HOW TO STUDY 36 one end and moon at the other, for lightening and darkening your screen.) Everything you type will still register; you just won’t be seeing it. Try it. Remember to continue to press SAVE as you’re typ- ing. When you feel calmer, turn the screen back on. You may find you wrote more than usual. Remember to keep writing until you’ve answered your questions, created clear pictures, and presented your thoughts in an order that makes sense to you. Save correcting for last! (You may want to take a sneak-peek at Chapter 19, Prepar- ing for Essay Tests, for more suggestions on writing and editing.) E-Mail Some people become so attached to sending and receiving e-mail messages, they refer to “regular” letters as being “snail-mail.” Even people who say they don’t like to write enjoy sending e-mail messages. What’s tricky is to make sure you have the exact e-mail address of the person you’re sending a message to. Make sure each letter, number, and symbol is accurate. It’s important, too, to use the same kind of spacing, or lack of spacing! The computer does what you tell it to. Exactly. Every punctuation mark, every space, each letter needs to be in the same precise order of the person’s e-mail address. What’s easy is that to answer someone’s e-mail, you click onto REPLY. Then, simply confirm that it’s going to the person who sent you a message. In addition, you can print a copy, and the initial message can be repeated in your reply. Some schools, libraries, and offices offer free courses for students and employees to learn how to use computers. Check it out! The Internet The Internet is a gigantic network that behaves something like telephone lines. Anyone with an Internet link can click on to a source such as an online library. There is so much information available on the Internet— even translations of documents that previously were very difficult to obtain—that some libraries are focussing on Internet collections for library-users to use. LEARNING BY DOING 37 If the Personal Computer Is Old Hat to You Discover new ways to use the computer in studying. For example, e-mail can be a boon to working with a study buddy. Even if both you and your buddy have tight schedules and find it difficult to arrange meeting times with each other, e-mail is something you can read or send at any time. Make sure you keep a copy of your message! What’s fresh in the mind one day, can become confusing another day. E-MAIL YOURSELF. It’s a simple way to —remind yourself of something you want to do —draft a paper you’re working on —draft an e-mail message that you want to review later. Computer Reminders • Save everything! When writing, drawing, doing math calculations, or composing a long e-mail message on the computer, create a file to save what you’re working on. With some computers, go to the word “file” and click on “save as.” Type in the name and/or date you want to call the file. As you continue working, click “save” from time to time to keep what you’ve done—perhaps after a page or sooner. This is important because a file could be accidentally closed by an electrical malfunction, accidentally touching a key, or mistakenly pressing a combination of keys. • Computers run on electricity or batteries. If yours plugs in, get a surge protector to safe-guard the system if there’s an inconsistent electric current that may erase what you’re working on. • Make sure you’re sitting comfortably, in an ergonomically sound chair, with feet flat on the floor, and supports for your wrists. Or, prop your feet on a stool. Wrist supports help prevent tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. T HE COMPUTER AND YOUR LEARNING STYLE If you learn best by moving, you’ll probably find computers especially engaging. If you learn best by hearing, some computers have microphones you can speak into—some even have a built-in voice component that will read back what you’ve written. If English is not your first language, this can be quite helpful! HOW TO STUDY 38 If you are a visual learner, you’ll probably find the icons and symbols available on many computer software programs, helpful. The little pictures show you what to do! WRITE AND DOODLE Have scrap paper handy for doodling in addition to your notebook or tape recorder. Doodling will help loosen up your mind and give you small breaks during intense study periods. It’s also a good idea to re-write your notes. Writing them over will help you understand and remember them better. You can re-organize them as you write them, too. Writing, after all, is a physical activity! There’s Action—and There’s Action Kinesthetic learning takes different forms in different people. • Jake hates sports, but he’s active in other ways. His hands move like butterflies when he speaks. He’s successful in his marketing career. He likes working with people, and he likes the frequent activity of checking merchandise and prices. • Katie’s friends say she’s quiet. She likes listening to music and knitting. She often doodles when she’s thinking—on the phone, in class, or on the bus to work. She feels knitting and doodling help her stay calm and think clearly. • Tara loves playing basketball and ice skating. In class, she’s usu- ally tapping her foot. In fact, it’s sometimes difficult for her not to tap her foot. Jake, Katie, and Tara learn best when they’re moving in some way. The ways vary, but they are all kinesthetic learners. Find Out! ESL Want other suggestions? Use the tips listed in the beginning of this chapter. The section “Becoming an Active Learner” provides fun and effective exercises for developing your kinesthetic study skills. LEARNING BY DOING 39 A NOTHER ACTIVE LEARNING TECHNIQUE Experienced active learners think ahead before they read, and then think back about what they’ve just read. Now that you’re at the end of the chap- ter, go back to what you wrote or recorded at the beginning of it. • How does what happened in this chapter compare with what you expected to happen? • How would you answer the questions you had at the beginning of the chapter? • And the biggie: What was most useful to you in this chapter? I N SHORT There are different ways of “doing” in learning. One is to become actively involved through making your own questions and finding your own answers—making the material personally interesting to you. Another way is to actually move about. Walking, for example, can help clear your head and help you remember what you learned. Some people learn best by moving. Practice Tips • Study actively. Before you study, think of a real-life use for the sub- ject at hand. Imagine yourself as a professional involved with the study material. If you’re studying management, pretend you own your own company; if you’re studying chemistry, think of yourself as a chemist; and so on. Keep your character in mind as you create and answer questions from the text or audiotape, make notes, and review your study session. • Study by moving. After a study session, take a notepad and pen with you as you go for a walk of at least 20 minutes. Choose a time when you don’t feel rushed. As you’re walking, think about what you stud- ied. Stop and write down these thoughts as they come to mind. You might also discover new connections with old material. . provides fun and effective exercises for developing your kinesthetic study skills. LEARNING BY DOING 39 A NOTHER ACTIVE LEARNING TECHNIQUE Experienced active learners think ahead before they read,. tunnel syndrome. T HE COMPUTER AND YOUR LEARNING STYLE If you learn best by moving, you’ll probably find computers especially engaging. If you learn best by hearing, some computers have microphones. to obtain—that some libraries are focussing on Internet collections for library-users to use. LEARNING BY DOING 37 If the Personal Computer Is Old Hat to You Discover new ways to use the computer