Study SkillsOrna Farrell

orna.farrell@dbs.ie

Outline

Learning theoriesLearning styles...VAK Successful learningStudy StrategiesPersonal effectivenessTime management

Learning: Behaviourists

BehaviouristLearning through

stimulus, response & reward

Pavlov (1927)Skinner (1965)ConditioningInput.......output

Learning: Cognitive

Perception, memory &concept formation Demonstrate

understanding by applying knowledge to solving a problem

Kolb(1984) Experiential learning

What is your learning style?

Visual: use of seen or observed things, including pictures, diagrams, demonstrations, displays, handouts, films, flip-chart

Auditory: involves the transfer of information through listening: to the spoken word, of self or others, of sounds and noises

Kinaesthetic: involves physical experience -touching, feeling, holding, doing, practical hands-on experiences

Successful learning

Write down, something you think you are good at...........

Write down a few words about how you became good at this.................

Successful learning

Did you write?PracticeTrial and errorRepetitionHaving a goExperimenting

Most people “learn by doing"

Study strategies

Identify what is really neededStudy assignment titles carefully.

Work out exactly what is required for assignments.

This saves time in re-writing assignments later.

Time spent in preparation is well spent.Work strategically

Set yourself clear goals and work towards these.

Study strategies

Make the material meaningfulLooking for 'the meaning' or how things work, rather than focusing on remembering information.

Work with the material, looking at how it fits together and applies to different circumstances.

If you develop your understanding of the subject, it will help you to take in future material more easily.

This makes reading easier. It also improves your memory for the subject.

Study strategies

Look for linksBe active in searching out links between different aspects of the programme.

Look also for links between what you are learning and the wider world.

This helps to develop understanding and memory.

Study strategies

Work with othersWork with other students so that you share ideas and gain mutual support.

You may be able to share some research tasks and clarify your lecture notes.

Studying with others makes study more interesting, as you gain a different set of perspectives.

Study strategies

Set yourself SMART-F targets

strategic : they assist you to achieve your goalsmeasurable: you can tell when you have

completed themachievable: you are likely to succeed in meeting

themrealistic: they fit the circumstancestime-bound: you have a set time to meetflexible: you can adapt them if the circumstances

change

Why take notes?

To note down factsTo contrast similarities and differencesTo summarise main pointsTo help pay attentionTo review and reviseTo record thoughts & brainstorm

Types of note taking

Prose/linearMany students use this

format basically written

paragraphsWhile this type can

provide a summary the disadvantages are that it encourages verbatim copying

doesn't allow for organisational strategy use

Types of note taking

Mind mapping/spider diagrams The notes start in the middle of a

page and 'explode' out towards the edge of the page.

The advantage is that it is very visual, allows for structure and displays relationships.

They are very useful for review and recall, brainstorming and revision purposes.

Another advantage is that a lot of information can be condensed

Disadvantages include they are hard to produce, especially from lectures and they require practice

Why mind map?

Using words, numbers and sentences only uses one side of your brain: the left

Your right brain responds to colours, shapes and sound

Mind mapping uses both left and right brain skills

Interview with Tony Buzan

Types of note taking

Cornell Method This method involves drawing

a line down the page, about 1/3 from left side of page.

The right side is used to record notes. The left side is reserved for key words and main points.

These can be done after the lecture, when trying to condense the information.

The advantage of this method is that it forces the note taker to select main points;

Taking Notes from readings

The SQRNR Reading Method1. Survey the text 2. Question: make questions about the text3. Read & underline key words4. Make notes5. Revise

What now?

Study planStudy groupStart reading for your assignmentsLearning journalSet SMART Targets

Further reading

http://www.spicynodes.org/a/7263f7634cbe7f820fa717500f117a71

Buzan, T. (2002) How to mind map. London: Thorsons.

http://www.buzanworld.com/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlabrW

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