Kathy Jung, - cwu.edujungk/MD jung 9am 203.docx  · Web viewTable of Contents. Table of ... of multitasking such as walking and listening to music. ... 2006). Exercise, cognition,

Table of ContentsTable of Figures..................................................................................................1Executive summary............................................................................................2Procrastination...................................................................................................3Rough Draft of Human information processing...................................................4Learning Style.....................................................................................................7Multitasking........................................................................................................9Collaborating....................................................................................................13Effective listening.............................................................................................14Nutrition, exercise, and Human Information Processing...................................25Possible Study Outcomes.................................................................................28Index................................................................................................................ 31

Kathy Jung, tues/thurs 9:00-9:50, #121

Table of FiguresFigure 1...............................................................................................................18Figure 2...............................................................................................................19Figure 3...............................................................................................................20Figure 4...............................................................................................................20Figure 5...............................................................................................................21Figure 6...............................................................................................................22Figure 7...............................................................................................................23Figure 8...............................................................................................................24Figure 9...............................................................................................................25Figure 10.............................................................................................................25Figure 11.............................................................................................................28Figure 12.............................................................................................................29Figure 13.............................................................................................................30Figure 14.............................................................................................................31

Executive summaryMaster Document was designed by Kathy Jung for research of human information processing and effective learning. The research has a purpose of analyzing people’s tendency in learning compared to computer information processing, and figuring an effective way to learn and store information. The content firstly analyze the styles and method of human in learning in the section of

i. Procrastination

ii. Rough Draft of human information

iii. Learning styleFurthermore, we discuss about specific learning methods and what can influence effective learning at the following section

i. Multitaskingii. Collaborating iii. Effective learning iv. Nutrition, exercise, and human information processing

In addition to the research of ‘Nutrition, exercise, and human information processing’, a Nutrition Database has been made documenting the food in taken and exercise performed everyday as well as the weight. At the SBR Excel workbook, it scrutinizes the intake and outtake of the calories and estimated the expected weight and compares it to the current weight.

As an additional research, a research on study behavior was performed and documented in the SBR Excel workbook. After scrutinizing the chart, positive correlation between total study behavior and lab grade, adequate sleep and lab grade has been proven and a negative relationship between study buddies and lab grade has been shown on the chart at the section of

i. Possible study outcomes

Procrastination

Procrastinating is a serious issue to me. Most of the problem I experience starts from procrastinating to do assignments, going to the gym etc.. And the emotional frustration usually comes from such procrastination such as being stressed and feeling pathetic by the thought that I am not doing what I should be doing.

For the reason why I procrastinate, at the moment I just feel I’m really busy and have more important things to do. The task I am supposed to do doesn’t seem urgent and important, that I delay to do it. However, I end up doing unproductive activities such as surfing the internet or watching the television. Secondly, I also

over estimate my ability by thinking that I will be able to finish my tasks in a small amount of time, which usually ends up as false belief. Eventually, when I fail doing the task, I feel bad and have a lower self-confidence. Even when I decently finish my task, I still feel bad to think I was lazy and didn’t do my best. Delaying was a way for me to avoid pressure. I falsely made myself believe that I could avoid the pressure and stress that’s coming from the task or assignment or duty I am given. However, I was never able to avoid the pressure and anxiety by procrastinating. Conversely, the pressure and stress got bigger the more I avoided it.

As a result, most of my negative emotions come from procrastinating. While I’m delaying to do things I am required, I feel bad to think I am being lazy and unproductive, and also the anxiety and pressure that I might not be able to finish my task or assignment amplifies. At the end, when I fail to do it due to lack of time, my self-confidence cuts down in a considerable amount. Even when I do get decent results, I feel bad to think that I didn’t do my best and I don’t deserve it.

There are a few ways I can use to stop myself from procrastinating. I always try to face the reality and not over estimate my ability to make an excuse to procrastinate. I should always remind myself what usually happened when I procrastinate, which was doing something unproductive for the whole time and ending up with negative feelings for myself. These days, I am trying to break down my tasks or assignments into little pieces i can do a day. That way, I feel I can finish it very easily and in a short time and have less need to procrastinate. Once I get used to doing things little by little, everything turns out to be way easier. Changing the environment or getting a good friend I can get help from is also a good way stopping myself from procrastination. Once I get a motivating friend, the task or assignment isn’t as stressful, and sometimes, it turns into something fun to do with a friend. For example, once I got a gym buddy, I was able to go to the gym almost every day. And I try to stay away from the activities I do when I procrastinate. Since I usually watch TV or surf the internet, I try to stay out of my room so that I have nothing much else to do but do the required things given to me.

I have to reinforce myself continuingly that once, I procrastinate; I will never stop delaying until the very end. So don’t procrastinate in the first place! Keeping myself in pace will enhance my self-confidence and solve my other emotional problems, and also improve my quality of life.

Rough Draft of Human information processing

Human Information Process deals about how human achieve, store, and develop information. Such human process has been compared to that of computers. They view human as a processor of information as much as a computer takes data and turn in a result through a certain program. Computers helped for thinking how the human mind processes information in the way a computer does. In the term of Human Information Process (HIP), there are three steps. According to the www.eng.mu.edu research, the steps are as following. “First is the acquisition of data stage. Second is the storage and managing data phase, and lastly, applying and innovating data stage. The first two processed are usually computer domain. Computers can do the process effectively more than human can.. But applying and innovation data is usually a human domain. Firstly, human acquire information from the 5 senses; listening, seeing, touching, tasting, smelling. This is the perception stage. On the other hand, computers acquire information by the method of keyboard, downloading, scanning, and even the sophisticated device of voice recognition. Then, in the cognition stage, it is stored and coded in the brain, and can be used and applied to other mental processing. This is similar to the process of a computer, which is coding information, storing the information, and using them to produce a result”.iThe Human information process relates to human’s learning theory. There is ‘Inquiry based learning’ as one of the human learning theory. Inquiry based learning implies that every learning starts from curiosity. Human can’t store all information they acquired from their 5 senses. Brain is referred as a limited capacity information processing system. They have limited ability to memorize in the flow of information. How inquiry based learning happens is, among the information, they question some of them, and such questioning motivates the brain system to memorize the data. We call all the thoughts that come in your mind the stream of consciousness. It is arbitrary and not organized. Among the stream of consciousness, after human’s natural behavior, they turn the unorganized fact into an organized conclusion. In this perspective that inquiry implies “wanting to know” premise, can we say computers learn and conclude?

In the thirteen.org homepage, it is said that “unfortunately, the education is discouraging the natural process of inquiry. It turned more into an information providing system, which would discourage students’ motivation to learn. They don’t find the need to ask questions, and instead try to remember the expected answers of certain questions. And that ends up into an ineffective learning. This might be the common lack of understanding about the inquiry based learning. Memorizing is not the key factor in today society. Information change and they are easily accessible. Educators must go beyond delivering information and try to develop the generation to seek the understanding of the world.” ii Therefore, education must be systemed so that it motivates students to have inquiring attitudes and develop the skills to inquire, more than to simply memorize uninteresting fund of information. In the time of information, people are surrounded with information. We are exposed to an ocean of information. However, that implies that also exposed to useless information too. Therefore it became more important to distinguish the fund of data into useful and useless information, and transit the useful data into organized conclusions and useful

knowledge. While questioning is the key to learning, educational system should emphasis on the process of learning, not the results of learning. They should motivate students’ curiosity, by helping them to practice to have different perspectives, communicating with them, introduce new questions and develop the skills to transit facts into conclusions based on those questions. We call it critical thinking. Also the educational system should make sure students develop thoughts on bigger issues such as understanding in the world, and not on little thoughts. “For inquiry based instruction methods, educators should guide students to a broad topic and information as a whole. Then, they should encourage students to inquire about the topic by having them debate and question the topics in small groups. Moreover, students should also question individually regarding socially significant issues. By communicating with others, students can achieve diversity of views and approaches. Instructors should have students to set goals in the inquiring process, and make a conclusion aiming the goal. Such criteria will help students to develop self-learning skills and enhance interest in the subject enough to continue the pursuit of knowledge.” iii Instruction should be focused on helping students to achieve their answers. In conclusion, education should be about students having understanding of the world and communicating with it. This will lead to the development of the generation with more useful and applicable knowledge.

The difference between my initial writing and the research is that I tried to write it in an understandable way. Most of the homepages I researched included sophisticated words and concepts which were hard to understand for students just learning the concept like me. I tried to make it simple and add examples enough for everybody to understand.

Learning Style

1. Everybody has a mixture of learning styles. Personally, I am more inclined to be a visual learner than a verbal learner. That is, I remember thing more effectively with visual data than auditory information received. Also I tend to be a reflector. I recall materials I studied better when I review and re write notes I had taken in class. I found making summaries of the whole material very helpful too. I am also a sequential learner. I am used to theory and logical concepts that can be reached through logical steps. I like the procedure being very accurate and organized. So learning theories is more comfortable to me than learning real happenings around the world.

2. It is difficult to define one’s learning skills into one learning skill category. So to be accurate, I have taken a test checking my learning style. It has categorized learning styles in 4 big parts. First, I am more of a visual learning than an auditory learner. It is easier to remember a theory or

phenomenon when explained with graph or visual data base than listening about it. For example, I prefer reading the newspaper to watching the news when getting information regarding world happenings. This can be related the reason why my learning ability highly enhances with movement involved. It is shown that I am more of a reflective person more than an active person. For example, re-writing notes and high lighting the book are the main method to remember. Writing short summaries of the overall materials indicate such tendency too. I am also a solitary learner. I am able to concentrate and study effectively in a quiet environment and stick with the subject until I finish the task. Also my personal learning skills are more sequential than global. I tend to understand in linear steps, with each steps being logical. It is easier to catch the concept in a small scale rather than an overall scale.iv

3. Since the lecture doesn’t require any textbooks, and the professor delivers his main opinion and information through instant speech, Reading skills are less needed compared to other classes. Listening and taking notes skills are crucial in this class. So as more of a visual learner, it is harder to concentrate and remember the lecture. Also, the professor provides us with information through statements at the moment. Since this can change every time he delivers, the subjects are very open and largely scaled and students must pay high attention during class and write down key points. Since the professor jumps around from topic to topic, as a sequential learner, I have difficulty following and remembering. However, as this class requires taking notes, it helps remembering the materials effectively.

4. As I am having difficulty as a sequential learner due to the lecture style, my solution is to take time outlining the lecture material in order before attending class. Seemingly, it is time consuming, but I know I can save my time in the long run. I should also try to strengthen my global thinking skills by practicing to look at the big picture by relating each topic with each other to remember them more effectively. Also I will make the materials more recallable by trying to find diagrams, charts, or any other visual materials that I can be a reference when doing my assignments or reviewing the lecture. I can also prepare a concept map by listing key points, and connecting concepts with each other. Also the assignments and lab practice turns out to be very helpful. Accordingly, “in order to strengthen my reflector style, I should research and gather data from different sources regarding the materials discussed in class. Practicing on writings can be of great help. Writing a report or writing about the topics discussed can be useful when developing my reflector style,” v and these are the things I am currently doing in and out of class.

5. As said previously, I will try to improve my global skills and auditory skills, and at the same time develop my visual and reflector style further more. Firstly, in order to develop my global skills, I should broaden my perspective. I will practice brainstorming spontaneously, and have an open minded. I will also consistently connect topics recommended in

class with each other and try to find the common points and draw the big picture. I can develop further more my reflector skills by going over the topics and data regarding the lecture with classmates. In this case, I am using my reflector skills but I can also improve my auditory skills. Taking more constructive notes and doing assignments progressively can be considerably useful.

6. The easiest way of keeping track of such practice is to have an eye on my grade sheet and evaluate my assignment. By putting more time and effort in the assignment, the topics and what I learned will be more recallable and applicable. Secondly, making friends in class and discussing about the topics weekly can motivate to keep up with the practice. Once my goal is related with someone else, I get more motivated than when I do it on my own.

Multitasking

1. The usually believed myth about multitasking is that it saves time, and that multitasking learning is similarly efficient to single task learning. Also many believe that the younger generation is more adept to multitasking. However, through many research and experiments, it is proved that such beliefs are simply myths.

2. In computing, multitasking is a method where multiple tasks are performed during the same period of time. vi However, even with the microprocessors it is literally unable to process numbers of tasks simultaneously with one microprocessor. When performing a task, they are performing in a linear system. Even in a multi-cored computer, when running simultaneously, the multi core systems interrupt each other and affect the operation itself and the operation speed in a negative term.

3. Humans do seem to be able of multitasking at a certain degree. But given the assumption that multitasking implies frequent interruption to segue from one task to another and pick up from left off previously, due to doing several tasks in rapid linear succession, brains aren’t able to do multiple tasks at once like a microprocessor. As brains are programmed to perform tasks in a linear succession, multitasking is a process of alternating rapidly among several projects.

4. Whereas computers are literally incapable of doing several projects simultaneously, our brains seem to be capable of doing certain types of multitasking such as walking and listening to music. However, when it

comes to multitasking which entails conceptual learning, such ‘engaging in multiple projects simultaneously’ seems much less possible.

5. Both microprocessor and our brain are able to remember where to pick up from the previous activity so we can return to the task. Microprocessors have no trouble storing and retrieving the alternation point. However, brains have limited ability to store all the alternation point and recovering them rapidly. It takes longer time at these alternation points and eventually waste time and speed. The delay in alternating from one project to another is due to the manner our brains perform when dealing advanced learning.

6. Since human brain doesn’t perform as efficiently as a computer does when picking up from the previous learning, it takes time for the change. Number of time gaps between every alternation can be a considerable amount of waste of time. Also human brain requires a certain amount of time to full concentrate. When we are changing the subject to concentrate on before the time we can efficiently perform, the quality of performance suffers too.

7. According to neuron research, brains learn in two different manners. According to a research, hippocampus is activated when declarative memory is used for advanced learning. On the other hand, the striatum is used in the processing of procedural memory for habitual learning. Whereas hippocampus process memory so that it is easy to recall and in different situation, striatum makes memory not to generalize as well. viiSince the brain uses its striatum when multitasking, the learning becomes less applicable and organized.

8. Assuming that distractions such as phone calls and text messaging are a type of multitasking, distractions make our learning inferior since the brain switch into a habitual learning manner. This is more valid to younger generation as I am since we are more vulnerable to external distractions such as texting with friends. I also barely remember anything in a class when I’m texting. Since I can’t involve myself in both, when I finish texting, the class has moved on to a different subject, and it takes time to catch up with the class. By the time I catch up, I receive another text, and this pattern is repeated again. Friends sitting next to you can also sometimes be a distraction when they talk during the class. It is not only the external distractions that affect your learning. Internal distraction could also make the learning manner in a habitual learning way. For example, when my interest is divided into two or more different things, the learning process turns immediately inefficient. Dividing interest and concentration turns your brain into a habitual learning manner.

9. In the case of external distraction, it is easier to control them. Restricting the external distraction from interrupting by limiting the access to the outer distraction is one way. For example, doing anything with a cell phone is prohibited in any ways. Professors ask to put the cell phone in our bags so that we are unable to be distracted from them. I also try to get rid of possible external disturbance when studying. I put my phone, mirror, even magazines away when I need to concentrate. On the other hand, internal distractions are much more difficult to handle with. It is hard to control your interest and attention. Therefore, I try to make the learning interesting to have full attention in the learning process. Once I have interest in the subject and have questions regarding it, I naturally focus on the learning and don’t even notice external distractions around me. That’s why it is said that hard workers can’t beat a person who enjoys the work.

10.Conceptual learning should be applicable and organized and retrievable. Therefore the declarative learning manner using the hippocampus of the brains is essential. As I said earlier, external interference are easy to control. You simply have to restrict the access of the distraction. But the inner distraction is hard to control. It is the concentration that decides the accessibility of internal distraction. If we are less interested and focusing on the learning, we are distracted easily by other thoughts. Therefore, focusing on one learning is essential in making the learning long lasting and relatable.

SBR (Study Behavior Record)

StudentName Kathy(Kyung hoon) Jung

Class Time Tue, Thurs 9:00-9:50

Lab Rm# 203

Grader

Lecture/Lab #

Adequate sleep? Prep for lecture

Attend lecture

Class participati

on

Review notes

Attend lab

Finish lab

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 13 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 14 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1

5 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 16 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 17 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 18 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 19

101112131415161718

Collaborating

a. The way I approach to classmates to collaborate divides in two ways. Firstly, if it is an impromptu, easy going team assignment, most of the classmate as well as me, group up with the people close to each other. However when the assignment turns out place a great deal of weight in the class, I usually look for friends who have been showing the skills and techniques appropriate for the assignment; For example, when there is an assignment for a presentation, I firstly ask a friend to make a team with me who is a good spokesperson. And then I look for a friend who searches information well. However this selection usually happens among friends. I feel awkward to ask a person I don’t know at all to join a group with me. So I have a limited selection to make.

b. In order to build a productive team, it takes time to get to know one another and how each other’s skills will cooperate in the team. When selecting a team member, we should look for those skills that can cooperate in the team such as technical ability, problem-solving ability, communication skills etc..viii Nobody has all of those skills at a time. I need a reasonable size of a team consisting of each skill. I could be the leader

or else, I could recruit a member appropriate as a leader, who has control over influencing relationships, has a tone as a leader etc. However the important part is to gather the right team members and bring people along. Have them motivated, and also make sure everybody knows that each of them has specific skills helpful for the team and can provide help to the team. Furthermore, I should make team members have time to get to know each other. It is important to spend time up front talking about working styles, how they function in a group. We can only see team effectiveness only when there is a relationship among team members.

c. I have always tried to recruit the right members when making a team. However, it was still limited among the people I knew. In order to make an effective team I have taken a positive attitude and practice asking people I don’t know to join the group. I have realized that recruiting is not the only task I should do, but also I should make sure the team members all know each other’s working styles and know which skills they each have to be in the group.

d. First I will practice starting a talk with a complete stranger. As an exchange student, I actually have had a lot of chances to talk to a stranger and develop relationship with others. Also, when I make a team, I will make sure I go over the 12 steps recommended in my research for an effective team. For example, Firstly to clarify the common goals and purposes. Secondly, to clarify each person’s role in achieving the common purpose. Next, to put team members in touch with the people who use what they doix etc..

e. This change can be a huge positive effect in my life.

Effective listening

1. Effective listening requires continuous effort. Information doesn’t simply slip into our mind. Our mind is naturally multitasking. However, as the multitasking is usually unconscious, each task turns out ineffective and unfocused. In order to focus on what we hear and be an effective listener, we should be aware of other distractions and spend energy on the skills for effective listening. A skill for efficient listening is to figure the purpose of listening. It is hard to listen when you lack interest or find the speech boring. According to the previous research in effective learning, human brain requires inquiry in order to learn and have attention on the subject. Whether it is to acquire information, to deliver the speech to another person, or for an exam, once you establish a certain purpose for the listening, the productivity can immediately rise. For example, the computer science class taken at January 24th, once the professor said there will be an exam, the atmosphere has suddenly changed and I also

took more attention than usual. I figured that I tend to decide that classes are boring before even listening to them. Such stereotype was the main obstacle to listening efficiently and be vulnerable to distractions. Whether the motive is external or internal motive, it changes us to an effective listeners and learners. Also, while listening, asking questions to yourself and to the listener, or monitoring back to what the speaker said can also help us have inquiry and attention to the speak. x

2. Taking notes also need specific skills. As it is with all the others regarding learning, the prerequisite to taking effective notes is to find interest and purpose of note taking. Many people find themselves taking notes just to take not! With such attitude, you will end up with random writings and scribbles. According to a research, taking a minute about your material before making notes provide a vision of why you are note taking. By thinking about the subject beforehand leads to taking valuable notes when you look over them later on. Also it is important to make the notes be keywords and simple. When you try to write down the whole sentence you easily lose the pace of the speaker and get lost. You should concentrate on the main subject and forget the trimmings. The key notes can be noticed by clues such as the words written on the board, repeated words from the professor, emphasis from the instructor by the tone and gesture etc.. By connecting the key words, people can get the big picture of the speech and achieve information. I lack the ability to do note taking in an organized way since I was busy writing down what the speaker said. Eventually, my note taking turns out as a writing speaker’s arbitrary words down and get lost when I review the note. Therefore I had to learn specific skill in note taking to improve my learning. Writing from Dartmouth provided specific skills in note taking. Such are having the big picture and main theme of the lecture before listening helped me clear out the unimportant information, and using a skeleton outline for later additions. Also, using outline form and numbering system helps when distinguishing major points. Abbreviating the speech in my own word and using symbols and indenting important words are also crucial. xi

3. When people fail in changing habits, I believe it is not because they lack motive. There are always plenty of motive to change habits. What people really lack are the skills in changing habits, whether good or bad. By planning out the change with a couple of effortless tips can highly increase the possibility to succeed. Based on my own experience and handouts given on class, firstly, it is important to write down the goal; it is better when it is a positive statement. It looks simple, but makes all the difference. Also analyze the trigger of the bad habit we are trying to eliminate. By finding the reason how the bad habit starts, we can figure out what the habit represents in our lives and what to remove in your life in order to stop yourself from doing the habit. This writing down is important in sustaining the motivation. You can maintain the motivation by reviewing the goal and list of reasons why changing the habit. Having a

visual picture of how the procedure is working out helps encouraging yourself. Moreover, planning a routine is vital. Since it is the first 30-day cycle that determines the success of habit changing, you need a specific routine to perform instead of the former habit. For example, I used to have a bad eating habit. I habitually ate sweets and had a hard time recognizing when I was full. In order to get back to shape I made a goal of eating healthy and working out. I made a weekly schedule of working out and eating. I determined the time I will work out. By deciding the specific time to work out, it was easier to go to the gym, and I haven’t skipped the work out ever since the quarter started. Also I planned the meal for healthy eating and always had the ingredients available in my room. Whenever I felt the urge to eat cookies or snacks, I would eat an apple or any fruit instead, and in that way, I could alleviate the urge. Asking for support from people around you is also a key point in changing habits. Explaining to people around why you need the change and asking for their support can be a titanic encouragement. Last but not least, the goal should be attainable. The biggest mistake people make when changing habits is that they make a goal that is too big or too dramatic. When it is unrealistic and once you fail the goal, you can easily be depressed and stressed out of the failure. These negative emotions will make habit changing harder. By adopting these skills you can find yourself with a different positive habit and a successful life style.

4. As said earlier, my goal is to eat healthy and work out daily. The negative habit I intend to get rid of is eating sweets and overeating. I am writing down the results of my effort daily on a journal to evaluate myself. I scheduled my school hours and my daily routine ahead. I made a “work out time” for each day so that every day at the “work out time”, no matter what, I go the surc gym. I also decided ahead what healthy food I will eat for my meal, and try to make sure that I always have vegetables and fruits in my room. I planned that whenever I feel the urge to eat sweets and snacks, I will eat an apple or any sort of fruits instead. Such substitution helped alleviating the urge to eat sweets such as cookies. Even when I failed a day and ate too much or ate snacks, I try not to be devastated and treat it as nothing more than a misstep and try to get back on track.

HIP

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Nutrition, exercise, and human information processing

Figure 4

Learning style

Figure 5

Figure 6

This homepage is an index of learning styles questionnaires. It helps people analyze their learning styles systematically. It categorizes learning skills into four big parts. Active vs reflective learners, sensing vs intuitive learners, visual vs verbal learners, sequential and global learners. By providing accurate numerical scale of my learning style in each field, it helps understanding my learning styles in each specialty.

Figure 7

The homepage illustrates how to adapt and strengthen each learning styles. Theorist learners can develop the style by collecting and reading other’s theory and try to find flaws in the logic presented. They can also develop skills by structuring situations and predicting the results. Activist style can be improved by doing something new and out of the routine every day. Being involved in meetings or presentations and having a discussion with a stranger can be useful too. It is usually related with being involved in cerebral activity. Methods of improving reflector style are to do research or gathering data related and moreover, write a highly polished writing regarding the research. Reviewing afterwards and highlighting and making a summary is also suggested too. Pragmatist style can be strengthened by collecting practical techniques. And either in a meeting or individually, when making a plan, having a plan that requires actions and specific goals can be helpful. Participating in experiments can help using the full potential of pragmatist learning style.

Effective listening

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Nutrition, exercise, and Human Information Processing

a. Commonly, there is a stereotype that athletic people such as football players or cheerleaders are bad with studying. So it is easy to have misconception that exercising is bad for intellectual development. However, there is a significantly positive relationship between physical health and human intellectual processing. This is valid especially for children. According to a research of Sibey and Etnier, for children between 4-18, physical activity improves the children’s cognitive functioning skills such as perceptual skills, intelligence quotient, achievement, verbal tests, mathematic tests etc.

Exercise in youth age can help the improvement of cognitive functioning during childhood and affect a person throughout lifetime. xiiThat means if a children is not provided with enough nutrition and exercise, the child cannot function his or hers potential ability fully for lifetime. There is even an example of such correlation ship. Field, Diego, Sanders proved that high school seniors who did more exercise and sports participation had higher grade averages. Kramer, Erickson and Colcombe (2006), explained that exercise gives positive effects on cognitive process and part of the brain that commands memory, planning, multitasking, and dealing with ambiguity. xiii

b. Personally, I try to work out an hour every day. No matter what kind of situation I am in. I believe there is always time to work out an hour a day. I strongly believe that good and adequate exercise should be habitual. It has to be strongly attached to your life style. It doesn’t have to be going to the gym. It can be simply just walking around an hour a day, using the stairs instead of elevators, stretching while watching TV etc… This is called non-exercise activity thermogenesis. Once you have doing exercise blend into your daily schedule, you can enjoy working out and workout adequately. Moreover, good amount of good nutrition supply is also very important. The key factor is to intake well-balanced meal. Too less fat or too less carbohydrate can rather give adverse effect to your body. Today, people are consuming too much meat than needed. And such overeating had made obesity the number one reason of death in America. Contra wise, people who are on diet cut back on fat and carbohydrate too much that they ruin their inner body. Therefore working out throughout the day, and taking balanced natural food according to the work out is key to physical health.

c. Last quarter, as it was my first quarter here, I was having freshmen 15. I believe that people get freshmen 15 not only when they are a freshman, but when they came to a new environment. As I was having a hard time adjusting to the new environment, I ate a lot of instant food and desserts, and such cravings made me lazier that I gave up going to the gym, and I even skipped some classes due to procrastination. Everything turned out as a vicious circle. However, after the winter break, I realized how the unhealthy life style had badly influenced me physically and psychologically. I started eating healthy natural food to the right amount and I work out an hour a day. Now that I am eating healthy and exercising adequately, I feel so much better and confident. I keep on challenging myself when exercising and this attitude stretches out when I study too. I try to challenge myself with hard questions and lectures.

d. I intend to continue the new life style I have now. Currently, my goal is to go back to the weight I was before I came here. But not in a way of skipping meals but in a healthy way, and have a fit and beautiful body inside and out.

e. The difficulty I am facing right now is that I don’t have enough time. Working out, doing homework, reviewing lectures, hanging out with friends, etc.. There is just too much to do that I am having a hard time distributing time. None of the above are things I can give away. This struggle has been making me stay up till late, to do all of them, and resulted in irregular sleeping patterns. I don’t know how long I will be able to bare the lack of sleep and the pressure that I want to do them all. Also, the potential obstacle to my goal is that one day I might start procrastinating and end up giving up everything. One start of procrastinating is frightening since that start can lead to collapse.

f. To deal with these difficulties, I figured out a way of going to the gym with my friends. In that way, I can spend time with my friends and work out at the same time. In that way, the working out time won’t feel compulsory but enjoyable that I will have fewer motives to procrastinate and skip going to the gym. Moreover, friends can give motive mutually when they are working out together. This is why the possibility to succeed in diet is higher when people have a trainer or a friend to work out with you. Through these actions I am hoping I can maintain the healthy life style I am pursuing currently, and achieve my goals.

Possible Study Outcomes

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88%

90%

92%

94%

96%

98%

100%

102%Total study behavior vs lab grade%total behavior

gradeLab grade %

lecture number

total behavior grade

lab grade

Figure 11

1 2 380%

85%

90%

95%

100%

105%

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

Adequate sleep vs lab grade

Lab grade %Adequate sleep?

lecture number

lab grade

adequate sleep

Figure 12

1 2 388%

90%

92%

94%

96%

98%

100%

102%

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

Study buddies vs lab grade

Lab grade %Study buddies

lecture number

lab grade

study buddies

Figure 13

1 2 392%93%94%95%96%97%98%99%

100%101%

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

Prep for lecture vs lab grade

Lab grade %Prep for lecture

lecture number

lab grade

prep for lecture

Figure 14

IndexHuman information, 2human learning, 2learning, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10

listening, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10multitasking, 3, 5, 6

ihttp://www.eng.mu.edu/wintersj/rehab/rehab167/mod2/info_proc/iihttp://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/inquiry/index.htmliiihttp://www.neiu.edu/~middle/Modules/science%20mods/amazon%20components/AmazonComponents2.htmliv http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/submit.phpv https://online.dacmt-acquisition.org.uk/SelfDevelopment/AdaptingYourLearningStyles/tabid/159/Default.aspxvi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_multitaskingvii http://www.hawaii.edu/behavior/306/downloads/Multitasking%20-%20Dzubak.pdfviii http://www.cwu.edu/~otar/LabDirections/12HIPandFriendships.htmix http://people.rice.edu/uploadedFiles/People/TEAMS/Twelve%20Ways%20to%20Build%20an%20Effective%20Team.pdfx http://flpbs.fmhi.usf.edu/pdfs/Listening%20Skills.pdfxi http://www.dartmouth.edu/~acskills/success/notes.htmlxii http://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/brainandex.htmlxiii Kramer, A.F., Erickson, K.I., and Colcombe, J. (2006). Exercise, cognition, and the aging brain. Journal of Applied Physiology, 101, 1237-1242.