Penstripe Student Planner Catalogue 24-25 - Flipbook - Page 113
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THE SCIENCE BIT –
STUDY SKILLS MYTH BUSTERS
The Science Bit – Study Skills Myth Busters
MYTH 2: Highlighting material will help you remember
information
Everybody loves a highlighter! It’s like having a revision comfort blanket.
When it comes to highlighters, again proceed with caution. We are attracted to
the bright colours (and sometimes even smells) but they are often misused.
Highlighting can be used as a first step
towards identifying important information
but that’s it. You will not magically
remember what you have highlighted,
especially if it’s 80 per cent of the entire
text! By all means use the highlighter to
identify important information but not as
your only strategy. You must act on the
highlighted information in other ways.
Strategy One: Study Zone Checklist
The Space
There is no evidence to suggest that
highlighting text will help you remember
it in and of itself. Also, think about
the colour of the highlighter you use,
because the darker ones can actually
block out the word underneath, making
it hard to see, never mind remember, it!
Oh, and be careful about complicated
colour coding systems using
highlighters. They might end up having
the unintended consequence of making
you more confused.
MYTH 3: Rereading is an effective sole study strategy
Copyright © 2021 Inspire Education
Rereading notes is one of the most common strategies for studying. Students
will reread notes, usually recognise the information (because they have read
it before) and fool themselves into thinking they know it and, so, move on to
something else. By all means reread your notes, but then take a break, come
back and try to recall the information from memory without the aid of notes
or textbooks.
It’s only when you test yourself that you
will discover if you actually know the
information. Recall is so much more
challenging but extremely effective.
Remember, your brain is trying to find
short cuts – so make it work hard.
Description
The Science Bit –
Study Skills Myth Busters
Study Skills in Practice – Planning Strategies
Planning is an essential part of the study process. It is about identifying
exactly what you need to do to ensure maximum impact during study
sessions. It involves laying the groundwork by preparing your study space,
conducting a reality check on how you are currently spending your time,
and finally mapping out what your new schedule will look like. By putting
a homework or study schedule in place you are making efficient use of your
precious time.
Identifying and then organising your study space should be a top priority and
it is important you put time and thought into this process. The place where you
do homework and revision is crucial to your ability to concentrate, be relaxed
and engaged in the individual sense-making activity that is studying.
That space should involve a desk and chair,
possibly a study wall, and even a bean bag
or comfortable armchair (for relaxation and
retrieval). The important thing is that it is a
quiet space away from any distractions, be
they digital or human. Remember you need
to give working memory a chance to do its’
job – it can’t focus equally on two mental
tasks at once and that includes things like
revising for an upcoming exam whilst
singing along to your favourite song.
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It is almost guaranteed that the main distraction you will have while trying
to study is your mobile phone. Even if you think you won’t check it during
study periods, it is near impossible to ignore notifications that are ‘pinging’
in the background as you work. For a start you are likely to think “I’d really
better check, in case it is something important, or in case I am missing out
on something”. If you want to maximise productivity, and form those good
habits we talked about earlier, then remove the phone from the study space
altogether. This requires discipline but it will be worth it.
The fact is that we know from the evidence that a quiet, calm and structured
learning space, free from distractions, is highly conducive to effective study
and revision. It’s up to you to create that space.
Page Ref.
S-11
Description
Study Skills in Practice –
Planning Strategies
Copyright © 2021 Inspire Education
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STUDY SKILLS IN PRACTICE –
PLANNING STRATEGIES
Page Ref.
S-12
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