Advanced Study Skills from the Pros

Sometimes the best way to learn is to forget. According to researchers, this is especially true when it comes to studying.  In fact, some studies are saying that the majority of the traditional approaches to studying are WRONG.

Want to study effectively?  Forget what you know.

So what’s right and what’s wrong?  Well, according to Psychology Today and the director of the UCLA Learning and Forgetting Lab, here’s what you DON’T want to do when studying:

1. DON’T LEARN IN BLOCKS—Don’t study math, then English, then science.  In one study or homework session, mix up what you are learning. Rather than mastering one skill before the next, take small steps in many skills. The theory is known as interleaving, and apparently the small progression in many skills approach leads to memories that are remembered much longer than the one-thing-at-a-time approach. That’s because each skill is learned in relation to the others. That doesn’t mean jumping from math to science to English—it means working on different skills that are related within a subject. So don’t burn out on quadratic equations by doing them over and over. Mix it up!

2. DON’T STUDY IN THE SAME PLACE—turns out that WHERE you study is as important as HOW, and the MORE places that you study, the better.  That’s because the background information of what you see and hear as you are studying gets remembered as well.  So if you study in the same place all the time, there’s nothing to make what you are studying stand out from all the other studied material.

3. FORGET IT… ALMOST. This technique has been researched many times. It’s known as the Spacing Effect and it says that to make studying effective you need to study, almost forget, and then re-study.  The point is to make the brain work to remember what was studied in the last session.  The harder the brain is challenged to recall, the better. So, don’t schedule a second study session too early on—that’s too easy.  The brain has to be challenged to remember.

4. WRITE IT DOWN, BUT NOT IN CLASS. According to the article, the point of note taking is to challenge the brain to remember, so take notes AFTER class.  This is a tad impractical while in school, but highlights the importance of review.  Try writing a class summary after each class without consulting in-class notes. You don’t need to know word for word–just try to recall the highlights.

Academic resolutions help students tune up their school habits and start the New Year–and the new semester– off on the right foot by putting an end to the habits that can cause stress and  interfere with the learning process. A new semester is just around the corner,  so it’s the perfect time to polish up routines and start this year out kicking!

1. Rise and Shine. All students can use a little extra time in the morning. By setting alarm clocks 10 minutes earlier, students can reduce the morning rush and alleviate stress.
2. Tune Out. TV and computers are the biggest student distractions, especially when it comes to homework. Students needn’t give up the computer or become TV-free, however. By simply eliminating one half-hour of screen time, students have more time to focus on schoolwork.
3. Prepare at night. Students can check items off their to-do list by preparing for school the night before. Choose clothing, re-pack book bags, and prepare lunches at night to reduce the morning rush.
4. Get organized. Resolve to use an agenda. Agendas help students stay on track so that homework and assignments are not forgotten.
5. Stick to a schedule. Hang wall calendars in a visible spot and be sure to write down all school assignments, extra curricular activities, and social engagements.
6. Hit the sheets. A better night’s sleep ensures that students are less sluggish more mentally alert during the school day.
7. Hit the books. Extra curricular reading is one of the best-known ways for students to build vocabulary and develop strong language skills.
8. Eat right. Healthy eating habits keep the brain active all day long. Avoid sugary treats and too-heavy meals, which can cause an attention crash.
9. Get outside. Take in some fresh air, vitamin D, and get the blood pumping with some exercise. Exercise has been shown to increases circulation to the brain.

All students are active thinkers by nature, but not all students know how to be active thinker when it comes to classroom learning. And especially not when it comes to homework.

That’s because, like many other school skills—studying, organization, focus—active thinking is a skill that students need to be taught how to use. Then, like any other skill, it needs to be practiced and honed before it becomes second nature.

Try these tips to turn on active thinking skills in and out of the classroom:

1. Before heading into class, pause for a moment and try to remember what was learned in the previous class. This primes the brain to get it ready to review information and learn something new.
2. Participate in class discussions. You don’t always have to have the right answers to think actively in class and listen to other student’s questions.
3. When taking notes in class—or at home— think towards the test and make note of any potential test questions in the margins of the notebook. (And take note of questions other students have asked in class.)
4. When reading or learning something new,  ask  if the new material calls to mind other material that is already known. Attempt to be draw similarities, no matter how random.
5. When studying or doing homework, ask what is already known about a subject by performing a “mental review.” Then focus on concepts that were forgotten or overlooked. (If it’s forgotten on a mental review, it might be forgotten on a test too!)
6. Set academic goals and work towards them. An active way to approach the learning process is by looking ahead and answering the “what’s next?” question. There’s always a test, a project, an assignment on the horizon. An active part of the learning process is knowing what’s coming up next, and being prepared.

Tip for Parents

Parents can encourage active thinking by prompting conversations about learning and by asking the right questions. Don’t just ask, “how was school?” Ask  more specific questions such as “how was math class?” and “what concepts did you learn today?”

Not sure that a university degree is worth the time, money, and effort? A new report from the Council of Ontario Universities has some fairly positive facts about the value of a university education.

Take a look:

• More than 93% of students find employment within 6 months of graduation. Nearly 85% of those say their job is related to their field of study.
• More than 300,000 new jobs were created for university graduates during the recession, while 430,000 jobs were lost for those without postsecondary education.
• Unemployment rates are lowest for university graduates than those with any other learning credential.
• University graduate earn, on average, 53% more than those without postsecondary education

via University of Western Ontario

According to an article on CNN, recent study is showing that too much online time can actually change brain structure.

The study looked at college students who spent about 10 hours a day online in comparison to those who spent less than two hours a day.  The study showed that the heavy Internet users actually had different brain structures in the “thinking” part of the brain.

Research says that the constant online stimulation can activate pleasure centres in the brain, and that the brain is wired to crave the instantaneous pleasures that online multitasking can give. But, the brain also needs the downtime—the slower pace of being offline—to process and rest.

Not so surprisingly, a surplus of online time didn’t just have cognitive implications— social ramifications of spending too much time online were observed, such as not being able to properly identify the emotions of people in stories.

While it can be difficult to cut back online time, the article offers tip to help heavy online multitaskers reduce their reliance on technology, which is important for parents and children alike. These guidelines can go a long way to helping establish Online Guidelines in your home that everyone can follow.

1. Keep track of how many hours a day that you are online.  Some studies show that students are online up to 7 hours a day! What websites do you visit?  What takes up the most time?
2. Set some time limits—balance is key.  The article suggests no more than two hours online at a time. 
3. Train your brain to slow down. Stare out the window, and daydream.  Pay attention to what your brain is thinking about. Try to focus on a single subject for a period of time. If you get off track, pull yourself back to the subject that you are supposed to be thinking about. 
4. Have offline time. Set a rule in your house to have offline time where everyone puts away the gadgets and powers down.  Other studies show that being offline in the hours before bed can improve sleep.
5. Get some exercise. Find an activity to do that takes you away from all electronics and gets your blood pumping.

They’ve written tests and exams.

They’ve handed in countless projects and assignments.

They studied hours upon hours.

They’ve written and passed entrance exams.

They’ve applied to schools and have been accepted.

But, just how ready is your teen for College or University?

Well, according to the US-based Alliance for Excellent Education, about one-third of college freshmen need to take a catch up course in reading, math or English. Other sources say that number of teens who are unprepared is as high as 75%.

The US is not alone; Some 55% of Ontario professors think that first-year university students are not as prepared as they should be, and are  lacking in critical thinking skills.

And many students themselves share similar sentiments, worrying about handling the increased workload and academic demands of university.

So, what can be done to ensure that teens are ready for higher education and  will be able to avoid the first year drop out crises?

If necessary, take a victory lap to review key subjects.  Or, consider taking a year off to renew school motivation.  Better yet, contact Oxford Learning to take a course that develops top-notch study skills, teaches test-taking techniques, perfects time management abilities, and improves critical thinking abilities.

Contact your local Oxford Learning centre to find out more about our College and University Prep Courses.

What’s the secret to helping your teen get better grades?

And, what’s the secret to getting him or her to be less sullen and moody?

The answer might surprise you. It’s the same answer to both questions: more sleep!

According to the Sleep Foundation, teens need between 8 ½ and 9 ¼ hours of sleep per night. They also, however, have biological difficulty falling asleep before 11 pm.

If teens need about 9 hours of sleep, and hit the sheets around 11 pm, that means that they should be waking up bright-eyed and ready to go around 8 am.

By the time that they have breakfast, and get ready for school, then leave for school, they should be right on time for their 10 am class, ready to learn!

Teen Biology + Early School Start Times = Lack Of Sleep And Poor Grades

Here’s the problem: most high school’s first classes begin between 8-9 am (some even earlier.)

This results in sleepy students. (Studies report that up to 20% of teens fall asleep in class on a regular basis.) And, as any parent of a teen can tell you, it also results in a severe case of the grumps.

It can also be linked to increase in teenage car accidents!

And not surprisingly, it results in poor grades.

One researcher says that sleep deprivation in teens is “three strikes against learning,” because 1) students aren’t alert enough to learn properly in class, 2) they aren’t mentally storing the information that they are learning correctly, and 3) they are not getting the sleep that they need in order to process learned information and transfer it to long-term memories.

That’s why some approximate 80 school districts across the USA are implementing later start times for highschoolers. The results of the later school start times are impressive:

• Less grumpiness
• Improvement in general health and nutrition
• Less falling asleep in class—about 20% less
• Less reported feelings of depression
• Less absenteeism
• Improved grades

What time does your teen’s high school start? Do you think it’s too early? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Read more:
Sleep Habits and Academic Performance
How Biology is Responsible for Teen’s Sleep
Stop Texting and Go To Sleep!

What’s the best way to stay organized? School gives us a planner (well, we pay for it, but we get one) but nobody ever really teaches us how to use it. I write my assignments and homework in it, but I somehow still wind up finding it easy to miss an assignment or a test. I even have a little calendar on my phone too. There are calendars on my computer at home, and there is Google Calendar too. Even with all the calendars around I can sometimes find it tough to stay on top of school work, and I end up working all weekend on a project.

Lately I have started digging into projects right away instead of waiting. I find that this way, the project stays on my mind, and I can work away at it over a week or two. I can polish it and improve on it as I go, and I have more time and don’t worry about missing any deadlines. The same goes for studying. If I review my notes each day for even a few minutes I don’t have as much trouble reviewing when it’s time for a test. And, I don’t need to rely on my agenda to remind me.

About me: I go to South Secondary School in London, ON and I have two younger siblings. I have always been a movie guy. But movies aren’t the only thing I enjoy. In the summer I love to bike with my friends down to the Thames River and ride along the trails. The sights and the entire ride are always beautiful. Anyway, hopefully you’ll enjoy my posts! Remember to leave feedback and comments at the bottom! – Dylan.

Forget about turning your cellphone off before you enter class.

Forget about having it confiscated for texting during lectures, or for browsing the web while you should be listening.

Your cellphone is now part of your classroom experience, so you better make sure that your battery is fully charged before you head to school.

Many school districts have bans on cellphones in classrooms, citing them as learning distractions or tools for social harassment.

Schools in the Toronto area have lifted the ban on cellphones in the classroom and are looking at the different ways that cellphones and other hand-held technology can be harnessed to make class time interactive.

Across the US, school boards have been have been researching the effectiveness of iPads as learning tools for students of all ages.

Classrooms already using personal electronic devices (PEDs) to teach and learn all report success:

• improved student engagement
• increased literacy
• ongoing student communication outside of the classroom

Cellphones—or other PEDs—are tools to access social media, which can be harnessed as a benefit to the classroom, and might help students who might be too shy to interact in the classroom otherwise.

Universities are already using personal technology and social media to interact with students.  A recent study shows that up the 30% of profs use social media regularly.

And other studies are showing that social media site Facebook can actually help increase grades.

It will take a few years to implement a district-wide cellphone policy in Toronto, but certain teachers are embracing the technology ahead of schedule and engaging students using the technology—and the ability to learn—that they already have in their hands.

Read more:

How iPads will change textbooks forever

Media literacy and your child

Online safety tips for children

Does a shorter school week seem like the opposite of what school boards should be doing to improve on the quality of education?

A few school districts in the US have passed legislation to allow a four-day school week.

The main goal is cost-cutting, but there have been some surprising academic results.

By eliminating the Friday school day, and by extending the Monday-Thursday school hours to maintain the same number of total teaching hours, educators have noticed:

• reduced absenteeism
• reduced drop out rates
• extracurricular participation increased
• increased feelings of student positivity
• better test scores

A report examining the four-day school week indicates that the shortened week might be more beneficial to high school students to lower drop out rates.

Read more: Los Angeles Times:  Shorter Week, More Learning

Interested in alternative school schedules or better test scores? Contact your local centre today!