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Many learners sabotage their success by asking poor questions during studying. A question like, “why am I so stupid, and why do I not I understand this,” will not provide useful information. “What does this mean,” would be a far more useful question to posit. One of the most useful questions you can ask while under stress is, “what is the next best step I can take.” It immediately forces your brain to realistically view your problem, while seeking a positive solution. This question works not only for studying, but during any other life crisis as well.

The importance of questions can not be understated. Just a little over a century ago, the question being asked was, “can man fly?” The answer was an emphatic, “no!” This was an excellent answer given the failure to solving this problem by some of the greatest minds who ever lived including Leonard da Vinci. Yet, two men who built bikes, Orville and Wilbur Wright, did not realize they could not succeed. Their first successful flight lasted only a brief amount of time, and went a very short distance. However, their flight proved that man could fly. After thousands of years of failing to fly, mankind was able to fly to the Moon, and Mars only a little over a hundred years after their short flight. Planes, rockets, and other flight enabling devices of every shape and size have been created. What changed? The questions changed. The questions now being asked were about how to fly higher, faster, longer, and heavier. Questions lead to new insights and significances. They are the secret to supercharging your understanding.

These techniques are part of our College Central and Teen Advantage series. They will help you learn faster and achieve better results whether your a student or professional.

There are numerous programs designed to help teenagers make better decisions; yet, many of them fail. Why? Many of these programs encourage youngsters to avoid dangerous activities that are associated with brief moments of pleasure. Teens are expected to see that the risks far outweigh the benefits of their behavior. Yet research indicates that most of the benefits derived from these programs disappear after only a few short months. This problem is directly linked to how the human brain develops over the years. The incomplete brain development that lasts through adolescence makes it easier for teens to rationalize taking risks to experience the benefits, no matter how brief the benefits may appear to an adult.

Studies on the human brain’s development indicate that gray matter continues to thin from the back of the head towards the front of the head until early adulthood. These areas of the brain are related to the higher brain functions including reasoning, impulsive behavioral control, and planning. The lack of development in these areas during the teenage years is associated with many of the behavioral patterns that upset parents.

Young people experience risk differently than adults. Their brains tend to exaggerate the benefits when compared to the risks. As a result many programs designed to frighten teens into choosing correct behavior may actually be encouraging them to make worse decisions.

Fortunately a new approach to modifying teen behavior appears to be successful. It encourages teens to think more intuitively like an adult rather than logically. For example, if I asked you, “would racing your car at 150 mph be a good thing?” You would immediately say “No!” But a teen might take some time to reflect upon the benefits and dangers and make the wrong decision. Your brain acted intuitively to address the problem and immediately had the correct answer. Encouraging teens to think more intuitively appears to help offset some of their risky behavior.

Hello, this is Howard Berg, recognized as the world’s fastest reader. I hope you enjoyed this article and share it with others with teens in their life as well. Be sure to check out our new Tutor Club – just right for all students of any age!