Personal Factors in Learning

Consider your strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes. Think about what helps you build confidence as a learner and try your best to set up those conditions for yourself whenever you can.

For example: Do you feel more confident if you have a chance to think about your answers first? Then review materials before class so you are more ready to answer questions in class. Do you feel more confident if you do things step by step? Then try to put the steps together yourself if the instructor is of no help in this area. Do you feel more confident when you can jump in and try something out yourself? Then participate more in class by asking more questions.

Whatever it is you need, make it happen. Don't wait around and waste precious learning time. Build up confidence by starting with small goals and working your way up to larger ones.

Choose at least one course each semester that really interests you so that you can balance out the subjects that you are not very interested in. This will help you stay motivated. Think about the kinds of subjects/tasks that would pique/maintain your interest based on your functions:

• Si: handling facts and details with precision
• Se: doing hands-on experiential tasks
• Ni: learning challenging ideas and making mental connections
• Ne: exploring possibilities, alternatives, hypotheticals
• Ti: problem solving and testing hypotheses
• Te: leadership and organization opportunities
• Fi: opportunities for (creative) self-expression
• Fe: opportunities to help or get involved with others

Ps probably have more difficulty being organized and sticking to schedules. Unfortunately, there is no easy fix for this because it is always difficult to go against your natural type preferences but even Js procrastinate and get distracted. Do some research into time management, planning, or organization skills (there are many books and tip websites about this). Learn some good strategies for being more efficient and effective in setting and reaching goals.

Don't be afraid to reach out and enlist outside help to encourage you to stick to plans and goals. Find a study partner and keep each other on track. Find a good app that helps you plan and sends you frequent reminders. Use the class syllabus itself as a planning device in order to keep pace with the lessons. Sometimes it is necessary to cut down on other activities so you can focus on studying. It's a tough choice to make but you need to set your priorities straight when time is limited. Sometimes you have to be ruthless about how you allocate your time.

Some students are much too passive, relying heavily on the instructor to feed them information. Never blame the instructor for your failings because it will not accomplish anything. They are human beings with their own problems, preferences, and biases (i.e. they cannot please everyone all of the time). Instead, it is more productive to think about how you can help yourself. If there is a problem with your study habits or methods, get the help you need as soon as you can. Falling behind will only waste more time in the long run because you'll need to desperately catch up (or worse, you may simply withdraw and quit).

Read up on study methods and experiment with different ways of studying or remembering information. If you are in dire need of help, most schools have a counselor who can point you to some useful resources. If you are shy, talk to a teacher or classmate you trust. Seek out some of the better students and ask for their advice or find anonymous help online. When you have a problem, don't hide from it, ask yourself, "what's my strategy for handling this?" and then get down to doing it. Tackle problems head on rather than beating yourself up or wallowing in self-pity.