Learning Support Department

STUDY SKILLS

Learning Support Department

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR RESULTS!

HOW you study makes all the difference!

We use our senses to collect and take in information

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EYES EARS HANDS

ENTER:Long-TermMemory

FORGOTTEN

LOST

ENTER:Short-TermMemory

This information is then stored in the sensory bank of our mind

Two things can happen

OR

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SENSORY MEMORY

SHORT-TERM MEMORY

LONG-TERM MEMORY

Information Lost(Information which is not important is ditched)

Information Attended To

Information Lost

THIS IS WHERE STUDENTS NEED TO PUT THINGS THEY WANT TO REMEMBER!!

Information Attended To

•Unlimited capacity•Relatively permanent duration•Retrieval problem

Limited duration:– 18-30 secondsLimited capacity: remember an average of 7 things

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ENCODING FOR SHORT-TERM MEMORY AND

LONG-TERM MEMORY IS DIFFERENT

SHORT-TERM MEMORY (STM):Likes auditory (average remember 7 things).

(Visual – only stays there for 0.2 – 0.4 seconds.)

LONG-TERM MEMORY (LTM):Stores information with MEANING.

(Memorising time is shortened if it has MEANING.)

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SHORT-TERM MEMORY (STM) EXAMPLES(Read 15 words and remember them in order)

FlowerWallabyVegemiteFlagPhoneAstronautOysterAntFenceBasketballStageMountainPigeonTruckMilk

A WALLABY ate a FLOWER with VEGEMITE and waving a FLAG when his PHONE rang. It was his friend the ASTRONAUT who wanted to buy a pet OYSTER and ANT. They met by the FENCE and decided to play BASKETBALL on the world’s biggest STAGE, but they had to climb the MOUNTAIN first. On the way they met their friend the PIGEON who was driving a TRUCK full of MILK!!!!

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2 96 4 17 8 5 24 6 1 5 33 6 4 1 9 58 7 9 6 1 4 27 1 4 3 7 3 2 94 8 6 4 3 9 1 7 23 5 8 2 1 4 7 6 9 8

SHORT-TERM MEMORY (STM) EXAMPLE

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MAKING NOTES SECTION(Summarising)

Have a summary book

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A B

Learn The ContentNOTE!!! Reading through is the SLOWEST way to

move information to long-term memory

Practice The SkillDo as much practice as possible under exam

conditions

There are two different parts of studying effectively

How do we move information from SHORT-TERM MEMORYto LONG-TERM MEMORY?

STUDYING

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LEARNING THE CONTENT(some techniques to try)

•Lists of key points•Acronyms (for example – FIRE PEN, ROY G BIV)•Cram cards•Teach someone else•Make mind maps, flowcharts, diagrams•Form pictures in your mind•Read – Recite – Recheck•Make up rhymes or songs to help you remember•Write out information over and over•Make recordings of information you need to learn•Form discussion or study groups•Have a parent or friend test you•Put up formulas and rules around the house

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LEARNING THE CONTENT(some techniques to try)

•Speak out loud the information you have read: this helps you to remember•Type what you remember without looking at your notes•Write out lists of questions as you read – and answer them•Use mnemonics (visual images)•Use acrostics (www.joglab.com – “do it yourself” acrostics site (e.g: Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit – to remember order of musical notes)•Chaining: Create a story. For example, if you had to remember the words “Napoleon, ear, door, Germany”, you could invent a story of Napoleon with his ear to a door, listening to people speak German).

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PRACTICING THE SKILLS•Re-do class exercises•Ask teacher for extra worksheets for revision•Practice writing under exam conditions•Do past exam/test papers under exam conditions•Do questions and submit to teacher for marking•Buy study guides or extra textbooks to try other questions•Keep a list of areas where you are weak or need to revise further•Do chapter reviews or summary questions•Add points into your summary book based on your revision exercises•Keep a list of things you need to ask your teacher about

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GENERAL ORGANISATION

AT SCHOOL• Keep your locker tidy• Paste in all your loose

sheets or keep them in a folder

• Make sure you get all “missed” notes

AT HOME• Find a good place to

study. It should be easily accessible, free from interruption, tidy, and comfortable.

• You should have a comfortable chair, good lighting, and all necessary equipment – pens, pencils, etc.

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• Time management is VERY important– Keep your eye on the clock– Allocate your time before you go in

(don’t spend too much time on one question)• Use all the time that is allocated to you for taking the test• Start of exam:

– READ all instructions CAREFULLY– LOOK through whole paper– LOOK at CHOICES (remember your strengths)

• Memory dump (only once writing time has started)• Look at MARK ALLOCATION

EXAM TECHNIQUES

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EXAM TECHNIQUES• Have a good balance between writing NEATLY and QUICKLY –

your writing MUST be legible• Don’t mix up the order in multiple choice questions• Attempt EVERY question• If you have a mental blank, leave it and go back to it later• Answer the questions you understand first and then do the rest

(NUMBER CORRECTLY)• If you finish early – CHECK, CHECK, and RE-CHECK!!!• Drink water (DEHYDRATION causes enormous reduction in

short term memory)• Don’t panic if the test is hard• Once it is over, don’t worry about it

– focus on your next test

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Find a Good Place to Study• It should be:

– Easily accessible and available– Free from interruption– A tidy desk with place for your computer– Free from distractions

• It should have:– A comfortable supportive chair– Good lighting– Pencils, pens, etc– Adequate fresh air– Calendar or term planner

• DON’T be sidetracked!

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REMEMBER• Study when you are at your best in terms

of concentration• Match study conditions to exam conditions

– the more closely retrieval conditions match the original conditions, the BETTER the RESULTS

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HELPFUL HINTS• Make lists of what you need to

do• Set study goals – have a study

planner• Take planned breaks (walk,

snack)• Give yourself a reward when you

have completed a task• If you are losing concentration –

stand, stretch, take deep breaths• Better to do regular revision

sessions (cramming does not guarantee long-term memory retention)

Hermann Ebbinghaus“The Forgetting Curve”

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WHAT TYPE OF LEARNER ARE YOU?

Learning Styles: On-line test

http://www.metamath.com/multiple/multiple_choice_questions.html

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LONG-TERM MEMORY TEST

Memorise the following list of words by reading DOWN the rows only once!

Shack Cottage Tepee Motel ValleyStream Mountai

nDesert Captain Corporal

Sergeant

Colonel Wattle Gum Maple

Elm Silver Gold Bronze TinOrange Apple Banana Peach HatShoe Glove Coat

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LONG-TERM MEMORY TEST

Cover the words and write as many as you can recall – there are 28 words

The words were actually organised around categories. See how many words you can recall

using the categories as clues:Dwellings Geographical Features Military RanksTrees Metals FruitsClothing

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Did you recall more this time? What does this suggest about

information stored in long-term memory?

THINGS HAVE TO HAVE MEANING IN ORDER FOR US TO REMEMBER

THEM

LONG-TERM MEMORY TEST

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MNEMONIC (VISUAL IMAGERY)TO ORGANISE INFORMATION

PLACES RECALL OF ITEMS1. Post Box 1. Spaghetti2. Boat 2. Books3. Garage 3. Jam4. Path 4. Lemonade5. Pond 5. Mushrooms6. Front Door 6. Platypus7. Lounge 7. Car8. Kitchen 8. School9. Dining Room 9. Ball

10. TV Room 10. Photo11. Deck 11. Light12. Stairs 12. Glue13. Music Room 13. Diamond14. Table Tennis Room 14. Grass15. Bedroom 15. Pencil

(More information: www.studygs.net)