Chemistry & other STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) deal with a vast amount of interrelated information and many abstract concepts. This large, diverse assortment requires us to recall and use information to construct mental images of a world that often cannot be seen directly, but which can be inferred from observations and measurable data. Molecules and atoms are too small to be "seen" in a direct simple way and with a clarity that we normally have in seeing our surroundings and each other. But, technological tools allow us to develop mental images of many phenomena by inference. This general method is commonly used to understand our environment, not just on a micro- scale that includes viruses, bacteria, proteins, enzymes, and much, much more, but on very large macro scales: planets, stars, solar systems, and galaxies.

The observable information, data and their mathematical treatment tend to be "hard" (i.e. relatively absolute and concrete: e.g physical properties and chemical reactions that follow well defined rules and formulas......but not necessarily "hard" as in difficult). This "hard" information is used to develop and communicate "soft" or logical, most often easy to understand, atomic and molecular concepts, ideas and models that represent these abstractions as simply and reasonably as possible. The intellectual challenge is to be able to effectively deal with the very different "hard" and "soft" aspects. What works best for me may not work best for you, since our perceptions are usually different and we very likely rely more or less heavily on a variety of different approaches.

There are many possible ways to remember facts and to apply them, which can be more or less effective. Educational testing and experimentation have produced an idea of the various styles of learning that people employ. I understand the relative importance of my learning styles and concentrate on the principal ones that work best for me. In this first exercise, you will learn something about your learning styles, and hopefully what might work best for you.

Will you readily remember the information that you just read and be able to use it? Some of you will and some will not. Ask yourself, how else you could have gotten this information without reading the words? Would an alternative have been better? What is the best way for you to optimize mental recall and the application of information? One thing that is certain, since there is such an overwhelming amount of new information to deal with in our lives in general, forced memorization is not efficient and in many cases not effective, except perhaps for those very few of us with "photographic" memories. What are your alternatives?

Instructions:

1) Complete the following survey. On the hard copy hand out, place a check on the appropriate line after each statement and follow the instructions to tabulate the results.

2) Relate the results to your study habits.

3) Complete the on-line form at the end of the survey and submit. [Dr. R. will respond to you by e-mail notifying that you are fully enrolled in Chem 106.]

SCORING: Use the answered questions and place a point value (OFTEN = 5 points; SOMETIMES = 3 points; SELDOM = 1 point) next to the corresponding question number. Total the points in each column to obtain the preference scores under each heading.