I wouldn’t claim that my study process is anywhere near perfect, but I find that I have the easiest time studying for particular projects rather than just for its own sake. Watching things I learn contribute to progress on my understanding of the task that I concretely care about it a highly effective reinforcement of the study behaviors.
Makes perfect sense! Going into scientific research, there’s often kind of a chicken-and-egg problem. You know that knowing biochemistry, differential equations, immunology etc. would be useful somehow, eventually, if you became familiar with these subjects. You do have a general interest in these topics, since they’re directly relevant to becoming, say, a biologist. But most of your learning along the way won’t be directly related to a project that directly has real, applied value to your own life or the lives of others. That comes later. So figuring out how to enjoy the studying you must do before you’re able to work on practical projects seems useful. That’s mainly what I’m wondering about here.
Thanks for your thoughts on the motivational role of practical projects!
You highlight a difference that relates to why I don’t feel like I do my best work in academia. I think an overarching project—“I want to learn enough biology to cure cancer” or “I want to learn enough electrical engineering to design audio equipment” or even “I want to learn enough marketable skills to make a truckload of money” can turn academics into project-aligned work.
However, looking for one’s personal project or motivation for being in academia and finding only “well I guess people praised me when I said I wanted to be a scientist” or similarly uncompelling motives can be dangerously demotivating.
I wouldn’t claim that my study process is anywhere near perfect, but I find that I have the easiest time studying for particular projects rather than just for its own sake. Watching things I learn contribute to progress on my understanding of the task that I concretely care about it a highly effective reinforcement of the study behaviors.
Makes perfect sense! Going into scientific research, there’s often kind of a chicken-and-egg problem. You know that knowing biochemistry, differential equations, immunology etc. would be useful somehow, eventually, if you became familiar with these subjects. You do have a general interest in these topics, since they’re directly relevant to becoming, say, a biologist. But most of your learning along the way won’t be directly related to a project that directly has real, applied value to your own life or the lives of others. That comes later. So figuring out how to enjoy the studying you must do before you’re able to work on practical projects seems useful. That’s mainly what I’m wondering about here.
Thanks for your thoughts on the motivational role of practical projects!
You highlight a difference that relates to why I don’t feel like I do my best work in academia. I think an overarching project—“I want to learn enough biology to cure cancer” or “I want to learn enough electrical engineering to design audio equipment” or even “I want to learn enough marketable skills to make a truckload of money” can turn academics into project-aligned work.
However, looking for one’s personal project or motivation for being in academia and finding only “well I guess people praised me when I said I wanted to be a scientist” or similarly uncompelling motives can be dangerously demotivating.