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 Posted: Wed, 20th Aug 2008 17:13 Post subject: |
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Read your notes (revise) before your exam.
Go over all the key subjects you have studied this year, you must remember doing algebra in maths or studying Germany in History.
Ask your teacher what he/she thinks will be the exam question, they will usually have a good idea of what you should be revising specifically.
When you get in the exam, read the full paper 1st. Your brain will be thinking of the other stuff that is asked while you concentrate on the start of the paper.
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nouseforaname
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Location: Toronto, Canada
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| Posted: Wed, 20th Aug 2008 18:59 Post subject: |
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| Posted: Wed, 20th Aug 2008 20:13 Post subject: |
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I did it the hard way but for me it worked.
Most important listen to what the test is going to be on. So many times I ended up studing for something past the cut off for a test. Pay attention when the teacher does the review before a test. Usually he is giving you clues as to what to focus on.
I would reread my notes for the day.
Then I would reread my notes every week for the week, skimming back as well.
When I knew I had a test I would make cards, with spelling esp because I knew I sucked at that.
I would use those cards when I was in transit.
2 days before the test I would make a note sheet that was really organized. I would stick everything that I didn't already know onto that one page. I study that page a lot and even pass it to the person I was with and he would test me on it. That really helped. Sometimes we would make up little jokes about the material so it was easier to remember.
Yea, I had no life when I was in school. I had to study.
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| Posted: Wed, 20th Aug 2008 22:30 Post subject: |
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For me listening in class and using common sense worked for me. Studying actually lowered my grades as it would make me worried, stressed, and tired.
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spankie
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Location: Belgium
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| Posted: Thu, 21st Aug 2008 03:09 Post subject: |
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Don't type on word, why would you do that? You just confuse your brain with it... You won't be typing on an exam, but writing... So write a summary.  When you are writing about something on the exam, it will go much easier when you wrote it once before. Same with math exercises, make sure you wrote down exercises at least once, dont only read, but write. On an exam you have to write as well.
First of all, you are a very evolved species, called a human. We differ from monkeys because we have a brain. So rely on the fact that you have a good brain. Don't be scared to rely on your brain.
Secondly, study in function of the course or the exam you are having.
Science: try to understand, but you will have to memorize some stuff, some formulas or some ways of thinking
History: read read read read and dont forget
multiple choice: learn details but forget the big picture
open questions: try to learn the big picture and be able to write a lot on a short question, dump the details
A lot of people go wrong already here.... Try to get an idea of the test, ask the teacher/prof; get tests or exams from previous years etc. Be prepared!
Now the: rely on your brain part. I dont know how much you have to learn, but if 50pages should be doable on 1 day. Just stuff it into your short term memory and rely on the fact that you will remember most of it the next day. This makes you nervous, i know, but it should work.
However, the long term memory works different. You read some stuff, you dont do any active 'memorisation' but it will stick anyway. It is like a sieve. You pour on it and some things are permanent in your memory other stuff isnt. So you repeat this process a couple of times (depending on your genetic memorisation skills, genetic i know, nothing you can do about it).
NOW COMES MY BIG SECRET i used in university!! The first time you read stuff, read it veeeeeery concentrated, but dont memorise it, just keep going a whole chapter or some chapters. Now you do nothing, let your brain rest, but dont 'scare' your brain by overloading it with tv images. Just chill a bit, go running and dont think about the stuff you learned. i know it is tempting to try to repeat stuff in your head while you are running or doing something else. Especially if you know 2 out of 3 things and really want to know nr3. Just let it go. Eat and go to sleep and try to sleep good, dont stress.
Now the second day you repeat your course and you will see that your brain has processed everything during the night and you will remember a lot of stuff you just read the day before without really trying to memorise. Of course you will not remember everything, but you will be able to fill in the missing parts muuuuuch easier than trying to memorise everything from scratch before. And normally, at least in my case, the stuff that was memorised on the first run is veeeeeery hard to erase. The stuff you have to memorise the second or even third run, might go away after some time, but in case of a stressy meltdown on your exam, you can rely on your first run memory.
I dunno if this is exactly the same in every person's brain, but a lot of people i told this trick say they are less stressed and memorize/study quicker and get the same grades with fewer study hours, which is also a good thing:)
in a nutshell: Don't force your brain to memorize from scratch. Thats why going to class now and then reduces study time dramatically. It is much easier to associates things with eachother than it is to understand things from scratch.
Another trick: Trust yourself and again rely on your memory. Dont repeat stuff you know. Allow yourself to be smart and know parts of your course with spending almost no time on it. Some people will waste hours on introduction parts of courses or revisions of the previous year. Read it quickly and if you think 'yeah right, i know this' skip it. I have known people who were repeating simple mathematical formulas (a2 + 2ab + b2 stuff) and making exersises just because it was in the course. There is no need to proof yourself that you know it.
FOCUS ON STUFF YOU STRUGGLE WITH. Dont repeat the same stuff you already know to give yourself a 'confidence boost' (i know my shit, lets repeat, woohoo im good) which is a fake boost and you will be super depressed after the exam because you thought you learned it well. If you are repeating your course a third time, skip the parts you knew well the second time. This will all reduce your time you are doing unproductive things.
Of course before your exam it is good to repeat everything a last time to freshen up your brain, but dont exagerate. If you knew it 2 days ago and yesterday and repeated it today, chances are big you will know it tomorrow. Unless you are totally unprepared, dont repeat stuff 2 min before your exam. You cannot win with it. Chances are slim you will add extra knowledge in 2 mins when you have days before to learn it. You can only find something in your course that you do not remember 100%; get stressed, get confused and forget a lot. So go confident to your exam, but chill.
-----------
on the math thing:
Unless you are required to give theoretical proofs of things, dont focus on the theory. Try to understand it and focus on the exercises. If you dont have time, dont try to understand the underlying ground of the formula, but know how to use it.
Also try to build your own theory, if you can make exercises, you can make theory as well. Learn as few formulas as possible and try to deduct formulas from memorized formulas. Try this at home before you go to the exam. And dont peak at your papers! Start from scratch and try to build your formularium, calculate everything completely to see if there are any difficulties you might encounter.
So now you have your formulas, memorized, deducted from another formula or completely theoretical deducted, doesnt matter. Make exercises, but again FOCUS ON DIFFICULTIES. Make 1 exercise completely, not 100. Why repeat an exercise with different numbers? it will be the same method. if you know 2 * 2 you know 3 * 3. Dont waste your time making all the exercises in your book. Pick some and make them, but mark the ones you did. If you have some spare time in the end, make some extra exercises, but make others than you already did. Why do an exercise twice? on the exam it will be another anyway.
After you did some 'model exercises' completely, to discover difficulties, focus on the general solution method rather than losing time with calculating everything. Just think, first i do this, then this, then this, ok. Try to solve it, but if your result is not what is in the book, dont waste time finding your error. You did your model exercise ok, so you can find this one as well, there is no need to proof anyone. You know you can do it if you have time, so move on, important stuff to do. Save your frustration for the exam 
I dunno what you are studying in math, but a simple example; imagine you have to calculate surface of a circle with a given radius. You know the formula, so you make 1 exercise completely, with your calculator and see if it is correct. Exercise 2 you think 'this formula, ok' lets have a quick try, result is different than the book, ah well, no problem, move on. dont waste time finding the solution, your method is probably good, on the exam it will be good.
Ok: some general exam tips
1) be chilled, dont stress
2) If you are unsure, dont look at all the questions in advance, you will stress on a question you know because of questions you dont know.
3) If you are confident, look at all the questions. Stress will disappaer if you think you can solve 5/10 questions at first sight and know you will probably pass.
4) If you are stuck in an exercise or an explanation of a question, move on. Right down some keywords or things to think about later when you come back to your question, but move on. Dont waste hours to get 3/3 instead of 2/3 when there were 15 free points later.
5) If you know a question completely, take your time to write down everything on a decent way, read it again and never ever read that question again during your exam. Dont read it again and again and again. You can gain another 0.5 maybe when there are lost of points out there.
6) Dont show any weakness during an exam. Dont write half a page everywhere and 2 sketchy lines on a question you dont know. Try to make a descent answer, write a bit about things you think that are involved. If you think your answer is too short, focus on a detail and write a lot about it. It can only help. You cannot lose points on a question you dont know.
7) of course, listen to the teacher or prof. Dont write a lot when a short answer is expected. Be long when details are required. Not complying will piss the teacher off = bad thing.
 in science exams: we all know the horror of making calculation errors. Dont get frustrated. Write down your method, dont give up when you cannot find a value you have to use later in your exercise. Just explain which method you would use if you had found your value, or solve the next part with a fictional value "A". Again, you can only try. You cannot lose points on questions you dont know, you can only win points there.
9) Dont start working faster because you are running out of time. Work fast from the beginning on a pace you feel comfortable with. Be detailed from the beginning and continue. If you run out of time, so be it, no regrets. Dont rush rush rush in the end. you will make mistakes. And if you can speed up, you should have worked faster from the beginning.
Lots of reading, i hope you can use some of the tips. I wrote down all my knowledge and i graduated with it
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SycoShaman
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| Posted: Thu, 21st Aug 2008 14:07 Post subject: |
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Cohen
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| Posted: Thu, 21st Aug 2008 14:10 Post subject: |
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biggest post ever recorded on nforce that wasnt a quote? I think so.
troll detected by SiN
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SycoShaman
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| Posted: Thu, 21st Aug 2008 14:12 Post subject: |
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| kaeye wrote: | | biggest post ever recorded on nforce that wasnt a quote? I think so. |
whats a quote? what I said? |
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Cohen
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zipfero
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Cohen
Posts: 7155
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| Posted: Thu, 21st Aug 2008 15:35 Post subject: |
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Not that long. Not as far as I can remember anyway.
troll detected by SiN
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| Posted: Thu, 21st Aug 2008 18:32 Post subject: |
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Well I don't know what you are studying, but the surest thing is: Each day you have some kind of classes. After the whole teaching part ends, go to library, your room, someplace quiet and just read what you've learned that day. Solve any homework you had to do, don't give up on things you can do today. Do that continuously and you'll be fine.
For math there is one secret: do homework! When I was in highschool, and now in uni, I've always did my homework (exercise) and I never learned for the test and did excellent. For theory, unless you mean to be the new Witten or such (), you can try to do above or try to memorize it shortly, if it's not important.
For science (physics) you need to learn theory every day and try to use it in practice, that is exercise. The understanding of theory can help you a lot.
"Quantum mechanics is actually, contrary to it's reputation, unbeliveably simple, once you take the physics out."
Scott Aaronson | chiv wrote: | | thats true you know. newton didnt discover gravity. the apple told him about it, and then he killed it. the core was never found. |
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| Posted: Thu, 21st Aug 2008 21:07 Post subject: |
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| dingo_d wrote: | Well I don't know what you are studying, but the surest thing is: Each day you have some kind of classes. After the whole teaching part ends, go to library, your room, someplace quiet and just read what you've learned that day. Solve any homework you had to do, don't give up on things you can do today. Do that continuously and you'll be fine.
For math there is one secret: do homework! When I was in highschool, and now in uni, I've always did my homework (exercise) and I never learned for the test and did excellent. For theory, unless you mean to be the new Witten or such (), you can try to do above or try to memorize it shortly, if it's not important.
For science (physics) you need to learn theory every day and try to use it in practice, that is exercise. The understanding of theory can help you a lot. |
Hmm alright, thanks man.
By the way, i've seen you reference and know what you're talking about when it comes to physics, are you by any chance reading physics in the uni at the moment?
Currently that is what I am heading for when I quit high school, masters in physics/theoretical ( if possible).
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| Posted: Thu, 21st Aug 2008 21:51 Post subject: |
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I'm studying physics here in Cro, I plan to go to theoretical department but I still have 2 more years to do so...
It's cool that someone else is interested in physics Here when you say that you are studying physics people tend to look at you like you've fallen off Mars or sth It's one of the toughest universities here, there is maybe 2 or 3 people per year finishing it, but when you finish it you can practically pick a job you want to do, and you can go abroad getting your PhD...
If you are interested in physics I say go for it! It is full of really interesting things, so much to discover, that is why I'm studying it
"Quantum mechanics is actually, contrary to it's reputation, unbeliveably simple, once you take the physics out."
Scott Aaronson | chiv wrote: | | thats true you know. newton didnt discover gravity. the apple told him about it, and then he killed it. the core was never found. |
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spankie
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Location: Belgium
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| Posted: Fri, 22nd Aug 2008 07:27 Post subject: |
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| spankie wrote: | just mentioning i finished uni and received a message today that i was accepted into a PhD scholarship thingie, waawaawiewaaa!!!!
i guess my method cant be that bad |
Great news
I pretty much use the same method you do  |
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Hierofan
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| Posted: Fri, 22nd Aug 2008 10:14 Post subject: |
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ah shit , cheat your way thorugh , fuck what people think , it's way easier and faster to cheat thorugh an exam
try using wireless/bluetooth devices , at my college there are like tons of tricks like this , you fit the speaker into your ear , it's like 2-3 mm long with a magnet it goes directly on the year drumm and you attach an antenna to your neck like a necklace
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| Posted: Fri, 22nd Aug 2008 18:49 Post subject: |
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Cheating is the easy way out, but what if you were studying to be a doctor. And you cheat on some ˝minor˝ thing, but years after you finish studying you are faced with some decision in which you have to use your knowledge, that you don't have, and some persons life depends on it...
It depends what type of person you are, but if sth bad would happen how could you live your life knowing you killed someone because of some ˝minor˝ thing?
You learn thing presuming, that, one day, you may need it. And if you don't need it it's good to know something extra...
"Quantum mechanics is actually, contrary to it's reputation, unbeliveably simple, once you take the physics out."
Scott Aaronson | chiv wrote: | | thats true you know. newton didnt discover gravity. the apple told him about it, and then he killed it. the core was never found. |
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Hierofan
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| Posted: Fri, 22nd Aug 2008 19:03 Post subject: |
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| dingo_d wrote: | Cheating is the easy way out, but what if you were studying to be a doctor. And you cheat on some ˝minor˝ thing, but years after you finish studying you are faced with some decision in which you have to use your knowledge, that you don't have, and some persons life depends on it...
It depends what type of person you are, but if sth bad would happen how could you live your life knowing you killed someone because of some ˝minor˝ thing?
You learn thing presuming, that, one day, you may need it. And if you don't need it it's good to know something extra... |
well you'd be shoked to find out how things work here , some become doctors and don't know jack ..
as for school , i still consider it more easy to cheat your way through , i mean shit , most of the stuff you do isnt really something you need , so screw it , be realistic and not some uptight dickhead who thinks that all the shit you study in highschool will help you, it wont even build character , so fuck it
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| Posted: Sat, 23rd Aug 2008 00:23 Post subject: |
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Indeed some things now I don't need, but it is good to know I have some sort of general knowledge (I know where Iraq, Australia etc. is  ).
To quote my highschool philosophy professor: You don't need this what we are studying, but that's the way the system works. Don't ask why is something important, or when you'll need something what we are studying. To call yourself an academic person you need to have an open mind to all subjects, and a good level of general knowledge.
"Quantum mechanics is actually, contrary to it's reputation, unbeliveably simple, once you take the physics out."
Scott Aaronson | chiv wrote: | | thats true you know. newton didnt discover gravity. the apple told him about it, and then he killed it. the core was never found. |
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spankie
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Location: Belgium
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| Posted: Sat, 23rd Aug 2008 00:30 Post subject: |
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| Hierofan wrote: | | dingo_d wrote: | Cheating is the easy way out, but what if you were studying to be a doctor. And you cheat on some ˝minor˝ thing, but years after you finish studying you are faced with some decision in which you have to use your knowledge, that you don't have, and some persons life depends on it...
It depends what type of person you are, but if sth bad would happen how could you live your life knowing you killed someone because of some ˝minor˝ thing?
You learn thing presuming, that, one day, you may need it. And if you don't need it it's good to know something extra... |
well you'd be shoked to find out how things work here , some become doctors and don't know jack ..
as for school , i still consider it more easy to cheat your way through , i mean shit , most of the stuff you do isnt really something you need , so screw it , be realistic and not some uptight dickhead who thinks that all the shit you study in highschool will help you, it wont even build character , so fuck it |
i guess you have a nice job in your factory because that is bullshit. You cannot cheat your way through in the long run, because in yor last years you have open book exams, oral exams with unique questions and have to do some research on your own, which all requires brains..
And i think you cannot cheat on having brains...
And shit in highschool does help you, denying it is stupid. Of course you dont need the shit you learn literally but the thinking process, building confidence, doing things within a timeframe, handling pressure etc.... Compare yourself to a little african. He never went to school, and i did, i think i can say i have a better life and i can achieve more. So there are benefits in actually doing things for school.
If you deny that, you are a moron who only cheated his way through some crappy high school with no aspirations of a further education and you will meet the same people like you the rest of your life: people who shit on and laugh with educated people and realise when they are 40 they should've done something more with their crappy life.
Btw, how many doctors do you really know?, because i cannot imagine you will meet a lot of them with that attitude. Here in Belgium doctors have to study 7 years to start and then another 2-7 depending on their specialisation. Cheating all those years? riiiight. I guess you tried it but failed and are a little bit pissed off, no?
happy reading
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| Posted: Sat, 23rd Aug 2008 08:25 Post subject: |
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IMO if it was on the test I should know it. It makes the job easier when you actually have to do it. When I was in school studing for my lab stuff a lot of people bitched 'you don't need to know that' or 'everything is color coded so you don't need to know that' but they were wrong. Every job IRL was different.
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Hierofan
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| Posted: Sat, 23rd Aug 2008 08:50 Post subject: |
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ah c'mon , i had oral exams before , it's not really to know what the fuck you are talking about , it's more about personality , you have to know how to work with people , in this case once you walk in the door they should know you're there and you should do the same , laugh at any meaningless jokes they make and shit like that .. be charismatic , it helps alot
when i finished highschool last year i too had oral exams , and i read some basic outlines and then i just lied , said my pov and it worked , i got a 9/10 and 10/10 from my examinators , just create the illusion that they can manipulate you , and it'll work
knowing shit like where a contry is on the fucking map is like common knowlege , same goes with other things , like basic chesmistry , and other shit , your common knowlege is the basis for everything , and THAT shit doest not come from school .
and that shit with working withing a time frame is called responsability , right ? so , like i said if you are more or less grown up and have respect for your word you're gonna do it right regardless of any external pressure .
you can't cheat through every exam , you're 90% gonna get caught , but you can do it through at least 70% .
btw , here , medicine here 6 + 2
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| Posted: Sat, 23rd Aug 2008 10:07 Post subject: |
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You say that common knowledge doesn't come from school. Where does it come from? Wikipedia?
I know tons of people who are dumb because they ˝hated˝ school. They are ignorant, and no matter what kind of literature, in any kind of form you toss them, they'll tell you that they don't need it.
And, I don't know whether you go to uni or not, you cannot lie on oral exams, at least here that is. The professor is expert in the field he teaches, so he'll know when you're talking crap, and whether you know what you're talking about...
"Quantum mechanics is actually, contrary to it's reputation, unbeliveably simple, once you take the physics out."
Scott Aaronson | chiv wrote: | | thats true you know. newton didnt discover gravity. the apple told him about it, and then he killed it. the core was never found. |
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Hierofan
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| Posted: Sat, 23rd Aug 2008 10:19 Post subject: |
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| dingo_d wrote: | You say that common knowledge doesn't come from school. Where does it come from? Wikipedia?
I know tons of people who are dumb because they ˝hated˝ school. They are ignorant, and no matter what kind of literature, in any kind of form you toss them, they'll tell you that they don't need it.
And, I don't know whether you go to uni or not, you cannot lie on oral exams, at least here that is. The professor is expert in the field he teaches, so he'll know when you're talking crap, and whether you know what you're talking about... |
good point , where does it come from ? i mean shit , most of the stuff that i knew came before they teached it to me in school , some of it i picked up or it was better understood , but i for example i learned english and german just by watching tv as a kid , i didnt do english until 5th grade , but i understood it , so i guess intuition , or interest could be blamed . if you really want to know something , you can do it on your own , there are like tons of way to research your interests nowadays so .. it's pretty easy if you REALLY want to learn something you're interested in .
of course i go to the uni , i'm in my 2nd year , mecatronics and robotics , and i did have an oral exam , we use CATIA to build parts or an assembly , and we had like an exam and i knew jack , still passed with a high grade , i did the "oh shit i'm so nervous i'm lost but i still know my stuff" kinda thing and it worked
PS
i hated highschool too , but i gotta admit it , it was awesome , our class was the worst of them all , some teacher avoided teaching because we were uncontrolable most of the time , but most teachers concurred , we weren't dumb or anything , not at all , we just weren't interested or didnt give a shit , they could just bombared us with the lowest grades possible and we still wouldnt be botherd
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