Download - MORSE Code for Revision
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Why?
Many students think reading=revision.
Active revision methods are seen as harder but they’re also much more effective.
Varied tasks that involve doing something with the knowledge work much better than passive methods like reading and listening.
The MORSE Code
Active revision uses some or all of these ideas:
MnemonicsOrganiseRehearseSummariseExtend
Mnemonics
Mental tricks and shortcuts Kids love them Subject-specific
How I Wish I Could Calculate Pi Naughty Elephants Squirt Water
Often of limited use but provide a good link to organising a list of facts.
Organise
Students should make links between facts
Use lists, categories or groups
Mind or concept maps e.g. bubbl.us or www.mindmeister.com
Venn diagrams to show similar/different
Card sorts can be used in all kinds of ways
Rehearse/Repeat
Use a variety of methods to practise facts, methods and understanding e.g. cover, write out, check
It’s the ideas not exact words that matter
Fill in printable blanks to test recall
Summarise/Shorten
Writing summaries forces kids to evaluate their notes and decide what matters.
Make revision cards or PowerPoint slides. Many electronic versions e.g.
quizlet.com PowerPoints can be saved as jpegs to a
mobile phone then viewed as a slideshow.
Define a concept in a text or tweet.
Heat vs EM vs nuclear
Wave propertiesf = frequency (Hz)amplitude = heightTransverse/longitudinalEM, mexican / sound
Wave Equation
v = f λSpeed=freq. X wavelength(m/s) Hz) (m)
EM Waves
transverseall travel at same
speedc=300000000m/s
RMIVUXGRadioMicrowaveInfraredVisibleUltravioletX-RayGamma
Properties of EMHeatingAlternating currentIonisation (damage) CCI
R
RMV
UX
γαβ
Extend
Using what they know in a new way Using past/practice questions is very
useful, but rather than just attempting them: Write a markscheme. Write explanations for your answers. Produce a hints/prompts sheet. Marking a teacher’s ‘wrong’ answers,
with feedback in red.
Extend creatively
Challenge students to come up with something different If this is the answer what is the
question? Write a song/concrete poetry Make a dance sequence (hand
gestures?). Create a wiki/blog post. Script (and record) a podcast/video
summary. Speed-date, testing classmates using
what they’ve produced for 2 minutes then move on.
MORSE
Mnemonics – mental tricks and shortcuts
Organise – making links between ideas
Rehearse – practicing facts and methods
Summarise – choosing main concepts
Extend – using knowledge in new ways
Doing not reading, acting not listening
Effective revision is a process not a product