Effective Learning

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Effective Learning
Goldrick, M (2008)

• Workshop 2 Study skills and Time management

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From VARK to Work

• Having outlined how different styles can be
  used to increase learning, this second workshop
  will put in place a broad-spectrum approach to
  learning in your studies.

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Why we focus on study skills?

• A good system of learning is invaluable for
  producing good study notes and organising lecture
  notes.
• Some of the key difficulties students experience
  are time management and organisational problems

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What are study skills?

• Reading strategies
• Note-taking strategies
• Time Management strategies

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Reading strategies

• Whilst reading itself can seem the most common
  form of study it is sometimes an overlooked area
  for improving your study skills.
• There are specific strategies you can use to
  improve how you use your time and how you focus
  your attention.

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Skimming and Scanning the text

• Skimming the text is as it sounds, a quick way of
  determining the length, tone and initial content
  of the text.
• Scanning the text is an evolution of skimming
  where you can begin focussing on specific
  chapters or parts of an article to determine its
  worth to you as a learner.

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Critical skills

• Critical reading is a two-fold skill in
  academic study.
• Firstly related to the quality of the source in
  books and journals, I.e. objectivity, date of
  publication, arguments made (For example the
  belief that the world is flat).
• Secondly surrounds the location of the Internet
  source. Pay attention to unknown websites and try
  to get a feel for sources of information you and
  others can trust
• rather than random pages (Allan 1997)
• Approach all academic text with a
  respective yet critical drive. Remember that most
  facts can be argued for and against.

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Giving Purpose to Reading

• Many people find that academic reading can become
  laborious at times or just plain difficult. To
  help yourself remain focused on processing the
  text adopt a model of study which requires you to
  analyse the data. One such model is outlined
  below
• SQRW The Survey, Question, Read, and Write model
  is very useful for focussing attention and
  increasing memory retention.

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SQRW Method

• Survey the title of article or chapter, read
  the introduction, conclusion and Headings.
• Question what the text is telling you. Use past
  exam papers to create questions relevant to what
  you are reading. Try to determine what is
  important about the text.
• Read each section looking for answers to your
  questions.
• Write answer to these questions as well as
  notes about each chapter or article using the
  Cornell and spider-diagram method.

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Note-taking strategies

• Generally speaking there are two formats of
  note-taking which are widely known and used.
  First of these is known as the Cornell
  (two-column) method which can be seen below

Topic Description
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Note-taking strategies

• The second of these notes are made using a
  connectionist Framework as seen below
  

Topic in centre
Spider-diagram
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Using notes at home and in class

• At home When at home try writing out your notes
  on paper first and then translating them onto a
  typed version (the repetition will also aid
  recall). Organise your notes by content and
  subject (i.e. Marketing chapter 3)
• In class Class notes are never going to be as
  easily produced as home notes as you are under
  pressure to write quickly and legibly as best you
  can. Always revise your notes when you get home!
  To aid you in this here are a few tips.

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Using short-hand abbreviations

• If you find that you cannot create useable notes
  due to a lecturers speed ask him or her to
  repeat the statement.
• Use word economy to summarise what the lecture is
  saying.
• Dont try to write down word for word what is
  being said, rather use shrthand versns 2 help u
  get the main info recordd.

Abbreviations
Word Economy Original The planet earth is the
third closest to the sun. Revised Earth is the
3rd closest to sun.
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General Time Management

• There are specific time-related strategies
  each of us can develop when working
• Prioritize Try to get assignments with upcoming
  deadlines processed early to free things up for
  exam revision.
• Using Lost time bus and train commutes can be
  useful for reading course material!
• Be kind to your body work regularly in bursts
  rather than cramming all night writing or
  studying.

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Creating your own study-table

• Some students find it helpful to create a weekly
  planner to outline what they intend to study in
  the upcoming week.

Try to be specific in your timetable (law
Irish Law systems) Remember that the average
student should spend 20 hrs a sweek studying
outside of lecture hours
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Some General Study Tips

• Try to find a place where you are comfortable
  studying in, whether this is at home or in the
  library.
• Try and Keep to your study-table, the more you
  try the easier it will become.
• Break down longer assignments into smaller
  sections, e.g. planning, research, writing,
  proofing

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Study Groups

• Group work learning taps into the K and A
  spectrums of VARK learning, or Aural and
  Kinesthetic learning.
• Group study can be an effective way to work out
  an approach to a large project as well as to
  share thoughts and difficulties.
• They can also be useful for overcoming shyness
  and promoting motivation

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References

• Allan, B (1997) Study Skills Guide. University of
  Hull Business School.

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Bibliography

• Drew, S. and Bingham, R. (2001), The Student
  Skills Guide, 2nd ed., Aldershot, Gower.
• Moran, Aidan. P. (1997) Managing Your Own
  Learning at University A practical guide
  University College Dublin Press, Dublin. (371.3)