Agenda – Key Stage 3 Guide to Study

Commitment required from pupilsHow to train your brainHow do you manage your time?Time management tools and

strategiesWhat is revision?Some revision techniques

Commitment required from pupils

Respect your ability and have HIGH expectations.

STUDY – 8 hours per week is required.Extra-curricular – ENJOY – but study

must come first!

What is “effective learning”?

Learning occurs through the brain in making

its own meaning, its own sense of things

We are all different..

(1) Recognise relationships

Try same concept from different angles in different ways: don’t just rote learn

Draw it, mime it, speak it, chart it, say it, sing it, demonstrate it, model it, list it, dance it, write it – DON’T JUST READ IT

(2) Help you to THINK

Work things out for yourselfArticulate ‘draft’ ideas – talk ideas through,

ask stupid questionsUse ‘trial and error’ as a learning strategyDon’t rely on ready made meanings and

notes – key word defns, mind maps, sketches, storyboards

“Intelligent behaviour is knowing what to do when you don’t know what to do”

“Humans never really understand or learn something until they can create a personal

model”

(3) Build experience

Learn from feedback – the brain is geared for feedback.

Research from different sources – textbooks, internet, CDs, TV programmes

Practice questions (on your own), write definitions over and over, repeat tests

How to remember things

The strength of a memory and how easily it is retrieved depends upon the strength of the initial input

When several senses are simultaneously involved the message is received through a number of channels in the brain and stand better chance of remaining prominent

People recall..

10%

20%

30%

50%

70%

90%

How do you manage your time?

Introducing five time management ‘types’

…… which one fits your approach to time management the best…..????

1. The Fireman

For YOU, every event is a crisis.

You're so busy putting out fires that you have no time to deal with anything else (especially the boring, mundane things such as time management).

Tasks pile up around you while you rush from fire to fire all day.

Tasks pile up around you while you rush from fire to fire all day.

2. The ‘Over-committer’

Your problem is you can't say 'No'.

All anyone has to do is ask, and you'll chair another committee, take on another project, or head out for an event…that you don’t really want to go to.

You're so busy you don't even have time to write down all the things you do!

You're so busy you don't even have time to write down all the things you do!

3. The ‘No worry’er

YOU need to realise there is such as thing as being too "laid-back"

- especially when it starts interfering with your ability to finish tasks or bother to do any homework (and ultimately affecting your grades!)

Getting to things when you get to them isn't time management; it's simple task avoidance.

Getting to things when you get to them isn't time management; it's simple task avoidance.

4. The Socialiser

You are born to socialise

You have astounding oral communication skills and can't resist exercising them at every opportunity.

Every interaction becomes a long drawn out conversation - especially if there's an unpleasant task dawning that you'd like to put off

Every interaction becomes a long drawn out conversation - especially if there's an unpleasant task dawning that you'd like to put off

5. The Perfectionist

You have a compulsion to cross all the "t's" and dot all the "i's", preferably with elaborate whorls and curlicues., and you feel that no rushed job can be a good job.

Exactitude is your watchword

Finishing tasks to your satisfaction is such a problem you need more time zones, not just more time.

Finishing tasks to your satisfaction is such a problem you need more time zones, not just more time.

Hopefully none…

But then, perhaps a little of some??

Time Management is a myth

You can’t manage time –

there is only ever 24 hrs

in the day.

You need to manage yourself and how

you use the time available

You need to manage yourself and how

you use the time available

Time management strategies

Some things to think about…You work best in daylight – make the most of

independent studyAre part time jobs the best use of your time

(weekends only?)Get enough sleepExercise is good for your brainGet a good routine

What is revision?

“The looking back over of one's (previously learnt or written) notes in preparation

for a test or examination”

“The looking back over of one's (previously learnt or written) notes in preparation

for a test or examination”

How to be a successful ‘reviser’..

How do you get:

From here.. To here...?

Start with the ‘helicopter’ view

Stand back from the course and develop an overview

Link topics and themes together – draw a spider diagram or mind map

Identify the specific aspects of each topic you are not sure about – start with these

Key Principles

Use colours – different colours for different subjects

Don’t rely on ready-made meanings and notes – you have to understand it

Use many different inputs and methods – your notes, different textbooks, internet (reliable sources)

Revision Techniques

- Questions and answers- Consolidate key facts- List of key definitions- Summarise a topic into your own words

(1) Flash Cards (Coloured)

Try and consolidate each subject down to 10 cards. Then go over and over them.

Revision Techniques

(2) Use diagrams or mnemonics

Revision Techniques

(3) Display key facts where you will see them- Write out key definitions or important words.

- Every time you see them think about what they say

- Change the facts every couple of days

Revision Techniques

(4) Explain a key concept to someone

-When you explain something to some one else, you have to get it clear in your head first

- You have to be clear and concise

Revision Techniques

(5) Location Learning

Associate key facts with locations (e.g. Journey into school.

Getting into car represents electrons leaving the battery having gained energy.........driving down the park represents the electrons transfering energy to a lamp in the circuit.....