Agenda – Key Stage 3 Guide to Study Commitment required from pupils How to train your brain How do you manage your time? Time management tools and strategies What 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 yourself Articulate ‘draft’ ideas – talk ideas through, ask stupid questions Use ‘trial and error’ as a learning strategy Don’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.. Read hear See See and hear Say Say and do 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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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

Time management strategies Some things to think about… You work best in daylight – make the most of independent study Are part time jobs the best use of your time (weekends only?) Get enough sleep Exercise is good for your brain Get 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”

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.....