1. Study skills: forget forgetting and do well at examsBY
Dr Kamran Afzal

2. LEANING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the session the students should be able to
Explain the neuro-physiological basis of memory
Describe short and long term memory
Explain the forgetting curve and use it in learning to increase retention
Discuss strategies for increasing the retention

3. Overview 1. How can I remember all that I have studied?
2. How can I revise effectively?

4. How can I remember? 1. Use the whole brain
2. Learn actively and deeply
3. Revisit and repeat frequently
4. Use ideal conditions to facilitate learning
5. Use specific study techniques
- chunking
- grouping and storing
- time management
- mnemonics
- mind mapping

5. 1. Use the whole brain

6. 1. Use the whole brain
Science Numbers
Equations
Colour
Image

7. What do we remember? 20% of what we read 30% of what we hear
40% of what we see
50% of what we say
60% of what we do
90% of what we read, hear, see, say and do

8. How can I remember? 1. Use the whole brain
2. Learn actively and deeply
3. Revisit and repeat frequently
4. Use ideal conditions to facilitate learning
5. Use specific study techniques
- chunking
- grouping and storing
- time management
- mnemonics
- mind mapping

9. 2. Learn actively and deeply
Don’t just read and close the book
Try to do different things with what you have read immediately after writing
draw flow charts
draw diagrams using colour
write a summary
attempt answering pass papers
In short, interact with what you have learned

10. What will happen when we learn actively and deeply?
We build neuronal connections by learning
We will build more neuronal connections by active learning
Neurones - limited; connections - unlimited
Scaffolding & schema building

11. How can I remember? 1. Use the whole brain
2. Learn actively and deeply
3. Revisit and repeat frequently
4. Use ideal conditions to facilitate learning
5. Use specific study techniques
- chunking
- grouping and storing
- time management
- mnemonics
- mind mapping

12. Scaffolding & schema building reinforced
3. Repeat and revisit
What happens when we revisit, repeat & revise?
We strengthen the already built neuronal connections
Scaffolding & schema building reinforced

13. Repeat and revisit cont…
12 sec.
Short term memory
Long term memory
RAM
H- disc

14. How to shunt information from short term to long tern memory?
1. Learn actively & deeply
2. Revisit, repeat & revise
Important points about revisiting & revision
There is no special place of time to revise.
Try to revisit and repeat at every given opportunity.
Do not wait until you finish studying to revise.

15. How can I remember? 1. Use the whole brain
2. Learn actively and deeply
3. Revisit and repeat frequently
4. Use ideal conditions to facilitate learning
5. Use specific study techniques
- chunking
- grouping and storing
- time management
- mnemonics
- mind mapping

16. 4. Use ideal conditions for learning
Intellectual activity
Neo-cortex
Emotions, pleasure, mood
Frequent movement
Good hydration
Mammalian brain
Well lit, well ventilated, pleasant environment
Interprets stress, anxiety & danger to survival
Reptile brain

17. How can I remember? 1. Use the whole brain
2. Learn actively and deeply
3. Revisit and repeat frequently
4. Use ideal conditions to facilitate learning
5. Use specific study techniques
- grouping and storing
- chunking
- time management
- mnemonics
- mind mapping

18. 5. Use specific study techniques Chunk, group & organise information
F B I P H D C I A M S C
F B I P H D C I A M S C
FBI PHD CIA MSC
Group and organise before storing

19. 5. Use specific study techniques
Chunking
1. Effect of primacy
2. Effect of recency

20. Why is chunking and grouping important?
5-7 slots
Short term memory
Long term memory

21. F B I P H D C I D M S C
FBI PHD CID MSC
FBI CID PHD MSC

22. 5. Use specific study techniques
Time management
Do not go on studying the same subject
Change subjects frequently
Why?
- Doesn’t tax the same area in the brain
- Helps moving around – reduces stress and improves concentration
Draw up a timetable and stick to it

23. 5. Use specific study techniques Use mnemonics & memory triggersB I V
Why?
- Reduces the amount that needs to be remembered
- Helps encoding, networking and schema building

24. 5. Use specific study techniques
Mind mapping
Why?
- Helps encoding, networking and schema building

25. Summary Use the entire brain – images, colour, diff. subjects
Engage in deep & active learning
Do not just read notes - do different things with the content that you study
- connect with what you already know
Tools - Mnemonics; mind mapping; past papers; diagrams with colour, animation
Chunk, group and organise information
Revisit, repeat and revise
Use ideal conditions – relaxed environment
Manage time wisely

26. knowing all this is not enough!
Finally,
knowing all this is not enough!
You must have two important characteristics to make the most out of these techniques
Commitment
Perseverance

27. I wish
you
all the best