Revision techniques There are many different ways to

Revision techniques • There are many different ways to revise. It is important to try out a variety of techniques to ensure that you are studying effectively • 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 So we should try to use a COMBINATION of study methods. We are going to be learning about a number of different ways to study

Study skills workshops • Over the next few weeks you will be learning about different ways to revise and tips for improving your organisation These workshops will look at • Overcoming barriers to effective revision, effective note taking and techniques for taking notes and testing your understanding • Creating mind maps and revision cards • Mnemonics and memory tips • Organisation and Time management

Overcoming barriers to successful study, Active revision and note taking • • This workshop is going to focus on Overcoming barriers to effective study The importance of being actively involved in your revision Key tips when note taking Revision techniques

Overcoming Barriers to homework and revision – TASK • What factors stop you from being able to revise or learn effectively? • How could these barriers be overcome?

Common Barriers to studying Poor Organisation What is the point I am going to fail anyway No where to revise I cant be bothered – I have other things to do I HATE revising I don’t know How to revise I am too easily distracted I have left it too late there is too much to do

Overcoming barriers to successful homework and studying Poor Organisation – sort out your notes/create a revision plan/use weekly to do lists No where to revise – try and find a quiet space/negotiate with siblings when you can use certain areas - can you take turns? I HATE revising – mix it up, use different techniques, short bursts of study. Start with a subject that you like I don’t know How to revise – try techniques suggested in these workshops, give yourself small targets and build up your studying. What is the point I am going to fail anyway – Try to have a positive mind set, you can achieve what you put your mind to if you put the work in I cant be bothered – I have other things to do – make this a priority – think about how studying is going to benefit you, what are you going to get out of it? I am too easily distracted – short bursts of effective study, have a plan and stick to it. Make your studying ACTIVE I have left it too late there is too much to do – Make studying a priority NOW, work out what you need to focus on most and make a start. Often getting started is the biggest obstacle of all

Study Tips • Get rid of DISTRACTIONS – switch off mobile phone/social media sites – negotiate – take away temptations • Study sessions should focus entirely on the task – enjoyment and relaxation when on breaks • 30 to 50 minute time slots – never more than an hour without a break • PLAN study and homework times – what is to be achieved in the study session/what activities are going to be completed – how will success be measured? • Revision should be ACTIVE – notes should not just be stared at – HIGHLIGHT, UNDERLINE, SUMMARISE, ANSWER QUESTIONS. Please watch this short clip which outlines some key study tips https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Jr. XMr. H 7 E 4 J w

QUALITY REVISION “We don’t need students to be spending every waking hour revising, we just need them to be revising better for shorter periods” “The key to effective revision is not hours of cramming in the final few months, but regular, concentrated shorter periods” March 2017 TES ARTICLE Short bursts of active study can be far more effective than just reading over notes for hours on end. Make sure that you are ACTIVELY involved in your study and then you TEST your understanding regularly.

Ideas for Active revision • Use creative note-taking techniques such as summary sheets/mind maps/revision card/revision clocks etc • Summarise a passage of 100 words into 10 words • Redraft a piece of work based on feedback • Ask and answer questions about the content • Teach the topic that you are revising with a member of your family or a friend.

TEST YOURSELF • You may have found the best way to record and summarise your information but it is also important that you test your own understanding and memory REMEMBER – you are focusing on UNDERSTANDING not MEMORISING. • Make up a revision quiz to test yourself, try using your knowledge and teaching a willing friend or family member, make revision a group activity and test each other. • Use your revision cards, mind maps and past paper questions to grill each other on different topics that you have been revising. Look at a past paper question and make up a marking scheme, what do you think the examiners will be looking for?

Effective note taking Always write your notes in your own words. If you just copy, then the chances are that you will not understand as well Techniques for taking notes - Less is more - Make your notes visual. Use symbols/drawings/illustrations - Be creative - Use different techniques - Use summary cards - Use a selection of coloured pens – make links with colour Watch this short video in which a Student gives advice on taking notes https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=g 3 sth_0 Clho

Summarising notes • Summarising notes is a difficult skills to master. • It is very tempting to write out notes exactly as they appear on the page of the textbook/revision book • HOWEVER It is really important to summarise your notes and put them in your own words • We are going to practise with a task on the next slide.

Task – Active note taking – 8 minutes • Read over a newspaper article use bbc news or another news website • If you can print it off and Highlight, underline or circle key points or read over the article several times • Using your own words write a ‘tweet’ summarising the article in 150 characters • Teach someone at home about the article using only your tweet This summary tweet activity could be done with any subject/topic that you are revising

Active note taking – Revision Clock • A way of revising which can break a topic down into 12 (or fewer) subcategories. • Think of a topic in a subject and within that topic 12 sub topics • Draw out a revision clock template • Give your self two minutes to complete a section to see what you can remember on that topic. • Include information, key words or pictures to represent what you can remember. Here is an example of a revision clock that has been made for chemistry • Do the same for the other 11 revision sections https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=LZd 0 zsguzv. I

Examples of completed revision clocks

TASK – Have a go at your own revision clock • Pick a unit of a topic that you completed in S 3 • Think of 12 headings or questions for this topic • Create a template for the revision clock (you get templates online) • Give yourself a set time to fill in notes for each section to see what you can remember • Once you have finished you can use your revision notes to add more to each section • This is a great way to test yourself and create a set of your own notes