The Big Picture Tool

The Big Picture Tool is about approaching information from a bird’s-eye view so you don’t lose yourself in the details. It is about avoiding “not seeing the forest for all the trees."

By DAN VANDON

You just arrived in London congratulations and welcome to this city, where you’ve never been before. What are the most important tools you need to make the most of your trip? For most people, these tools will be a map and a city guide.

The map will help you get from Point A to Point B. It will allow you to orient yourself as it shows the structure of the city and how to get around. The city guide explains which sights to visit. It features pictures of all the important landmarks, summarizes the most important information, often in a very practical “how to” style, and answers all the key questions like what sights to visit, where to have dinner and the best places for entertainment. Between the guide and the map, you have answers to almost all the questions that may arise during your stay; and when they don’t provide answers, you’ll at least know who and where to ask.

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When it comes to learning, many of us approach new knowledge as if we were visiting a new city without the advantages of a city guide and a map. Too often, we start off gathering details with no idea what the big picture looks like. So what exactly does the term big picture refer to in studying and learning? Here, the big picture consists of the basic ideas and concepts of an issue, the basic vocabulary associated with the topic and the “mechanics” of the subject. Dealing with details, however, often doesn’t make sense if we don’t understand the big points, the overriding structure, the basics.
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(Excerpt from: "Red Rubber Duck's Learning & Study Skill Guide" by Dan Vandon.)

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About the Author

With a background in intellectual property law, Dan Vandon has earned law degrees in several countries, a chore that led to perfecting the tools and techniques presented in Red Rubber Duck’s Learning & Study Skill Guide. "Red Rubber Duck's Learning & Study Skill Guide" is Dan Vandon’s personal recipe for dealing with an overflow of information and mastering exams — challenges faced by all students.

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