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According to a 2010 paper published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory and Cognition, the production effect suggests that information that is read aloud is easier to recall than information that is read silently. When you are studying you should identify the most important points and read them aloud. Apparently a whisper is ok if you are sitting in the Library. It doesn't work if you read all of your notes aloud because your brain doesn't differentiate between the important information from the rest.
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According to psychologist, Karen Young, exercise releases important brain chemicals and hormones that actually help us learn and study. These include brain-derived neurotophic factor (BDNF), serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. You don't have to spend hours at the gym, 25-30 minutes a day can help. Try walking, running, cycling, skipping, dancing, rollerblading, rollerskating, swimming or an online class if you're in isolation. Read more at https://www.heysigmund.com.
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Compare Student A who spends two hours studying but stops every now and then to respond to text messages, instagram notifications and to choose a playlist to listen to. While Student B spends an hour doing uninterrupted study then 20 minutes on social media and still has 40 minutes up their sleeve. Whose study do you think was more efficient and effective?
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We've all sat down to check Instagram for five minutes, or gone to bed and watched "a couple" of youtube videos only to put the phone down an hour later and wonder where that extra 55 minutes went. It can be very frustrating and stressful when you lose track of your break time and end up being time poor for important tasks like getting ready for school or finishing your homework. Here are some tips to prevent wasting time:
- Put your phone in another room
- Turn off social media alerts on your laptop
- Start a timer for your breaks
- Find somewhere to do your homework where the TV and other noise won't distract you
- Get up and move your body in your breaks - don't just switch your computer screen for your phone screen
- Set realistic goals - don't expect to work on your assignment for two hours straight before you take a break
- You can set app limits under settings on your iPhone or use a time management app such as Rescue Time.
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Sources:
https://www.keckmedicine.org/what-sugar-does-to-your-brain/
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/07/30/632480321/off-your-mental-game-you-could-be-mildly-dehydrated
https://parents.au.reachout.com/skills-to-build/wellbeing/self-care-and-teenagers
https://www.smilingmind.com.au/smiling-mind-app
https://headspace.org.au/young-people/how-to-reduce-stress-and-prepare-for-exams/
https://www.keckmedicine.org/what-sugar-does-to-your-brain/
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/07/30/632480321/off-your-mental-game-you-could-be-mildly-dehydrated
https://parents.au.reachout.com/skills-to-build/wellbeing/self-care-and-teenagers
https://www.smilingmind.com.au/smiling-mind-app
https://headspace.org.au/young-people/how-to-reduce-stress-and-prepare-for-exams/
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As Year 12 students prepare for their final exams it's important to remember that you are more than your ATAR. In her recent post, educator Linda Stade, pointed out, "Approximately 50 % of Australian students go on to university studies at some point. Of them, 26% of students use an ATAR score to enter university. The rest use alternative entrance platforms. That means, approximately 13% of all students currently in Year 12 will actually use an ATAR."
So, with that in mind, know that it's not the end of the world if you don't get the score you were hoping for. If plan A doesn't work, try plan B, or even C or D.
So, with that in mind, know that it's not the end of the world if you don't get the score you were hoping for. If plan A doesn't work, try plan B, or even C or D.
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While the rest of us are on holidays, year 12 students are getting ready for their exams. Here's an interesting video from Art of Smart about pre-exam rituals. These activities help to calm your brain down so that you can think clearly when you sit your exam. Before an exam I used to talk to my friends then freak out because I hadn't studied the same thing that they did. By the time I walked into the exam room I was an emotional wreck.
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I used to be scared of asking questions at school in case I looked stupid, but then I would end up looking stupid because I hadn't asked the question. The worst case scenario is that your question is a silly one and someone might giggle or the teacher might grumble. On the other hand, if you ask a question, it shows that you are interested, listening and thinking about the topic. It is also better to ask a question and check that you only have to do questions 3 and 4 for homework, rather than staying silent and doing questions 1-10 because you weren't sure. 99% of the time it's better to ask the question.