Monday 15 September 2014
Modern 21st century students have an advantage over their parents from the 1980s. Unlike our folks, we have access to much more advanced forms of technology such as the internet, personal computers, smartphones and digital communication.
Unfortunately, most of us, especially our parents, are left
to wonder about the effects of technology to our generation. Internet
addiction, for example, could be the effect of unmanaged internet use. Instead
of discussing about the negatives, why don’t we list down the positives?
Phone Homework
As of 2014, almost every teenager has an indispensable
resource called a phone. These gadgets are equipped with cameras that can be
used for retaining memories through photos. The texts on a page of a textbook
can also be considered as memories once they are read, absorbed, and
understood.
The question is, which is better? To take 3 photos of the 3
pages for your biology homework, or to bring home a 400 page-Biology textbook?
The answer is obvious. A smartphone can do wonders if used
appropriately. As for notes, I’ll enlighten you on that one later.
Google the word
The average student mainly uses Google to find out if a
workforce strike will affect school, or for Wikipedia links. Meanwhile, on the
wider spectrum, we use Google for references in grammar and words.
Think about a word that outweighs ‘sad’ yet retains the
meaning of sadness. Forlorn, dismal, morose, and the confusing ‘melancholy’ are
just a small fraction of the synonyms I’ve found. This is actually very useful
advice, implement this to your English homework routine if it’s not yet a habit
of yours.
So you’re probably wondering about bringing a laptop to
class? No! As your vocabulary and writing style (more on this later) evolves,
you will rely less on technology, but being a bookworm does not mean you have
to abandon it. So if you’re with a teacher who abhors all forms of technology
from the 21st century, explain the benefit of smartphone
dictionaries/thesauruses for the long run.
All around charmer
So you’re too smart and you think that having a supermodel
body is not necessary. Or you think that Aphrodite can’t be seen as
intelligent, as she is too beautiful for smarts. Well, lucky for you, the fair
compromise would be to listen to lectures while exercising.
But I don’t have Japanese-sensei with me whenever I go for a
jog - of course! In most circumstances you won’t, but you do have, again, a
smartphone! Whenever you think that you can listen to music while exercising,
consider listening to a tutorial, lecture, lesson, etc. An example could be
just listening to French lessons while running on the treadmill.
The advantage here is just way too good to be true, but the
method is feasible. Healthy, cultured, charming~. You could soon be like
Leonardo Da Vinci, a polymath, after some time from double benefits. Two
rewards in one time. Thank you, to whoever makes lectures and the like!
I can listen, why subtitles?
HD TV, HD video, subtitles and
CC/DS. Well, you may not like this one because subtitles are distractive.
However, the mild distraction does have an unconscious advantage. Watching a
Korean drama with English/Korean subtitles won’t make you fluent in Korean or
English.
Subtitles at best, could be a
supplement to language learning. Also, it can provide tacit knowledge in
natural-sounding native communication.
Simply watch films with
subtitles, even if you already have a good grasp with the English language. ESL
people eventually become, or already are, great at English, but they could have
a quaint accent if they speak. But why not just observe native speakers at a
park or school? Because, technology will, for this generation, just be a
supplement to our education, but extensive hands-on experience with a
supplement is the key for the language barrier.
Note taking is outdated
But asking questions and
discussions are not. This is especially true if you’re currently in high
school. In a class of 30, it is most likely that everyone will have different
intellectual abilities. You could be in the “upper” group, while the teacher
caters to those from the average. You lose, unless if you study ahead.
Take a copy of the teacher’s
notes for reference. Study from a different source, perhaps a book or a study
on the internet. Retain useful information and integrate what you’ve learned
from school and from the different source together. Expanding your knowledge on
a single topic can snowball into deep, complete understanding, and sometimes
even uncommon information.
Tactical Reading
The strategy is to read, relate and retain knowledge from
books to support experienced knowledge. However, the twist is to take 4
different categories of books from your local library. Young adult fiction,
non-fiction studies, objective non-fiction, and a genre which piques your
interests.
Young adult fiction is
self-explanatory; typical books that fall under this genre include Hunger
Games, Harry Potter, Mortal Instruments and a whole lot more.
Non-fiction could look dry and
intimidating with their “big” words, but they involve a plethora of theoretical
and practical knowledge. Although textbook-type books often come to mind when
thinking about non-fiction, it is a lot bigger genre than that. Non-fiction
also includes biographies and autobiographies of prominent figures. Try reading
the biographies or, if you’re lucky, the autobiographies of the people that
inspire you!
Lastly, get something else,
consider it the dessert of your 4 course [book] dinner. Anything that will make
you a more interesting person, as well as increasing your overall insight about
anything you’re curious to know about. Could be languages, modern technology,
musical instruments, movies, anything at all that will have you something to
talk about while in school or at a dinner party.
Specialize in One Topic
Earlier I mentioned that you
should expound on some studies. Unfortunately, specializing is taking it to a
whole different level.
Have you heard proverbs about
every person having some kind of talent?
That is true, each person has
innate abilities just being inhibited for reason I am not known of. Until they
have cultivated their abilities, they will remain a “loser.” So if you know enough
about yourself, I’d recommend you to refine your most prominent talent.
This could be musical, academic,
physical, social, technological, lingual and even creative success. This is
also how child prodigies are made, they specialize in one field.
Polymath, a dead term
In basic definition, a polymath
is a person who covers a wide range of expertise. Or simply, someone who is
multi-talented enough in many fields. A modern polymath could be someone who
can cook like a chef, write like an author, paint like an artist, understand
like a psychologist while keeping a healthy social, intellectual and physical
composure.
Wouldn’t you love it if you were
an engineer who has an attractively healthy body, artistic talent, broad knowledge
including languages, and social tact? I would, and you would too if you were
given the option to choose over a polymath engineer or an average, regressing,
waning middle-aged guy.
Luckily, you probably have access
to a smartphone, the internet and a computer which make being a polymath a lot
easier.
So for the sake of simplicity,
you, young student, should integrate technology to your education the “right”
way. Unlike most of your colleagues and classmates, you can actually begin
investing time on yourself for your polymath standards. Just remember to use
technology and improve at the same rate it does. You don’t want to be like your
friend’s grandmother who has not caught up with modern technology. I would like
to remind you to supplement your life with technology, and culture yourself for
modern, evolving society because everyone wants to have good future, but we
want to have the best futures.
