Transcript Study Skills

Study Skills
Tips and Advice
for
Effective Study…
K Day
Aparima College
English Department
The Ideal Environment!
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Read in good light. Artificial light is best when it shines over your
shoulders.
Assume a comfortable posture and be physically relaxed.
Eliminate all disturbing noise. You cannot concentrate with music in the
background, or if you are being constantly interrupted. NEVER study in
front of the TV!
Check your eyesight. If you have glasses use them. Keep your eyes well
rested.
Use a regular study space that is set up with all the things you will need to
study. Getting up and down to fetch forgotten equipment will interrupt
your concentration and will make studying that much harder.
Make sure you have the correct equipment for effective study. You may
want/need access to a dictionary or specific texts. Make sure they are
available in your study space.
Study Tips….
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Concentrate totally on your study activity. Don’t allow
your thoughts to wander, and don’t daydream. If you
start to lose concentration – take a break!
Take regular breaks – the average adult attention span is
only 30 minutes, so timetable regular breaks into your
study time.
Have regular (healthy snacks) and liquids when studying.
These help to keep your blood sugar levels up, and this
aids concentration.
Include a bit of fresh air and exercise in your study
timetable. Good oxygen intake allows the brain to
function efficiently.
Reading Comprehension
Techniques
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First, obtain a clear idea of what the text is about. Study the title, pictures and
illustrations, and read the first and last paragraphs.
Now read the passage intensively right through once without stopping.
Read for meaning and ideas. Don’t read one word at a time. Instead read
whole phrases and groups of words as single units of meaning.
Stretch your eye-span. Take in as large a segment of meaning as you can in
one fixation.
Don’t regress or flick your eyes back. If unsure of a word resist the temptation
to regress. One or two gaps won’t affect the overall meaning.
Don’t vocalise. Read silently for abstract meaning only. Minimise inner speech
and try to avoid the sound images of words as you read.
Be an aggressive reader. Push on at a fast pace. Increase your mental tempo.
NOW: Read the passage again – this time underline or highlight important
information (or use post-it notes for text books). Make a note of unfamiliar
words and their meanings.
Note Taking Techniques
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Make a list of
(main) principal
ideas.
Make a second list
of subordinate ideas
and link them to the
first list.
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Write explanations
for these ideas
when needed.
Look up word
definitions and
provide examples.
Tools for Thought!
There are many techniques available to help students learn.
The best techniques are those that focus on your individual
learning styles. The following tools may help you to study
more effectively.
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Mind Maps
Concept Maps
Recall List
List and Learn
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Mnemonics
Audio and Visual
Buzz Words
Flash-cards
Mind Maps
Mind-mapping is a technique that enables you to learn and remember information. When you
mind map you rely on visualising the information in your mind. You use pictures, symbols and
colours as clues to help you remember key information.
Concept Maps
Concept mapping is a technique that enables you to learn and remember information.
When you concept map you rely on written cues as well as visual links to store the information in
your mind. You use words, phrases and quotes as clues to help you remember key information.
Recall List
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A recall list is a list of words or
phrases that you need to learn.
You begin by studying the list
for 60 seconds.
After the 60 seconds write
down as many as you can
remember without looking at
the origina
List and Learn Technique…
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This is where you:
List the things to be learned.
Number the list.
Sort the list into chunks.
Study for 60 seconds.
Test your recall.
Repeat the last two steps until you
remember your list.
By using numbers you will be able
to recall the information when
thinking of a number from the list.
Mnemonics (ni-mon-iks)
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Mnemonics is a study
strategy that helps you to
chunk information into
learnable portions.
It gives you memory cues
which help you
remember.
It also gives you memory
clues so that you can
recall the information
when you need it.
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There are three parts
to this process:
1. Chunking the
information.
2. Memorising the
information.
3. Revising the
information.
Mnemonics: The Process
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A Mnemonic allows you to create a new
word or phrase out of the information for
study. The new word acts as cue for
remembering the information.
For example, a well-known Mnemonic is
ROY G BIV which is used as a cue for the
colours of the rainbow.
Audio and Visual
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Aural learners learn best when they hear
the information they want to remember.
Aural learners should use audio (eg
walkmans) to record and play back their
study notes
Visual learners require lots of colour and
images to help them learn. They tend to
visualise (see) with their minds. The visual
learner should use lots of posters, charts,
and colour to present their notes. Visual
learners benefit from large and visually
stimulating study notes.
Buzzwords
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Buzzwords work in much the
same way as mnemonics, but
they are actual key words or
phrases that can be used to
recall information.
Buzzwords work best when
used with a visual study aid
such as mind maps or concept
maps.
Flashcards
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Flash cards are cards
that have a question,
quotation, key
concept or main idea
on one side.
On the other side is
the answer,
explanation or
reference
information.
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Flashcards work like
mnemonics to:
1. Chunk the information.
2. Memorise the information.
3. Recall the information.
Flashcards work well when
colour, graphics and symbols
are included.
Good Luck!
This presentation
has been brought to you
courtesy of
the Aparima College
English Department.