YEAR 12 WORKSHOP

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YEAR 12 WORKSHOP

• St Anthonys Coptic Orthodox College 2006

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• CIMO COUNSELLING TRAINING
• MOB [phone]
• PH 95327400
• FAX [phone]
• cimo_at_bigpond.net.au
• www.cimo.com.au

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My Expectations

• MATURITY
• HONESTY

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Your Expectations

• ?

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• 2007

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• 2008

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• 2013

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Making career decisions

• Interests
• Values
• Skills
• Aptitude
• Work Aspects

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• Focus on the career
• or
• focus on the course
• ?

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Ways of exploring careers

• Work experience
• Talk to people you know about their jobs
• Read the age job section
• On line career guidance tools
• Talk to your career counsellor at school
• Go and see a private career counsellor
• Job guide hard copy or on line

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Ways of exploring courses

• VTAC guide
• TAFE guide
• University handbooks
• TAFE or Uni course info officers
• Open days

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Choosing a course

• Links with industry
• Flexibility
• Do graduates get jobs
• Sandwich year or work experience
• Campus
• Extra curricular activities
• Travel and parking
• Extra supports
• How good is the food in the caf!

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• Generalist courses
• Vs
• Vocationally specific courses

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• TAFE
• VS
• Uni

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What about a gap year

• Alternative study
• Travel
• Community service
• Work
• Volunteer work
• Gap year programs

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• Apprenticeships and traineeships

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Finding work

• Resume
• Job Network agencies
• Where to look for jobs

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Being a VTAC Guru

• Become familiar with the book
• Read all the instructions
• Plan for courses that would fit with a higher or
  lower score
• Think through your prioritising
• Make sure you complete all the special
  requirements
• Take advantage of opportunities to provide
  additional information
• Lodge early
• Plan your change of preferences
• Have a back door action plan!

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SIGNS OF STRESS

• Irritability
• Tiredness
• Poor concentration
• Poor short term memory
• Constant mind thoughts
• Lack of tolerance for others (you may not detect
  that in yourself)
• Anxious about little things
• Listlessness
• Prone to bursts of anger and tears
• Depressed, feeling alone, misunderstood
• Disturbed sleep
• Indigestion, poor appetite

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• Even though you are unaware, during times of
  stress your body suffers a great deal of physical
  'abuse'. For instance, the brain triggers
  hormones which are released through the nervous
  system to change various parts of your body. Your
  mouth may become dry, breathing rate increases,
  blood pressure rises, heart beat speeds up,
  sweating occurs, blood diverts to muscles which
  have become tense, the bowel and bladder suffer
  irregularities, the immune system weakens making
  you susceptible to viruses.

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How to overcome stress

• The first and most important step is to be AWARE
  that you are experiencing a stressful period with
  study pressures. Do not ignore your situation.
  Remind yourself that these years are only a small
  portion of your life -- there is so much of life
  ahead. Employ techniques that will help you more
  smoothly get through this short period of stress.
  Here are some suggestions

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• 1. Accept yourself for who you are - your
  STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES, successes and failures.
  RESPECT yourself. Don't dwell on past mistakes -
  they are gone. LIVE NOW.
• 2. Set REALISTIC GOALS - don't try to be the best
  all the time. Give yourself REWARDS when you
  achieve those goals. Continue to give yourself
  ENCOURAGEMENT.
• 3. Take TIME OUT to be alone with your thoughts
  and do the things you really enjoy eg playing
  sport, singing, dancing, playing the guitar,
  listening to CDs. Give yourself an ALLOCATED time
  for these activities each week - and stick to the
  schedule (but don't spend too much time on these
  activities at the expense of your commitments).

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• 4. When faced with a dilemma, do what you think
  is MORALLY RIGHT, that will make you happy.
• 5. Take PRIDE in what you achieve. Don't listen
  to that self doubt talk in your head (or what
  other people might say).
• 6. Make a TIMETABLE of things to do school,
  homework, study, watching TV, meals,
  sport/leisure, household responsibilities.

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• 7. Identify PRIORITIES i) what is important and
  must be done now, ii) what is important but can
  wait until tomorrow, iii) what is unimportant but
  you cannot avoid doing now, iv) what is
  unimportant and can wait until much later. MAKE A
  LIST of things to do today and cross them off as
  you do them.
• 8. Learn to RELAX, perhaps practise
  yoga/meditation or tai chi.
• 9. Maintain a HEALTHY DIET, especially filled
  with vitamin Bs (whole wheat bread, yogurt, wheat
  germ, eggs, yeast) and carbohydrates for energy.
  Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and drugs.
• 10. Get plenty of fresh air, exercise and SLEEP.
  A tired body wants to sleep but a tired mind
  never does. Even if the exam is tomorrow and you
  haven't studied all that you can, a late night
  'pouring over the books' will not make the
  material 'sink in' any faster and is more likely
  to cause you to forget or scramble the material
  you already know!

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Managing Your Study Time
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• There are only so many hours in a day, a week,
  and a term.
• You cannot change the number of hours, but you
  can decide how to best use them.
• To be successful in school, you must carefully
  manage your study time.

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Planning for the term

• At the beginning of a term, prepare a Term
  Calendar. Update it as the term goes on. Here is
  what to do to prepare a Term Calendar.
• Record your school assignments with their due
  dates and your scheduled tests.
• Record your planned school activities.
• Record your known out-of-school activities.

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Weekly planning

• Each Sunday before a school week, prepare a
  Weekly Schedule. Update it as the week goes on.
  Here is what to do to prepare a Weekly Schedule.
• Record your daily classes.
• Enter things to be done for the coming week from
  your Term Calendar.
• Review your class notes from the previous week to
  see if you need to add any school activities.
• Add any out-of-school activities in which you
  will be involved during the week.
• Be sure to include times for completing
  assignments, working on projects, and studying
  for tests. These times may be during the school
  day, right after school, evenings, and weekends.

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Daily Planning

• Each evening before a school day, prepare a Daily
  Organizer for the next day. Place a v next to
  each thing to do as you accomplish it. Here is
  what to do to prepare a Daily Organizer.
• Enter the things to do for the coming day from
  your Weekly Schedule.
• Enter the things that still need to be
  accomplished from your Daily Organizer from the
  previous day.
• Review your class notes for the day just
  completed to see if you need to add any school
  activities.Add any out-of-school activities in
  which you will be involved the next day.

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• Your Weekly Schedule should have more detail than
  your Term Calendar. Your Daily Organizer should
  have more detail than your Weekly Schedule. Using
  a Term Calendar, a Weekly Schedule, and a Daily
  Organizer will help you make the best use of your
  time.

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A GOOD PLACE TO STUDY?
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• 1. Is my Study Place available to me whenever I
  need it?
• Your Study Place does you little good if you
  cannot use it when you need it. If you are using
  a Study Place that you must share with others for
  any reason, work out a schedule so that you know
  when you can use it.

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• 2. Is my Study Place free from interruptions?
• It is important to have uninterrupted study time.
  You may have to hang a DO NOT DISTURB sign on the
  door or take the phone off the hook.

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• 3. Is my Study Place free from distractions?
• Research shows that most students study best in a
  quiet environment. If you find that playing a
  stereo or TV improves your mood, keep the volume
  low.

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• 4. Does my Study Place contain all the study
  materials I need?
• Be sure your Study Place includes reference
  sources and supplies such as pens and pencils,
  paper, ruler, calculator, and whatever else you
  might need. If you use a computer for your
  schoolwork, it should be in your Study Place .

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• 5. Does my Study Space contain a large enough
  desk or table?
• While working on an assignment or studying for a
  test, use a desk or table that is large enough to
  hold everything you need. Allow enough room for
  writing and try to avoid clutter.

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• 6. Does my Study Place have enough storage
  space?
• You need enough room to store your study
  materials. Be sure you have enough storage space
  to allow you to keep your desktop or other work
  surface clear of unnecessary materials that can
  get in the way.

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• 7. Does my Study Place have a comfortable chair?
• A chair that is not comfortable can cause
  discomfort or pain that will interfere with your
  studying. A chair that is too comfortable might
  make you sleepy. Select a chair in which you can
  sit for long periods while maintaining your
  attention.

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• 8. Does my Study Place have enough light?
• The amount of light you need depends on what you
  are doing. The important thing is that you can
  clearly see what you need to see without any
  strain or discomfort.

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• 9. Does my Study Place have a comfortable
  temperature?
• If your Study Place is too warm, you might become
  sleepy. If it is too cold, your thinking may slow
  down and become unclear. Select a temperature at
  which your mind and body function best.

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• Having a good Study Place is important for good
  studying

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Your Preferred Learning Style

• A learning style is a way of learning.
• YOUR preferred learning style is the way in
  which YOU learn best.

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WHAT IS TEST ANXIETY?

• Too much anxiety about a test is commonly
  referred to as test anxiety. It is perfectly
  natural to feel some anxiety when preparing for
  and taking a test.  In fact, a little anxiety can
  jump start your studying and keep you motivated. 
  
• However, too much anxiety can interfere with your
  studying. You may have difficulty learning and
  remembering what you need to know for the test. 
• Further, too much anxiety may block your
  performance during the test. You may have
  difficulty demonstrating what you know during the
  test.

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Are you an Auditory Learner?

• Auditory Learners learn best when information is
  presented in an auditory language format. Do you
  seem to learn best in classes that emphasize
  teacher lectures and class discussions? Does
  listening to audio tapes help you learn better?
  Do you find yourself reading aloud or talking
  things out to gain better understanding? If YES,
  you are probably an Auditory Learner.

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Are you a Visual Learner?

• Visual Learners learn best when information is
  presented in a written language format or in
  another visual format such as pictures or
  diagrams. Do you do best in classes in which
  teachers do a lot of writing at the chalkboard,
  provide clear handouts, and make extensive use of
  an overhead projector? Do you try to remember
  information by creating pictures in your mind? Do
  you take detailed written notes from your
  textbooks and in class? If YES, you are probably
  a Visual Learner.

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Are you a Tactile/Kinesthetic Learner?

• Tactile/Kinesthetic Learners learn best in
  hands-on learning settings in which they can
  physically manipulate something in order to learn
  about it. Do you learn best when you can move
  about and handle things? Do you do well in
  classes in which there is a lab component? Do you
  learn better when you have an actual object in
  your hands rather than a picture of the object or
  a verbal or written description of it? If YES,
  you are probably a Tactile/Kinesthetic Learner.

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• Your learning style is your strength. Go with it
  whenever you can. When you can choose a subject,
  try to choose one that draws heaviest on your
  learning style. When you choose a future career
  and course, keep your learning style firmly in
  mind.

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PROCRASTINATION QUOTIENT

• Multiply the TOTAL RESPONSE row by the
  corresponding WEIGHT to get the SCORE for each
  column. Add up the SCORE row to determine your
  total score. That number is your Procrastination
  Quotient.
• Procrastination Quotient Below 20 - Occasional
  ProcrastinatorProcrastination Quotient 21 - 30
  - Chronic ProcrastinatorProcrastination
  Quotient Above 30 - Severe Procrastinator

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ProcrastinationWHAT'S YOUR TYPE?

• Everyone may do it, just like everyone catches
  the common cold, but a range of factors
  influences the procrastination virus.
  Procrastination habits can stem from simple
  distaste for a task, such as completing tax
  returns, to a greater problem of depression.
  Research into the area reveals four central
  reasons that lead people to avoid tasks.

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Disorganization

• Do you take on all the little things that could
  wait until tomorrow, or even next week, simply to
  avoid that one big project you dislike? Then you
  are likely a disorganized procrastinator.
  Prioritizing your schedule will go a long way
  towards overcoming this habit.

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Fear

• If you feel nervous and anxious about completing
  a task, fear is likely the motivating factor
  behind your delays. It's common to avoid the
  unfamiliar, and students have to learn plenty of
  new skills. Learning a new skill set provides a
  certain excitement and satisfaction, and even if
  it's not a favourite job, it should be done
  first. "Sometimes we have to do the thing we
  dislike first and then reward ourselves with the
  better things."

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Perfectionism

• If it can't be done right, then there's no
  point in doing it at all. These are the words of
  the perfectionist procrastinator. These people
  are so caught up in getting each detail to fit
  their own specifications that they don't have
  time to finish the whole project. Or worse they
  fail to start because their perfectionism takes
  up so much of their energy. If this sounds like
  you break the project into pieces and work on
  finishing each one in a specific timeframe, and
  then move onto the next piece.

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Indicator of something greater

• If you find that you cannot finish any tasks,
  including those you could do quickly, then your
  procrastination could be a sign of a deeper
  problem. For some, they procrastinate to such a
  great extent that they really avoid everything,
  and they don't make the big important decisions
  then they start feeling badly, and a negative
  cycle happens. This cycle can lead to great
  anxiety and depression.

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• Recognize self-defeating problems such as fear
  and anxiety, difficulty concentrating, poor time
  management, indecisiveness and perfectionism.
• Identify your own goals, strengths and
  weaknesses, values and priorities.
• Compare your actions with the values you feel you
  have. Are your values consistent with your
  actions?

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• Discipline yourself to use time wisely Set
  priorities.
• Study in small blocks instead of long time
  periods. For example, you will accomplish more if
  you study/work in 60 minute blocks and take
  frequent 10 minute breaks in between, than if you
  study/work for 2-3 hours straight, with no
  breaks. Reward yourself after you complete a
  task.

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• Motivate yourself to study Dwell on success, not
  on failure. Try to study in small groups. Break
  large assignments into small tasks. Keep a
  reminder schedule and checklist.
• Set realistic goals.

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• Modify your environment Eliminate or minimize
  noise/ distraction. Ensure adequate lighting.
  Have necessary equipment at hand. Don't waste
  time going back and forth to get things. Don't
  get too comfortable when studying. A desk and
  straight-backed chair is usually best (a bed is
  no place to study). Be neat! Take a few minutes
  to straighten your desk. This can help to reduce
  day-dreaming.

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The DETER Strategy for Taking Tests

• To do well on a test, you must have good
  knowledge of the information that is being
  tested. But you must also have a strategy for
  taking the test that allows you to show what you
  know. The DETER strategy can help you do your
  best on any test. Each letter in DETER reminds
  you what to do.

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D Directions

• Read the test directions very carefully. Ask
  your teacher to explain anything about the test
  directions you do not understand. Only by
  following the directions can you achieve a good
  score on the test. If you do not follow the
  directions, you will not be able to demonstrate
  what you know..

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E Examine

• Examine the entire test to see how much you have
  to do.      Only by knowing the entire task can
  you break it down into parts that become
  manageable for you

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T Time      

• Once you have examined the entire test, decide
  how much time you will spend on each item.  
• If there are different points for items, plan to
  spend the most time on the items that count for
  the most points.
• Planning your time is especially important for
  essay tests where you must avoid spending so much
  time on one item that you have little time
  left for other test items.

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E Easiest

• The second E in DETER reminds you to answer the
  items you find easiest first. If you get stuck
  on a difficult item that comes up early in the
  test, you may not get to answer items that test
  things you know.

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R Review

• If you have planned your time correctly, you
  will have time to review your answers and make
  them as complete and accurate as possible. Also
  make sure to  review the test directions to be
  certain you have answered all items required.

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• CIMO COUNSELLING TRAINING
• MOB [phone]
• PH 95327400
• FAX [phone]
• cimo_at_bigpond.net.au
• www.cimo.com.au