What are some of the biggest obstacles to learning? Students have identified the following:

Mastering Emotions

What relationship seems to lie at the root of all of the items on this list? Fear.

Fear

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
(Herbert 8)

People fear they lack the intelligence to be successful or the skill to understand either the assignment, the material, or the procedures for completing the task. Fear leads to procrastination, which makes it even more difficult to complete an assignment on time and creates a lack of motivation to even try. Often, procrastination and lack of interest are self-defense mechanisms to avoid the risk of failure. Worries about conflicting priorities or fear of how a teacher might respond to requests for help or concerns about potential conflicts add to the fear. This web site contains strategies for addressing specific kinds of study, tips for various disciplines, and keys for managing stress and time.

We can't control what intelligence we are born with, but we can control how we use it. We can't control other people, but we can control our choices. Our learning is our responsibility.

The Fear mantra shown above is from Frank Herbert's novel Dune. It may suprise people, but repeating this mantra can have a calming effect just as, for some people, reciting quotations from sacred literature, prayers, or touching objects like fidget spinners or "worry stones" can help calm and quiet fear, and reduce stress. Additional resources are provided on this web site to give people the skills and confidence they need to be successful.

A S A P: Four steps that develop and improve learning intelligence

Awareness

Be aware of those feelings you have about your inadequacies and fears of learning. Recognize that these can be overcome although it will take time and perseverance.

Skill

The purpose of this web site is to identify some of the skills, practices, and techniques that are conducive to effective and successful learning.

Application

To be fully effective, skills must be used within actual life and learning situations. Skills are most successfully developed within real life circumstances. With each skill, think about how it can be applied to specific situations that you have or might encounter.

Practice

Finally, any skills learned have to be practiced until they become habits. Do not be discouraged at not mastering skills quickly. No one masters a skill quickly. The goal is continuous improvement through practice and self-evaluation (as well as those situations where your work will be evaluated by instructors or supervisors).

Overcoming Procrastination

"8 Tips to Avoid Procrastination." CollegeData.com. 12 Nov. 2024. <https://www.collegedata.com/resources/campus-life/8-tips-to-avoid-procrastination>.

Bokari, Dean. "5 Ways to Stop Procrastinating." Boise State University. 20 Apr. 2021. 12 Nov. 2024. <https://www.boisestate.edu/coen-mbe/2021/04/20/5-ways-to-stop-procrastinating/>.

Clear, James. "Procrastination: A Scientific Guide on How to Stop Procrastinating." An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones.12 Nov. 2024. <https://jamesclear.com/procrastination>.

Mosunic, Chris, reviewer. "How to Stop Procrastinating: 9 Tips for Focus and Productivity." Calm. 12 Nov. 2024. <https://www.calm.com/blog/how-to-stop-procrastinating>.

"Overcoming Procrastination." John Hopkins University Academic Support. 12 Nov. 2024. <https://academicsupport.jhu.edu/resources/study-aids/overcoming-procrastination/>.

Sirois, Fuschia. "Two Counterintuitive Ways to Stop Procrastinating." Greatter Good Magazine. 8 Nov. 2022. 12 Nov. 2024. <https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/two_Counterintuitive_ways_to_stop_procrastinating>.

Voge, Dominic J. "Understanding and Overcoming Procrastination." The McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning. excerpted from Voge, Dominic J. "Classroom Resources for Addressing Procrastination." Research and Teaching in Developmental Education 23.2 (Spring 2007), 88-96. 12 Nov. 2024. <https://mcgraw.princeton.edu/undergraduates/resources/resource-library/understanding-and-overcoming-procrastination>.

Works Cited

Herbert, Frank. Dune. New York: Berkley, 1977.