Study Tips for Graduates

Learning to learn

Overview • The Class as a resource • The Core Text • Your Notes • Read around the subject • Revision • The Exam

The Class as a resource

• Attend the class.• Listen- for main ideas and for the relevant

details supporting them.• Pay particular attention when lecturer is

analysing information.• Notice lists, cause and effect, superlatives, or if

she spends a long time explaining something.

The Class as a resource

• Ask questions if you do not understand. • Note other student's questions, they may give

you an insight.• Talk to other students

The Core Text- Linking topics

• Causal-leads to, produces, results in, affects• Explanation-is a reason for• Termed- known as, called• Property- consists of, has characteristics of • Procedure- how it happens, done by, how to do• Probable- how likely, never, always• Event- comes before, follows on from

The Core Text- create a learning frame

Concept

Definition

Why is it still relevant

Characteristics of

Critics of concept

Example in real life

How to avoid or create

Your notes

• Make legible notes • Use only one side of the paper • Allow blank space to fill in gaps • Use diagrams to link ideas • Don’t write every word.• Write words that will help you remember the

main points of the lecture

Reading around the subject

• Read with the intention to analyse and evaluate.

• Not just to remember what you read, but to be able to:

1. Talk or write about the material with an informed opinion

2. Apply information or concepts to a new scenario or problem

3. Use the information to solve a problem.

Reading around the subject

• Change all chapter titles, subtitles, sections, and paragraph headings into questions.

• Operant Conditioning- What is operant conditioning?

• What is the difference between primary and secondary research?

• These questions become “hooks” on which you can organise the material.

Reading around the subject

Must know

Nice to know

Background

Identify whether it is Background information or Nice to know information or Must Know information

Revision

• Read the chapter and close the book• Mentally visualize, then write, the key points of

the material.• Review your answers to see how well you actually

recalled the reading • Note the points you recalled incorrectly or

omitted. • Organise the concepts into a logical sequence.

Revision

• Create a revision timetable • Allocate your time to suit work or family

commitments • Select a suitable study space or room • Remove distractions• Turn off email or Instant messaging • Take regular, planned breaks

Revision

• Learn in a style that suits you• Make a podcast • Use post-its• Read aloud• Draw a picture • Use a flip chart • Use mnemonics or acronyms

Revision

• Put down the highlighter, highlighting is not studying.

• Make notes as you read • Identify and define key terms • Tell someone what you

learned, this will help you to spot any gaps in your explanation.

Revision

• Review past exam papers • Write your own exam paper, based on the

chapter • Answer the question within the exam time

frame • Review your answer

Revision

Use Mind Maps, flow charts or diagrams

The exam

• Check to be sure you are familiar with location and time

• Bring spare pens etc.• Spend 5 minutes reading the paper • Circle the key words, i.e. discuss, describe • Jot down any ideas or keywords as your read the

paper

The Exam

• If you get stuck on a question, stop.• Write why you are stuck, Can’t remember

Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. This may trigger your memory

• Still stuck? Move on to next question and come back to the problem later.

The Exam

• Write an outline of your answer. • This will help you structure your response and

you may be awarded some marks if you run out of time.

• Use the language of the discipline

The Exam

• Write legibly, this helps the corrector to allocate marks

• Make a note of how many marks are allocated to each section

• Spend the last 5 minutes reading your answers.

• Write down in bullet points any key areas or points you omitted.

Multiple Choice Questions

• Don’t over interpret questions.• Read the details in every answer.• Cross out answers that you know to be wrong

or that are highly unlikely.• Trust your first instincts and only change an

answer if you remember the correct one.

Study Tips for Graduates

Learning to learn