Saturday 17 January 2015

Useful, helpful and fun links that TY students will enjoy

Start Your Own Blog
  • http://startbloggingonline.com/
Create your own personal journal or Online Diary
  • www.Penzu.com
Beauty Blogs
  • www.zoella.co.uk
  • http://www.tanyaburr.co.uk/
Healthy Eating Links
  • http://teenshealthandfitness.tumblr.com/
  • http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/
Study Skills
  • www.skoool.ie
  • https://www.tcd.ie/pathways-to-trinity/application/study/

Study Skills for TY Exams 2015

Reading

When reading over a chapter from your textbook, most people will read through it at the same pace until the end and then stop and would put the book away feeling persuaded that they know what they just read. This way of learning might not always work unless you have photographic memory. Try this PQRR method, This way will ensure you ace those exams! 






P = Preview
Begin your reading task with a quick skim (2-3 minutes) of the text, trying to get an overview of the chapter or text. Look for section headings, illustrative charts and diagrams, signposts or key words. Don't start highlighting text at this point.

Q = Question
This is the key to active learning. Look for answers to the basic questions of Who? What? Where? Why? When? Identify the main theme or learning point of the particular text.

R = Read
Now read the chapter carefully, with these questions in mind. Your mind will be actively looking for answers as you read. Work with a pen and paper, make brief summary notes, look for 'topic sentences' that summarise the most important point in a paragraph or section and highlight them, if necessary. Vary your reading speed – move quickly over lighter, less important material and slow down when you come to a difficult section.

R = Review
Always check your unde

standing of the material by reviewing and testing your recall before putting the text away. Look at the notes you have taken and check that they answer your initial questions. Summarise your findings from this study session.


Note-Taking
•  'Less is more' When writing notes, remember they should be a summary, not an extensive repetition of what is in the textbook. Don't crowd the page. Stick to main headings and sub-headings. Use abbreviations where appropriate. Try to reduce what you need to know on the topic down to one A4 sheet.
•  'Make it visual' Highlight key words and use diagrams, brainstorms, graphs etc. (A picture is worth a thousand words)
•  Save your notes , organise a filing system. (Subject, topic, section) So you can retrieve your study notes when needed easily.

Improving Memory
•  Studies indicate that 66% of material is forgotten within seven days if it is not reviewed or recited again by the student, and 88% is gone after six weeks. Don't make life harder for yourself – build in a brief daily and weekly review of material covered. It will save you having to re-learn material from scratch!
•  Application and Association- The best way to channel material to long term memory is to organise it into meaningful associations. Link it to existing information and topics and create vivid personal examples which act as 'mental hooks' or 'cues' for recalling material in the future.
•  Use of mnemonics: these are various word games which can act as memory aids and which allow personalisation and creativity. Think of stalagtites (come down from the ceiling) and stalagmites (go up from the ground); the colours of the rainbow ('Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain' to remember red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet); the seven characteristics of living organisms – Mr.Grief (Movement, Reproduction, Growth Respiration, Irritability, Excretion, Feeding). You can devise many more of these to aid your personalised recall of items in your subjects.


Practical Tips
 Study away from your phone or tv or radio and make sure there's nothing to distract you.
 Don't leave everything to the last minute!! Start early!
 Read through the test first and Don't panic or you'll ruin your flow to approaching the paper.
 Get enough sleep the night before and Don't cram everything the night before.

Literacy and Numeracy

Don't forget to use these helpful techniques to guide you during exam time!
By using these steps, they'll be sure to lead you to academic success!

Reading Strategies:

Close Reading

Careful study reading, which usually indicates pausing to think or look back in order to examine the text in detail.

Skimming

Glancing quickly through the text to get the gist of it.

Scanning
Searching for a particular piece of information.

Numeracy 
Don't forget to calculate your results when you get your exams back!  Using this process:

1) Estimate your result.

2) Calculate your percentage
    my score x 100
    --------------   ----
     total mark     1

3) Round off: 5 or more, go up 1%

                      4 or less, leave it as it is.



 

Don't worry! Just do your best!

By: Lubna Arzal






Tuesday 13 January 2015

Mental Health Week 19 - 23 January: Positive Inspiration