THREE BARRIERS TO LEARNING

Misunderstood wordsThese are words heard or read that the mind

does not fully comprehend.

Poor man stutters, and why do we care about

their apetite?

They sent us small quantities of

unununium but their apatite was quite

large.

Misunderstood wordsHow do you know if a misunderstood word has been

encountered?

The Mind goes blank

Let me tell you about my theory

of relativityrelativity

Misunderstood wordsHow do you know if a misunderstood word has been

encountered?

The Mind goes blank Have you ever been reading a

book and got to the bottom of the page and realized you don’t remember a word you just read?

You have likely passed a misunderstood word that caused your mind to shut down.

What other symptoms are there from misunderstood words?

Check the patient’s chart for rubs, crackles, and

snaps.

None of those but S2 gallop, innocent

murmur, and a dim A2 were present.

There’s a feeling of being dumb and not belonging. For example, when

words are used that someone doesn’t understand, that person can feel stupid and feel like fleeing.

Speaking of “dim” I not smart enough for this job. I don’t belong here…

What symptoms should teachers or students look for in the classroom ?

Experiencing misunderstood words can make people irritable and prone to complaining.

They usually end up disliking or hating the subject.

So how do you avoid the barrier of misunderstood words?

Recognize the symptoms

Mind is Blank

Feeling dumb & not belonging

Irritable

Disgusted

So how do you avoid the barrier of misunderstood words?

Look up words as soon as possible (don’t guess their meaning)

Use the dictionary (& online ones) for even technical terms. Learn the origin of words.

Surf the internet for moreinformation

Too

ste

ep o

f a p

ace

If learning is done If learning is done in a step by step in a step by step fashion, it is easy.fashion, it is easy.

If steps are skipped, then If steps are skipped, then there is a complaint that there is a complaint that a certain step is too a certain step is too difficult.difficult.

?#@!!

How do you get past this How do you get past this barrier?barrier?

Return to the step you Return to the step you were doing well and then were doing well and then proceed by making sure proceed by making sure you do each step.you do each step.

For most subjects, the lack of visuals or hands-on learning keeps people from “seeing” or “grasping” the material.

What are the What are the symptoms from not symptoms from not having enough having enough visuals or hands-on visuals or hands-on learning?learning?

1. Headache (from straining to visualize what is being discussed).

Other symptoms?2. Eyes may hurt

(Probably from strain from continuous reading and trying to visualize the subject.)

Other symptoms?3. Heavy, weighted down feeling

(Probably from accumulation of vague, incomplete images kept in the mind)

?

6 tons

How can one avoid this barrier?

FIND PICTURESThe Internet is one good source.

How can one avoid this barrier?

Find movies, videos, or TV programs that relate to the subject.

How can one avoid this barrier?

DRAW PICTURES

Do what artists and designers do; draw pictures either freehand or with the help of the computer.

How can one avoid this barrier?CREATE OR FIND MODELSOR FIND THE REAL THING

Clay is an excellent Clay is an excellent choice for makingchoice for making3-diminension models 3-diminension models of items or concepts.of items or concepts.

Studying the real Studying the real thing is the best.thing is the best.

Take a tip from engineers. Take a tip from engineers. They use models to help them They use models to help them understand.understand.

?

Chemistry is observed on two levels.

One level is what can be sensed with human senses.

The other level is below human eyesight, smell, touch, hearing, or taste.

Instruments expanded what we could sense and therefore we learned more and faster.

"My work, which I've done for a long time, was not pursued in order to gain the praise I now enjoy, but chiefly from a craving after knowledge, which I notice resides in me more than in most other men.

...whenever I found out anything remarkable, I have thought it my duty to put down my discovery on paper, so that all ingenious people might be informed thereof." - Anton Van Leeuwenhoek Letter of June 12, 1716.

Leeuwenhoek constructed a total of 400 microscopes during his prolific lifetime.

+++

Thick specimens were possible

Good focus front to back

Also differentiated between light and heavy elements

Si3N4 grains in Si3N4-Yb2O3 Ceramic

The language of chemistry is difficult for several reasons:

Many words are based in LatinPb for Lead because Latin Plumbum

Many words are named after dead scientistsFahrenheit

Many words are polysyllabicd-alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E)

Some compounds have multiple namesethanol, grain alcohol, fermentation alcohol, alcohol, methylcarbinol,

ethyl alcohol, absolute ethanol, anhydrous alcohol, alcohol dehydrated, algrain, anhydrol, Cologne spirit, ethyl hydrate, ethyl hydroxide, jaysol, molasses alcohol, potato alcohol, spirits of wine, spirit, tecsol

Learn where the words came from.

It helps you understand the meaning

It helps you remember it

Connect the chemistry words to other subjects.

This reinforces the meaning and helps you recall it.

(cyan – cyanide – cyanosis –cyanobacterium)

Connect the words to as many senses as possible.

See, hear, smell, taste, and touch

Break words into their parts (prefix, word root, suffix)

This simplifies the word

Knowing the parts will help with new words

(trinitrotoluene)

Make the word more real by drawing it, making a model, or

finding pictures that relate to it.