Here are some methods you may like to pass on to your students and there are plenty of myths to bust too.
- Create a glossary of definitions used throughout the subject.
- Write your own questions on each topic.
- Read this: The science of revision: nine ways you can revise for exams more effectively
- Read this: Five tips from cognitive science on the best ways to revise
- Using technical videos effectively: Don’t watch them all at once. Watch one a day and make brief notes. Pause the video and go back if you need to. Adjust the speed of the video to suit how fast you want to take it in.
How to study for exams – Evidence-based revision tips:
The video above explains the reasons why just re-reading, highlighting and summarising have low effectiveness. Activities with a high cognitive function are more useful. The video explains these too. This is why I asked you to do so many tasks so that you had to think about what you had learnt. Make sure you have finished all the tasks and then close the Class Notebook and see what you can do active recall by making flash cards, mind maps, tables and diagrams without looking at the notes.
You can do all these for free on paper but here’s a program to help you if you prefer:
“Anki is a program which makes remembering things easy. Because it’s a lot more efficient than traditional study methods, you can either greatly decrease your time spent studying, or greatly increase the amount you learn” https://apps.ankiweb.net/
Web version: https://ankiweb.net/about
More resources you should try:
10 Techniques for Retrieval Practice – all well explained with visual examples
“Brain Glue” The best and worst strategies for making your training stick! PDF
Spaced Revision Basic principles for students
More techniques you should train your students in, from learningscientists.org:
The 9 BEST Scientific Study Tips
I’d love to know if you try any of these techniques and how successful there are. Comment below.
