligently over years to get to do anything truly impressive. Which is, of course, what makes the achivement truly impressive. It wouldn't be worth **** if everyone could do it without any effort at all.

Just like gymnastics or bodybuilding or...

You get out what you put in.

[Fresia]

Khan Academy was SO very helpful to me in college with my classes. It has also helped my niece in middle school, and she and her friends that are using it in high school now. I would highly recommend it too. Thanks for posting this.

[bubbles00]

I used Khan Academy so much (esp. in Grade 10 when my teacher just used to give us papers and told us to "do it" with no furthur clarification). I passed all due to Khan Academy

[Kowareta]

The past two years my math teachers have been telling as about Khan Academy. The first time (Geometry) she actually had us look at videos for homework, but now (Algebra 2), my teacher just tells us to look up videos if we're having trouble with our homework. It really is a great site.

[einsam]

Khan Academy is a nice place and a good tool for self-study, or for anyone who wants something on the side while they're in school. Math is one of those subjects I didn't like until I started self-study. The subject is really brutalized in early schooling years, when it's really more a way of thinking and interacting with the order of the world.

Lately, I've been throwing bombs here and there in one of my classes, and I've never used a KA video in a while. Guess I should try using his videos, but even Youtube has some helpful teachers