SECRET OF ASSIMILATION

According to the dictionary, assimilation is the absorption of new ideas into an existing cognitive structure.

 Assimilation is required in storing, remembering, recalling and recognition of information. Information can be stored when it is seen, heard, or felt  and can be remembered, recalled or recognized when it is stored in the brain. Assimilation is the key ingredient of a successful student. No matter how long a student reads, if he or she does not understand, the time spent in reading is a wasted time.

When I was in secondary school, I was not brilliant. I did try to read but all to no avail. I tried to read for a long time repeating the same page several times but that could not solve my problem. The situation was very tough for me because I dedicated my time to long time reading during the examination but at the end of it was a very poor performance I once had 8Fs out of 9 subjects and everyone in my family has lost hope on me but thanks to God, I later had a guide of solution to my problems which I will like to share so that many people who are in the situation i was can learn from this.Listed below are the secret of success you are to consider if you have determined to succeed in life:
Preparation: Prepare for each class before you go to the class. You can prepare by reading ahead of the teacher’s scheme of work. If you already have a little or full knowledge of what the teacher Is coming to the class to teach, you will have a better understanding after being taught.
Readiness: This is the alertness of your mind and body when the teacher is teaching you. You should be ready to learn at all times. Your readiness makes learning very easy for you. It gives you a conducive environment to assimilate whatever knowledge you will acquire at that point in time.
Questioning: If there is anything you are yet to understand in the course of reading alone, studying with friends or during the teaching process, do not hesitate to ask from your tutor. Teachers are always ready to answer your questions and are always happy when you ask them questions because it shows you are getting the knowledge they are passing across to you. Questioning is one of the ways in which a teacher evaluates his/her students.
Assignment: Give answers to every exercise given to you by your teacher, be it in the class or as assignment. Do not copy the answers from friends. Some questions will make you go back to your textbook and study more or make you to browse the internet in order to get answers to the problems. Make sure you attempt the entire question given to you.
Reading: Read and understand at the end of each class or topic before the next topic so that you will not build on a faulty foundation since some topics are pre- requisite to the next one. Repetition strengthens memory. The following are the things to know as a student when reading:
Time: Knowing when to read (actual time) is the first thing to know to because if you read at a wrong time, you may end up not achieving the goal of reading. Knowledge sticks when you are happy and at your leisure time. Whenever you are set to read, you should always put every thought aside, free your mind of all disturbances and concentrate on what you are reading.
Understanding your nature: As a student, you need to understand your reading nature. Some students love to read in a cool and calm environment. Some don’t like to see anybody when reading. Some prefer to read in the bush to the library. Some love to read where there is little or more sound. Some enjoy reading in the market place. You will always see people with different character. All you need to do is to understand yourself and know what suit you most.
Subject: Subjects matter a lot when reading. An adage says “practice makes perfect”.  Subjects involving calculations are to be studied everyday in order not to forget easily. The more you read it, the more you understand it. Calculations are easily understood in the morning when the brain is still fresh and the weather is cool rather than in the afternoon when the weather is hot in the countries around the equator. Subjects that do not involve calculations can be read at anytime.
Application: Whichever knowledge you have acquired, put it into practice. By so doing, you will retain the knowledge imparted no matter how voluminous it is.
Evaluation: You can evaluate yourself by teaching others what you already know because when you impart the knowledge you already have into people, you will know it better. You can also evaluate yourself by answering past questions, setting questions for yourself or by telling your tutor to give you questions on what he/she has taught you so as to practice the questions on your own.
Prayer: Prayer is the master key that opens all doors. You may not believe it until you try it. Some don’t understand even if they read one page for several hours just like I was. Prayer was my major solution when I was in the same shoe. You should pray for knowledge and understanding according to your believe. God will give you the solution to your problems and also help you to remember as will read.

Benefit of Assimilation

•        If you assimilate you will surely remember
•        You will have success in your examination
•        You will achieve your goals
•       Assimilation makes you a better teacher and a good        leader.

 In conclusion, you are to read to understand and not to cram. If you adhere to the above listed points, you will do your memory a favor and enhance the power of your intelligent quotient.