Word for the Day: Monday, October 5, 2015

The Word for Today (Monday) is Generosity. How do you educate people on generosity? Perhaps by being a generous teacher. I like this word, by the way because, like Kindness, it works well, to practice random acts of generosity.

Word for the Day: Sunday, October 4, 2015

The Word for Today (Sunday) is Sharing. And I consider education a form of sharing, whether it's formal (i.e. in a School), or informal (where anybody can be my teacher).

Weekly Themes: Week of October 4-10, 2015

The Themes for this Week are Education and Teaching.  These may sound the same, but some think there might be differences, including this article, titled "Do you Teach, or do you Educate". For example, good education can include "teaching by example" like, for example [in the article], teaching the students to be "green", by maintaining a reusable coffee mug, and posting lessons online (to save paper).  In general, teaching tends to show the student information to memorize, but education can include teaching a student where to look, to find his/her own answers.

Words for the Day: Saturday, October 3, 2015

The Words for Today (Saturday) are Overview and Perspective. I firmly believe that, without knowing the "big picture", behind your major (or minor) field of study, there is no basis, to retain what you are leaning. I may be wrong (and things might be different for you), but keeping perspective always needs to be kept in mind.

Word for the Day: Friday, October 2, 2015

The Word for Today (Friday) is Reflection. And deep reflection on a topic is, in my opinion a great way to help retain what you learn. (Consider it like "deep review").

There is another meaning of Reflection, of which I'll say we all play the part of mirrors, for each other.

Word for the Day: Thursday, October 1, 2015

The Word for Today (Thursday) is Study. The quality of study (which might mean the lack, thereof) can definitely affect how well you retain class material (whether a formal class, or learning, required for a new product like, for example, a new computer). Also, remember that you can choose what topics to study, as there are too many out there, even to list. Good luck!

Word for the Day: Wednesday, September 30, 2015

The Word for Today (Wednesday) is Absorption. This word is related to our Theme, Retention, especially in the non-academic definitions. For example, you can absorb water into your body, from the foods you eat (as well as liquids you drink), and then "retain it" (often with less than pleasant results). But getting back to learning, Absorption works well with languages, as it's how a child learns. (It's called the "Immersion technique" as, after any introductions, the only language spoken in the class is normally the one being learned).

Word for the Day: Tuesday, September 29, 2015

The Word for Today (Tuesday) is Review. First off, if you are in a position to review something you already did, you already retained some memory of it. So whatever you did so far (experimentation?) was good. But the review process itself helps as, for example, you compare what you recall of the Lab work, to what's in the textbook. (Hopefully, they match, or at least come close).

Word for the Day: Monday, September 28, 2015

The Word for Today (Monday) is Experimentation. So how does this couple with Retention (our Theme)? I finished High School, and started College, with a Chemistry Major. (But then, got so interested in computers, that I dropped Chemistry. But that's another story). I liked High School chemistry much better than College [Inorganic] Chemistry because, in High School, we did our own experiments most of the time (and only occasionally, would the teacher "demonstrate"). This switched in College, where there were only a few actual "student run experiments". My observation is that I retained what I learned MUCH better in High School, when I was the one "manipulating the glassware".

Word for the Day: Sunday, September 27, 2015

The Word for Today (Sunday) is Recognition. So, if you recognize something or someone, would you retain that recognition? :-)

Now, in general, I would sincerely hope that I recognize all of the people who helped me to become who I am now.

Weekly Theme: Week of 09/27 to 10/03/2015

The Theme for this Week is Retention.  Google gives three definitions, each related to each other:  1). After obtaining a possession, to "retain" control over it.  2). When hearing a lecture or reading a book, to "retain" the knowledge you just read or heard.  3). After the soil (or a human body) gains moisture, the act of "retaining" it, over a period of time.

So which of these meanings would be most important to the Theme for this week?  I'd grant a modified version of #2, where what we pick up in life remains with us, whether it comes from (preferably) life experience or (as a "supplement"), book reading and/or attendance of seminars.

Word for the Day: Saturday, September 26, 2015

The Word for Today (Saturday) is Resolve. I tie this to our Theme, with some humor: "I resolve to preserve my resolve". :-)

Note, please, that Resolutions can be made, at times other than New Years.

Word for the Day: Friday, September 24, 2015

The Word for Today (Friday) is Courage. So is this "Preserving Courage", or "the Courage to Preserve"? Sometimes, it's hard to tell which one works together better. But I'll take the second, to say that, often it TAKES courage to preserve something from the past, especially if it's controversial. For example, did you notice how quickly something "widely popular" [or, at least THOUGH of as popular] could become SO unpopular, that public examples were taken down. (I'm talk about the Confederate Battle Flag, of course).

Words for the Day: Thursday, September 24, 2015

The Words for Today (Thursday) are Strength and Empowerment. So how do we preserve [our Theme] these? I must sound like a broken record, as I keep suggesting Yoga and Meditation (especially for personal Empowerment). But don't only follow me. Others like weights, for strength training, and human potential training, to learn to be empowered.

Word for the Day: Wednesday, September 23, 2015

The Word for Today (Wednesday) is Competence. So how do you "preserve competence"? Actually, it's almost paradoxical, as people often find they feel the need to "go back to school", just to stay current, especially in the technical fields, such as Computer Engineering. So to remain competent appears to require continued growth? Kind of seems so, these days.

Word for the Day: Tuesday, September 22, 2015

The Word for Today (Tuesday) is Endurance. So how do you "endure your preservation"? (Oh dear, some of these combinations sound just a bit silly).

How do we preserve our endurance? I guess you start by developing it. Some people spend time at athletic, or fitness clubs for that. I'd also suggest yoga.

Word for the Day: Monday, September 21, 2015

The Word for Today (Monday) is Fertility. And, guess what? "Being fertile" actually can contribute to the Preservation of Humanity. (Of course, probably not now, with our overpopulation situation, but you get the idea).

Please note that there is more than one connotation to Fertility. For example, I'm quite partial to having a Fertile Imagination.

Word for the Day: Sunday, September 20, 2015

The Word for Today (Sunday) is Stability. And what better environment, to preserve something, but a stable one?

Weekly Theme: Week of September 20-26, 2015

The Theme for this Week is Preservation.  We're not talking about creation here, but maintaining something that is already present.  For example, preserving an antiquated book might be as simple as keeping it in an atmosphere other than Oxygen (for example, nitrogen).  Museums are places, highly known for preserving items of value. 

Word for the Day: Saturday, September 19, 2015

The Word for Today (Saturday) is Release. So would this be "Release of Analysis", or "Analyzing the concept of Release"? I'll take the second, please. :-)

So what is "Release" anyway? The opposite of being "Stuck"? (Yes, there are unrelated meanings like, "what Software Release are we on, anyway?") But if you do feel stuck (and who hasn't, at times?), look around your "situation", to see if there's a "Release Lever" hidden somewhere, for you use. And it might be somewhere you hadn't even thought of.