Effective Learning Strategies - Studywell - QUT

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Effective Learning Strategies


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The Learning Process People tend to learn something totally new by first getting the general idea in their minds and then filling in the details.

Here are some learning and memory techniques that will help with the process.


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Learning Strategies

Divide Outline

Vary

Engage

Incubate

Revise


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Outline An outline of a topic gives people a framework on which they can add details to get a picture of what they are learning Scenes in movies and TV often show a long shot before they zoom into the close ups.

If you ask someone to draw a house, they will usually draw the walls and roof before they fill in details like doors and windows

Textbooks, articles and essays usually start with an introductory overview


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Outline When reading, writing, explaining and in exams, order your information from the general to the detailed When researching a new topic: Dictionaries, Encyclopedias (if needed)

Specialised Books

Text Books

Journal Articles

When reading academic writing: Look at all the headings, subheadings

Look at all the pictures and captions

Read the first and last paragraphs

Read first sentence of each paragraph

Read the whole text

When structuring assignments and answers to exam questions: Introduction Body Conclusion gives thesis paragraphs repeats the and overview give details overview


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Divide Make study tasks more manageable by dividing them up into a series of smaller tasks How do you eat something the size of an elephant? One bite at a time.

Divide your study time into chunks of about 50 minutes and take a break every hour.

Break up your assignment into smaller tasks and focus on each task one at a time


Focus on one paragraph at a time when writing your assignments

Don’t try to read everything at one time. Break up your reading into articles or chapters or even parts of these

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Vary People are more alert to changes in their environment and tend to lose concentration when things remain the same. We often only become aware a cricket is chirping when it stops

The human brain is more able to pick up variations between things than be able to judge if something is right without comparing. Many people can’t judge if two shades of pink are the same until they try them on together


Lines that are crooked become apparent only when seen in comparison with other lines 7

Vary We can concentrate better if we vary our study tasks regularly. Change study tasks every hour or so. Alternate tasks that require intense concentration with more routine tasks. Intersperse study with physical and leisure activities. Reading Having Coffee

Thinking Relaxing Writing Notes

Finding Resources

Writing


Organising Files

Exercising

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Incubate We learn more if we give our brains time to process

The solution to a problem often appears if you leave it and focus on something else.


Leave your assignment draft overnight. You will see corrections you did not notice before

If you have a reading that is difficult to follow, reread it the next day. It will be clearer then. It is the same with maths problems.

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Revise The more we revise the more we remember

Review your lecture notes on the same day or the day following the lecture. Summarise your lecture notes for each week. Reread these throughout semester. Make notes on your readings. Reread the notes a week later and again before exams.


Use the little bits of time on the bus, between lectures or waiting for someone, to quickly review one set of notes. 10

Engage Learning involves attention and concentration Don’t just read – do something with the information

Study Actively

U Underline

Highlight

Rewrite Map Effective Learning Strategies

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Learning Strategies These strategies work together. For example:  Incubation occurs when you vary your tasks  Revising is easier if you divide it up into manageable chunks  Engagement is easier in short bursts. Divide tasks and vary between concentrated and routine tasks


Divide Outline

Vary

Engage

Incubate

Revise

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Reference List (in order of appearance) PAGES 1-7 mobilevirgin, 'Zebras', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mobilevirgin/316570798/, ed, 2006, zebras. Patrick Mayon, 'silhouette', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrickmayon/304585873/, ed, 2006, silhouette of bird flying TheLizardQueen, 'Big 5 - Elephant', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizard_queen/114587853/, ed, 2006, elephant in the wild Laszlo Ilyes, 'Variety~', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/laszlo-photo/3943097052/, ed, 2009, piles of spices gdiproductions, 'Least Tern chick with Egg', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44554458@N07/4097442408/, ed, 2009, chick with egg on beach surrounded by shells JoongDal, 'R2 meets repeating flash', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joongdal/3297797667/, ed, 2009, multiple photos of R2D2 figure. Windell Oskay, 'Magnet Toys -1', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oskay/197915236/, ed, 2006, magnet construction toy Johnson Cameraface, 'S104 text books', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54459164@N00/2812340882/, ed, 2008. Julian Robinson, 'the Loneliness of the Long distance Cyclist', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozjulian/2460263055/, ed, 2008, long road with cyclist in the distance daybeezho, 'That's the time I love the best', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/daybeezho/3219180710/, ed, 2009, coloured clock face w/roman numerals. Pablo, 'Nevermore!' In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordferguson/1561320157/, ed, 2007, Pencil, calculator, notes, highlighter, pen. Wim Mulder, 'Writing to reach you', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wimmulder/15653748/, ed, 2005, holding a pen. Leo Reynolds, 'pile of books ', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwr/4077733692/, ed, 2009, pile of books kenjonbro, 'Cricket (Leptophyes Punctatissima)', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenjonbro/2787428116/, ed, 2008, closeup of a cricket Jackknife Barlow, 'Headshot (Age 18)', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stringbot/2717641594/, ed, 2008, Man in clashing shirt and tie woupa02, 'The Crooked House ', http://www.flickr.com/photos/10727183@N07/2459389505/, 2008, little house built crookedly


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Reference List (in order of appearance) PAGES 8-12 Kaitlyn, 'Day 178 - 7-26-09', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaitastrophic/3760236898/, ed, 2009, A student reads a book lying in bed. Elsie Escobar, 'supported legs up on the wall pose', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/everydayelsie/406504707/, ed, 2007, person in inverted yoga pose. Brian Hillegas, 'Close up of The Thinker ', In: 502255276_49925090d6_o.jpg, ed, 2007, Head and shoulders of Rodin's The Thinker 'student1', In: http://www.registry.ed.ac.uk/Fees/images/student1.JPG, ed, student using a computer. Ahmed Rabea, 'Love Coffee', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahmedrabea/274197870/, ed, 2006, A cup of coffee with heart of foam. Esther Simpson, 'files', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/estherase/52172823/, ed, 2005, pile of coloured manila folders. Andrew Spratley, 'Rugby', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aspratley/3487469138/, ed, 2009, Two men in a rugby tackle. Juan Manuel, 'He has no choice', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaunis/2524135545/, ed, 2008, A man with his back turned, clasping his head. Nic McPhee, 'Editing a paper - 27', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nics_events/2349631689/, ed, 2008, Fountain pen on edited page 'Student 20reading', In: Student%20reading.jpg, ed, student reading in library see through shelves. hexodus, 'Civil Procedure Exam about to be Sent to Hell', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dsnet/4184876015/, ed, 2009, Law books sitting on pages of notes QUT, 'Reviewing', In: reviewing.jpg, ed, 2009, A graph showing percentage remembered over time with or without review. Anders Sandberg, 'Threat refuted', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/arenamontanus/2581472438/, ed, 2008, lecturer addresses class with whiteboard. H_is_for_Home, 'Vintage purple 1970s twin bell Westclox alarm clock', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/h_is_for_home/2460111952/, ed, 2008, A purple alarm clock. Michael, 'Hypergeometric', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pictoral/2377836517/, ed, 2008, Student studying his notes. Karin Dalziel, 'Can't erase the highlighting in Zotero', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nirak/772741433/, ed, 2007, Screen capture of highlighted text. dplastino, 'WU MING - Mind Map', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/marea/4035666628/, ed, 2009, A multi-coloured concept map. Nick Aldwin, 'Tools of Evil', In: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ninja999/2191121767/, ed, 2008, pencil, eraser, page of maths workings.


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