This chapter is different from the other chapters in this book. Your goal in reading the other chapters will be to come to a thorough understanding of the concepts and principles discussed there. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce several basic principles of educational psychology and to encourage you to apply these principles while you study the other chapters.

A useful strategy would be to use the chart on this and the following pages. As you read each of the following chapters, return to this chart and check the principles that you were able to apply while studying that chapter. While doing this, try to think of specific ways in which you applied each principle and try to expand your application of each principle.

Practical Application

Return to this chapter on at least three occasions several weeks apart. In the spaces provided, list ways in which you have enabled people you work with (your own students, your children, etc.) to apply each principle.

1. Use your study time effectively.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Arrange your study time so that you do not have to cram.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Study in several short periods rather than a single long session.
   
   
   
   
4. Get yourself in the right frame of mind to study.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Focus on higher-level as well as lower-level objectives.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Master basic skills to the point of automaticity.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Be sure to master prerequisite concepts before going on to concepts or principles that build upon these basic notions.
   
   
   
   
   
8. Never make a deliberate effort simply to read a textbook from beginning to end.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Focus clearly on the topic being covered.
   
   
   
   
   
10. Focus your attention on the essential components of the topic being discussed, not on peripheral information.
    
    
    
    
    
11. Ask yourself questions while you read; and if you don't know the answers, reread the sections where the answers should be.
    
    
    
    
    
12. Outline the main ideas of the text.
    
    
    
    
    
13. Diagram the main ideas of the text.
    
    
    
    
    
14. Respond actively while studying.
    
    
    
    
    
15. Have high standards, but set realistic goals.
    
    
    
    
    
16. Try out what you are learning and obtain feedback for your performance.
    
    
    
    
    
17. Obtain corrective feedback.
    
    
    
    
    
18. Reinforce yourself for successful completion of units of instruction.
    
    
    
    
    
19. Keep your anxiety relatively low.
    
    
    
    
    
20. Study with other students.
    
    
    
    
    
21. Review frequently.
    
    
    
    
    
22. Look for the relationships among ideas.
    
    
    
    
    
23. Be aware of and confront your own misconceptions.
    
    
    
    
    
24. Use mnemonic strategies when appropriate.
    
    
    
    
    
25. Monitor your thought processes.
    
    
    
    
    
26. Try to work at a moderate level of arousal.
    
    
    
    
    
27. If the teacher doesn't do something for you, do it for yourself
    
    
    
    
    
28. Try to work at a moderate level of arousal.
    
    
    
    
    
29. Do not try to study too many similar things at the same time.