REVISION TOOLKIT. Making Revision EASY!

Transcription

1 REVISION TOOLKIT Making Revision EASY!

2 How do you use this toolkit? Use the knowledge in the toolkit to help you with each step. Step 1 You work out how you learn Step 2 You work out what study/revision strategies work best for you, thinking about how you learn. Step 3 You work out how to practise using this knowledge you have gained through studying/revising to be successful in meeting your target grade or even exceeding it. Step 4 You know how to prepare for an examination and have a good examination technique which will help you get the grade you deserve. Step 5 You will complete a revision action plan to get you on the road to success! Revision Can Be Fun! Just Give It a Try! 2

3 STEP 1 - Types of Learners There are many ways to remember facts and how to apply them, whether it is for studying or for when you complete a test. Not every method will work for you this is because everyone has preferred ways of learning. Therefore to understand what the best methods of remembering things are, you have to understand how you prefer to learn first! Look at the descriptions below to see what the main ways to learn are: A visual learner: Prefers to read, to see the words, illustrations and diagrams; Talks quite fast, using lots of images; Memorises by writing repeatedly; When inactive, looks around, doodles or watches something; When starting to understand something says, that looks right ; Is most distracted by untidiness. An auditory learner: Likes to be told, to listen to the teacher, to talk it out; Talks fluently, in a logical order, and with few hesitations; Memorises by repeating words aloud; When inactive, talks to self or others; When starting to understand something says, that sounds right ; Is most distracted by noises. A kinaesthetic learner: Likes to get involved, hands on, to try it out; Uses lots of hand movements; Talks about actions and feelings; speaks more slowly; Memorises by doing something repeatedly; When inactive, fidgets, walks around; When starting to understand something says, that feels right ; Is most distracted by movement or physical disturbance. 3

4 You can do all of these if you try but you might prefer one of them or even two of them. Look below and see which ones you prefer: When you do this Spell a word Are concentrating Choose a favourite art form Talk Meet people See a movie, watch TV or read a novel Relax Try to interpret someone s mood Are recalling something Are memorizing something Are choosing clothes Are angry Are inactive Do you do this? Visual Auditory Physical Try to visualise it (Does it look right?) Get most distracted by untidiness Sound it out (Does it sound right?) Get most distracted by noises Write it down (Does it feel right?) Get most distracted by movement, or physical disturbance Prefer paintings Prefer music Prefer dance/sculpture Talk quite fast, but keep idle conversation limited. Use lots of images, e.g. It s like a needle in a haystack. Remember mostly how they looked / the surroundings Remember best what the scenes / what the people looked like Generally prefer reading / TV Mainly note their facial expression Remember what you saw /people s faces / how things looked Prefer to memorise by writing something repeatedly Choose almost exclusively by how they look, how they coordinate and by the colours Become silent and seethe Look around, doodle, watch something Talk fluently with an even pace, in a logical order and with few hesitations. Enunciate clearly Remember mostly what was said / remember their names Remember best what was said and how the music sounded Generally prefer music Listen to their tone of voice Remember what was said /people s names / jokes Prefer to memorise by repeating words aloud Take a lot of notice of the brand name, what the clothes say about you Express it in an outburst Talk to yourself or others Use lots of hand movements, talk about actions and feelings. Speak more slowly with longer pauses Remember mostly what you did with them / remember their emotions Remember best what happened / the character s emotions Generally prefer games, sports Watch body movements Remember what was done what it felt like Prefer to memorise by doing something repeatedly Choose mainly on how they feel, the comfort, the texture Storm about, clench your fists, throw things Fidget, walk about 4

5 So how does this understanding make a difference to how you remember and apply information? Look at the table below and note what activities someone with your preferred learning style would like to do and therefore activities to aid revision. Preferred Learning Style Activities Example Revision strategies Visual Diagrams, charts, videos, films, graphs, posters, concept maps, pamphlets, textbooks, drawing, visualisation (creating mental pictures), collages, colour highlighting Mind maps, spider diagrams, create a story using pictures, 'Look, Cover, Write, Check' with lists and key words. Summarising. Auditory Discussion, group work, pair work, debates, interviewing, expositions, presentations, improvisations, listening to guest speakers, mnemonics, writing notes and essays, poems, sketches, stories, reading Mnemonics, sharing and testing ideas with your friends as part of a game, make up a pop sing with the key words or themes in the lyrics and then record it. Kinaesthetic DART, role-play, dance, model making, simulations, show me cards, freezeframes, improvisation, associating ideas with movements, human graphs, human sentences or timelines, field trips, games, competitions Put post-it notes around the house with key words in them and walk around the house testing yourself. Create a dance which shows a sequence ideas of ideas like a chemical reaction. 5

6 In this next section there is more information about revision strategies so do not panic if you do not understand them at the moment. Please note that if you are in a lesson which involves you using a learning style which is not your preferred one then that does not mean you cannot do it. You can do it; it just means you just need to try a little harder. Improving your ability to learn using your non-preferred style is a very good thing to do as you become a better learner! 6

7 STEP 2 - What can I do to remember? First tip try to engage as many senses as you can when revising as this will aid the memorising process. Here is a list of revision/study techniques which could help you remember things. Remember, you can adapt them depending on your preferred learning style - there are pointers about this during this section. 1) Look, Cover, Write, Check First of all make notes on a topic you are studying. Then look at them for 2 minutes only! For example look at the list below. Regular Aerobic Exercise 1. Increase heart muscle 2. Increase stroke volume 3. Decrease resting heart rate 4. Lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure 5. Increase tidal and vital capacity in lungs 6. Increase muscle size 7. Decrease blood cholesterol levels 8. Improve a person s resistance to disease Cover it so you cannot see it (Cheaters do not remember things in tests). Get a friend to test you or if you are on your own just write down what you can remember. Then look at it again for 2 minutes. Have a 10 minute break and then do it again. If you do not use this information you will lose it so remember the 3 Strike rule! STRIKE 1 do this during the lesson if possible STRIKE 2 do it again the night of the lesson STRIKE 3 do it again at the start of the next lesson. It should then STICK! 2) Summarising Read through the information you need to revise. Scan for key words and then highlight them. List the key words. Go back and check you have not missed anything and that you have understood what you have written. For example: 7

8 Educational research shows that students enjoy their learning and do well when they understand how to revise. A revision schedule that starts at the beginning of the year and is structured until their examinations, has been shown to be the most effective strategy. Combined with such activities as coaching on revision techniques, practising those techniques in situ, preexamination preparation sessions and revision schools results in most students exceeding their target grade. Now try to summarise this text. It should look like this: Educational research shows that students enjoy their learning and do well when they understand how to revise. A revision schedule that starts at the beginning of the year and is structured until their examinations has been shown to be the most effective strategy. Combined with such activities as coaching on revision techniques, practising those techniques in situ, pre-examination preparation sessions and revision schools results in most students exceeding their target grade. And then it should look like this: enjoy their learning understand how to revise beginning of the year structured effective coaching practising pre-examination revision schools But what can you do now? Well, you could 'look, cover, write, check'. You could make up a story which has these words in it. You could draw a picture which represents each word. You can even create a memorable phrase or sentence from the first letter of each word. This is called a Mnemonic. 8

9 3) Mind Mapping If you are revising more than just some text and you are covering a whole topic, then Mind Mapping is really good! First of all get a nice big piece of plain paper and lots of coloured pens/pencils. Write the topic in the middle of a page, using also pictures and colours to make it clear what the topic is about. Take 4 main ideas about the topic and draw branches coming from the middle write you main ideas on each branch. Then think of any words associated with the ideas and draw mini branches coming from the main branch with the words on each one. Make it colourful so each idea is represented by a certain colour, use symbols/pictures to reinforce what it is about. Then try and see if there are any links between the ideas (branches) and make those clear on your diagram. See an example below: Remember you work out which one is best for you thinking about how you are as a learner. 4) Just some other ideas from other students which work for them: For each word, come up with a specific visual example. This will help you to see the differences between the terms, and help you to use the words correctly. Make up some question cards with questions on the front and answers on the back! Then make a right, an almost, and a wrong pile. Keep going through the questions till they are all in the right pile, but make this FUN!! Give yourself rewards when you get them all correct!!' use Memorise the words whilst listening to a particular song or album. Then, when you need to remember the words, remembering I think one of the best ways to learn something is to make a song about it with a catchy tune, so you can remember all the information more easily'. For each topic, write up one set of index cards with the word on the front, and the definition on the back. Shuffle them and drill yourself. Take turns with a classmate testing each other. 9

10 If you've got a favourite song then change the words to facts that you need to remember; you should find that they stick in your mind longer if you associate them with a tune. Decorate your bedroom wall by using a bright array of coloured paper, post-it notes, bright diagrams and peg words. This way, whatever you're doing, you are constantly looking at your revision notes! A toilet is also a good place to put revision post-it notes ask the rest of your family first though! What you need: a small pile of notes (Post-it or similar) and a biro What to do: Write all the key words from your subject onto the notes, then stick them all over your house. As you walk around and see the words, challenge yourself to be able to say what they mean. If you can't do one then you look it up. Keep going until you know them all (or they all fall down!) Revising with your friends can be good fun but be careful as you can also get too distracted. Make it into a game to make sure you stay focused for example use monopoly money and the rules of Who Wants to be a Millionaire to see who gets the richest. What you need: an A4 sheet of paper, an A5 sheet of paper and a postcard What to do: First, write out the key topics onto your A4 paper. Fit as much on as you can. Then, take only the important bits and copy the information onto the A5 piece. Try to fit it all on! Condense it again onto the postcard. You should now have only the very important words left. How to extend it: Can you get all the important points on the back of a business card? If you still do not understand a topic, or an idea linked to the topic, then do not be an ostrich and put your head in the sand. ASK SOMEONE or FIND OUT a teacher, a friend, a parent. Look on the web and in the revision guide books which are available from school. See some useful sites below: 1. Year 9 SATs revision site for pupils and parents which contains lots of revision ideas, plus a downloadable leaflet (English, Maths and Science) Here you will find revision notes, links, tips, and many other resources to help you make the most of your revision and get through those exams! 3. learn.co.uk the educational website from the Guardian has a simple mission statement: to support, stimulate and succeed Free revision and course notes for a range of different subjects Channel 4 site where you can ask for help with homework or revision 6. Lots of help on lots of subjects 7. A comprehensive site which covers a number of subjects 8. A comprehensive site which covers a number of subjects Promotes positive learning styles for SATs, GCSE and A level 10

11 STEP 3 - Do I know how to use this knowledge to do well in my lessons and when I complete any tests? You will do some past exam and practice questions in your lessons. Make your own ones up at home. The main way you can do this online is through the website below which is excellent - try it! Another tip to know how to use your knowledge is to understand what level you are working on at the moment. Then make sure you know what level you should be getting and then find out how you need to apply your knowledge to get there! Your teacher will be able to tell you all of this information. Knowing something about Shakespeare is fine but if you do not know how to write down your ideas then you will not get the marks you deserve! 11

12 STEP 4 -Exam Preparation and Exam Technique Have a revision plan and stick to it. Show your family your revision plan so they can be aware when not to disturb you or also when you might need help/support. Plan in some rewards for yourself for keeping to you revision plan. A healthy body equals a healthy mind. Avoid the crisps and chocolate as it will not give you the long term energy you need to study. Have regular meals. Snack healthily and drink plenty of water. Try to exercise regularly take the dog for a walk, join a club etc. This will give you a clear head and limit any stress so you can revise efficiently. Make sure you regularly sleep well no late nights if you can help it. Think positively do not think of what you cannot do at the moment. Think of your strengths and how you can build upon them. Visualise success! Day before: The revision has been done. All you need to do is to refresh and remind. Try and avoid cramming at the last moment. Make sure you have all of the relevant equipment needed for the exam. Then relax. On the day: Read all instructions carefully so you know what questions to answer, what they are worth and which ones are compulsory. Avoid leaping to the first easy question. Plan which questions you want to answer and in what order. How much time you have got for each one. Look at where the clock is and how long the exam is. Check the clock at regular intervals. Use a quick bullet list of points to structure your ideas. Use any spare time to check through your answers to avoid silly errors. Write answers which answer directly the question. Keep to the point. Be neat. Do not spend too long a single question. DO not leave questions unanswered an intelligent guess can often get you extra marks. Avoid cheating. It is not worth the stress. Make sure you do not communicate to anyone else in the exam hall by looking as well as talking. Keep your head down. If you have a problem calmly raise your hand. Do not panic sometimes rereading the paper helps! Also be aware of your breathing take a couple of deep breaths to calm down and collect your thoughts. If you take a water bottle in then make sure there is no label on it and put your pens and pencils in a clear plastic bag. After the exam avoid worrying about it. You have done the best you can and so all you have to do is to keep visualising your success and relax. 12

13 Completing a revision plan Ask yourself the following questions: How many weeks to my first exam? What is the maximum amount of time that I am willing to revise on a weekday, a Saturday and on a typical Sunday? How many topics am I expected to revise for each subject? How hard do you find each topic and how big is each topic? Using the answers from the above questions to note down in a Revision Planner how many hours you might need to revise each one. There is a blank template of one under the example below. NOTE THE TOPICS IN THE EXAMPLE ARE NOT THE ONES YOU WILL NEED TO REVISE! Revision Planner for Science (Example!) Science Paper 1 Topic Time Needed Completed / help required Inheritance and Selection 3 hours (OK) Structures and Bonding 3hours (OK) Waves and Radiation 4 hours (hard) Humans as organisms 2 hours (easy) Maintenance of life 2 hours (easy) Metals 2 hours (easy) 13

14 Science Paper 2 Environment 2 hours (easy) Patterns of chemical change 5 hours (v. difficult) Forces 5 hours (v. difficult) Earth Materials 2 hours (easy) Energy 2 hours (easy) Electricity 2 hours (easy) Total : 34 hours Revision planner for English Topic Time Needed Completed / help required 14

15 Revision planner for Maths Topic Time Needed Completed / help required 15

16 Revision Planner for Science Subject Time Needed Completed / help required 16

17 Then plan when you going to revise each topic so you have covered everything you need up to the exam. Remember to leave time nearer the exam to refresh and remind yourself of topics you have already revised. See an example below and then fill out the blank templates. JAN a.m. p.m. Evening Support available Mon 12 th school school S - Light Tue 13 th school school S Acid and Alkaline Wed 14 th school school M - fractions Thu 15 th school school Football training Fri 16 th school school Break Sat 17 th Break Sun 18 th E Letter writing E Report writing Football Match M - algebra Break 17

18 Revision Calendar Month a.m. p.m. Evening Support available Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Month a.m. p.m. Evening Support available Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Month a.m. p.m. Evening Support available Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 18

19 STEP 5 Action Plan In form time you will get time to fill this out remember to ask your form tutor if you are not sure of what to do. My Learning Style is The Revision Strategies that work for me are.. The websites I have visited are.. The main points I will work on to help my exam preparation are.. I have filled in a Revision Planner and a Revision Calendar. (Tick if you have ) The support I will find to help me with the whole process is.. Remember! Revision GIVES YOU CONFIDENCE Just Give It a Try! The key is ORGANISATION AND PUTTING IN THE HOURS 19