13 Steps to Bloody good Marks Step 1: BUS Belief: in yourself and your skills Unlearn: Let go of systems that haven’t worked out Work Smart: - Organized (prepared for class) - Efficient (maximum learning in minimum time) - Effective. Step 2: Fail to Plan = Plan to Fail Eliminate Black Holes Time spent on: - Institution: in class at school - Personal time: eating, sleeping - Study time: homework, revision - Extra-curricular time: reading, hobbies, sport - Social time: family, friends - Black holes: TV, smart phone get rid of them Set realistic goals - Sensible: realistic - Precise: - Certifiable: clear at which point achieved - Rewarding: - Pertinent: goal should be relevant Semester, weekly, daily plan - Excel Table with daily schedule of class - Daily task list with 4 sectors: homework, revision, preparation, other - For exams: separate exam learning (revision of syllabus) Flexible Plan - Plans can never be perfect, sometimes deviate from Plan Prioritize Tasks - Important-urgent Table, for every sector Urgent Important Yes No Spare Time - Time on bus/train for revision Yes Now Delegate No Schedule Discard Step 3: Make Classes Count Prepare for class - Familiarizing with lesson - Reading textbook, noting doubts Front row - Everything ahead can get a distraction Clarify doubts, adjust pace, participate Avoid talkative friends Impressions count Be punctual Don’t miss classes Homework - Helps reviewing and truly understanding material Value of making notes - By hand, activates brain - Listening, registering and noting own words, not typing what is said Zoom in - Important lines like “This is important” or “Don´t forget that” helpful for learning mark it Diagrams - If professor takes the effort to draw something might be important or in next exam Abbreviations - Efficient noting down without losing too much time Keep organized - Consistency is key Refine notes - Helps fixing material, and is a basis for revision - In bullet points or charts 24-hour rule - Out of class you forget 80% of lecture - By reviewing within 24 hours, long-term memory storing Speak to your teacher Step 4: Be Consistent after class Refer to your daily plan Your pace is unique - Don’t compare yourself to others - Some theories take longer than others Procrastination - Avoidance of completing tasks - Longer breaks, top priority to not important task, spending time on black hole - Focus one task at a time, without distractions - Strike off completed tasks - Reward yourself for completed tasks Pomodoro Technique - Mind cannot focus too long on a single task - Work 25 min, Break 3-5 min, next task, 4x, longer break 15-30 min Multitasking - Interferes with process of memorizing Variety boosts learning - Alternate between unrelated subjects Endurance Training - Prepare for two learning tasks, if getting slow, move to second task after doing one more activity, if getting slow, move back to first task after doing one more activity Optimum recall - 24-hour rule - After a week it only takes 5 min to retain 100% - Optimal revision time is 10% time between lesson and exam Step 5: Science of Reading Active Recall - Read, then put away book and try to recall what you read (by writing down, or saying loud) Posture - Sit upright or standing Questions first - Summarize important concepts SQ3R - Survey: headings, figures, tables, summary paragraphs, 3-5min Question: converting headings into questions, what is the chapter about Read: active reading, engaging with material Recite: attempting to recall Review: study sheet with keywords and phrases Or PQRST - Preview: scanning chapters - Question: framing questions out of headings - Read: active reading - Self-Recite: recall - Test: answer questions Paper wins - Print material works better than electronic media for learning Speed reading skills - Sub-vocalization helps understand, but slows reading - At revision speed reading helpful - Blinking is important, keeps eyes from getting fatigued Use the highlighter - Keywords, phrases - Be selective - Own notes with pencil on edge also helpful Master keywords - List of keywords to unfold the subject - Important for critical words (Fachwörter) Read aloud - Improves absorption Select best sources for study material - Use only recommended textbooks Step 6: Boost Memory Quotient Studying is understanding and memorizing Activating - Already known matter of the topic, help to connect the synapses Forgetting Curve - 24-hour rule Mind Maps - Visually organized information - Central idea, curves, colours - Brains like visual images, colours help categorizing Story Building - Associating with different stuff Mnemonics - First word of every word, forming one word that can be memorized easily Songs - A sequence of words, can be memorized with a melody Flash Cards - Repeatedly quizzing yourself, works best for language Pop Quiz - During day, randomly asking questions Leitner System - Flash card learning system, where wrong words are more often learned then correctly answered cards Forgetting - Forgetting and recalling, improves the recall Sleep over it - Before sleeping, reviewing summarized notes (max 5min) increases memory Learner Type - Visual: absorbing from written words, diagrams or videos - Auditory: absorbing from hearing or listening - Kinaesthetic: learn by doing, experiencing or moving Audio recall - Audio recording of lecture only in addition for revision Summarizing Colours in notes - Be consistent, one colour for one specific type of word-type Senses - Connect information with emotion or senses Explain aloud Diminishing value of overlearning - If recall is successful without error, no need for revision Draw pictures - Certain concepts easier to learn visually Study sheet - Cheat sheets, all important information on a single sheet Metaphors Step 7: Practice Makes Perfect Do vs. Read Subjects - I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand - Math, physics are do subjects - Languages, social science are read subjects Practice material - Mock exams, textbooks, exercises help to practise the subjects - We forget because there is no link Doing requires understanding - The more you understand, the less you have to remember Use the net but judiciously - As an addition Contextual learning helps - Finding examples Holistic learning - Experience the subject Step 8: Build your Network Classmates - Group study with equal level of preparation, discussions, clarify doubts Teachers - They are happy to assist students, if the question is sincere Group study - Can be good, but also possible distraction The value of teaching others - The more senses are involved in learning, the stronger the synapses - We learn: 5% listening, 10% reading, 20% audio visual, 30% demonstration, 50% discussion, 75% doing, 90% teaching others Coaching classes - Tips, tricks, techniques, material - Organized study patterns - No exploration on their own Step 9: Sharpen Supplementary Skills Exercise your brain - Brain is like a muscle - If challenged by riddles, puzzles, mental calculations develop the brain Handwriting - Pencil to light, ink smudging, get a good pen - Writing with entire hand - Holding pen to tightly or loosely - 25-30% above writing tip - Not enough writing by hand losing practice - Irregular letters Mental Arithmetic - Good for checking calculated answers Language fluency - Following lessons more easily - Reading English a habit Word power - Boosting vocabulary by reading more (textbooks, non-fiction, fiction) Drawing - Diagrams should be practised in advance - Shows you know your stuff General knowledge Step 10: Manage Your Environment Organize - Clean desk, books and study material ordered in logical matter Create the right setting - Comfortable, undisturbed - Water bottle nearby - Distractions not visible in study area View - Should face a wall Change of scenery helps - If slowing down, stand up and go to another room Distractions - External: things physically - Internal: emotions, worries Maintain lists Music - Western classical music from baroque heart beat 60 beats per minute Step 11: Manage Body and Mind Stress kills learning - Activates hormones which disrupt registering memories Sleep and recharge - Sleeping after the process of memorization - Sleep at the same time every night, last meal 3h+ before bed, avoid TV, mobile phone - 6h bare minimum, power naps <30min helpful Maintain healthy relationships - Secure and happy relationships for better learning Exercise - Gets blood flowing to your brain evenly, more able to learn Snack smart - Omega 3 fatty acids in nuts, have brain boosting effects - Water is very important Brain rhythm - Peak periods of learning Talk to family for positivity - Maintain positive attitude - Never underestimate the power of your mind - Stay positive even in difficult times, music and meditation helps Meditation - Relaxation slows down breathing, at 6 breaths per minute you are aligned with your heartbeat Stand up - 18% more oxygen if standing Deep breathing - More oxygen equals faster learning Trick yourself being upbeat - Positive attitude translates to positive actions, and the reverse - It’s all about your attitude Step 12: Exam Strategy Question patterns - Question papers of earlier years Handling exam - Practise, mock-runs with time limit - Fresh, alert and rested, don’t try to study anything that you haven’t already studied, stop studying 30min before the exam - Avoid talking to other students, no point their anxiety rubbing off on you - Prepare all your stuff in advance - Ensure the place, time, avoid tension due to delays and traffic - Meditate to calm yourself down - Scan paper first, no rush start, keep some buffer time for checking - First tackle confident questions - Good handwriting, clear answers and structure Step 13: Going beyond Marks - Accept imperfections Don’t compare yourself to anyone Try to do your best but maintain your peace of mind and mental, physical health always When I grow up I want to be happy
