Study Techniques
Learning Intention: Explore different study techniques and find the ones that suit you.
Success Criteria
I understand how to study smart instead of study hard.
Learning Tasks
Watch these two videos as a class and identify the common advice in both videos.
Get into groups of three and each person take one of the following articles to read. Then, share with your group what are the key advice from each website.
Now go back to the list you made for your Do Now. Based on the advice given to you today, which study techniques that you currently use are good? Which ones aren't so helpful?
Explore resources that are available! Remember, before you make something, check to check the web to see if someone has already created it!
Quizlet - See if someone has already made the flashcards you need
NZQA - a great way to find past exams and their marking schedules
Kahoot, Gimkit, Blooket - A lot of these quiz games that we use in class can also be used as revision because they allow for solo play! You can search for topics using discovery or ask your teacher for ones that were used in class. This could be a great way to get the achieved level of content!
No Brain Too Small, GZ Science, Science Scribe, Ms Garlick's Website - great websites for science revision
With the remaining time of this session, finish up/review your study plan. When you do have a study session, make a SMART goal with the new recommended study techniques backed by science.
Ms Garlick's Recommendation during Self-Testing Studying
When doing self-testing, she recommends the following technique.
First attempt at the question completely closed book. This is a good way to identify what your brain already knows.
Second attempt at the question, it is now open book. You can use your notes, internet, videos, etc to try to answer the question. You should also double check your first attempt answer to see if what you wrote is correct.
Last attempt at the question, ask a friend or teacher for help or use the marking schedule.
With each attempt, you should have a different colour pen or highlighter assigned to it so that way you can look back at your notes and know what you know/don't know and what you understand/don't understand.
First attempt vs second attempt = tells you what you know and don't know.
Second attempt vs third attempt = what you understand and don't understand
It is recommended that when you prioritize your studying, you start with what you are struggling with the most. When using this technique, the first thing on your agenda is the last attempt because that shows not only what you don't know but also don't understand. Next, should be the second attempt material, that shows what you understand but isn't stored in your long term memory. The first attempt shows what you're already confident with and needs the least amount of revision.
Even though it feels good to study what you know, it's not going to amount to large gains on the test because you're basically taking what would be an M6 answer to an E7. If you studied what you are struggling with, you could take an N2 answer to an M6 answer. That's a far larger point gain towards your final mark.
Teacher Notes
Mentor teachers should be walking around while senior students are working on this lesson to help give them advice on how to study.
Mentor teachers should really stress the point of studying smart instead of studying hard.