There was an article the other day about how video games are actually good for your brain. They make it work better, improve hand-eye coordination, and help you make decisions. Take that, Dad!

I know that this doesn’t mean that sitting in front of the TV or computer for six hours a day is good, but a little gaming every day is okay. I like playing video games because they are relaxing, and challenging. I can that tell my brain is working. I like solving the puzzles, and learning new stuff, and video games help with that. I also really, really enjoy killing zombies, and where else can I do that but on my PS3?

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.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever left studying to the last minute, then stayed up too late, trying to review as much material as possible.

Keep your hand up if you’ve ever been reviewing your study notes right up to the last second as you walk into the classroom.

Cramming is a study technique that we are all familiar with. And despite what teachers and parents say, it’s one that has actually been proven to have a beneficial outcome for students.

Cramming is even a recognized study habit, with universities providing how-to guides for students to maximize their minimized study time.

If you MUST cram, there is a right way and a wrong way to go about it.

But we’re not saying that we condone cramming tips. While we do support the getting of better grades, in the long run, cramming is not the best way to go about it.

In terms of what’s going on in the brain, the neural connections being formed during the cramming process are temporary. All of the information being stored is in the short-term memory. So while cramming can help you rock that test tomorrow morning, when it comes to long-term remembering, it’s utterly useless.

That’s because in school, learning is incremental. Students need to remember—and understand—the material they study, because lessons tend to build upon what was taught previously. Learning only for the test is not helpful when considering what will be taught next year, or the year after that.

After all, you can’t perform quadratic equations if you can’t remember how to multiply.

It just makes sense that students take the time to learn and understand the material.

The best way to study for long-term recall is with a technique that experts call the “spacing effect.” This technique doesn’t require longer or more intensive studying: it simply means that students space out their study time. An hour here, and hour there, makes for a more effective—and long-lasting—approach to studying.

When it comes to education, better grades on the next test are important—and cramming can get you there—but better grades quickly are not as important as developing solid study habits that won’t leave you stressed and scrambling at the last minute.

And, better grades quickly are not as important as putting in the time to develop real and lasting understanding.

To sum up:

Cramming PRO: A quick way to review material and re-familiarize yourself with concepts to get a decent—even awesome—mark on a test.

Cramming Con: Reviewed material leaves your head as quickly as it’s stuffed in there.

Jan 13th is the application deadline for university and colleges in Ontario. There may be various application processes and deadlines across Canada and the US, but one thing is always the same—applying to college or university is competitive and stressful! So, with that in mind, we’ve complied 8 tips for stress-free college and university application.

1. Don’t know what you want to study? Don’t worry! A general arts and sciences program is a great way to get a better feel for what your interests are. Colleges and universities have departments in place to help you make the best decisions for you. Be sure to take advantage of these resources—that’s what they’re there for.

2. Pick up the phone. Haven’t heard anything yet? Wondering if your application was received? If possible, find out the expected date when acceptance letters will be sent out to reduce waiting-related stress. Call the registrar’s office. Remember that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Getting answers is better than the stress of wondering.

3. Submit before deadline. Different schools have different regulations and deadlines, but applying before the deadline never hurts.

4. Have a plan/Do your research. Talk to guidance counselors and friends. Request catalogues, visit campuses, and join university and college social media groups. Even after you’ve applied, keep researching and continue to find out as much about the school, the campus, and the departments as possible.

5. Be realistic. If you have a 70% average, applying to schools that have an 85% acceptance averages is not the best strategy. If you know the school’s acceptance averages beforehand, and applied to schools in your range, your acceptance chances increase, which decreases stress levels.

6. Be organized. Keep track of submission dates and expected offer dates. Use an agenda or wall calendar. That way, you’ll know when to start watching for those big envelopes in the mail! Keep all your required submission materials such as student records, essays, and other forms in one place in case you need to refer to them later.

7. Have a back up plan in place. This is not negative—it’s realistic. Didn’t get in? Money fell through? What’s your plan B?

8. Breathe! Once the forms are submitted, relax. Take a deep breath. Take a night off. Then get back to work! High School isn’t over yet and there’s still time to pull up your average and increase your chance of admission!

Studying for a test, scenario A:

• A student slouches on the couch in front of the TV, which is on. There is a cell phone open on the coffee table. The student also has iPod ear buds nestled in her lobes, a book propped open on her knees, which are bopping to a bass beat, a vacant stare in her eye.

Studying for a test, scenario B:

• A student sits at a desk. The room is quiet and well lit. There is little distraction—no TV, no computer, no cell phone. Books are open on a desk and student B is focused on his work.

Clearly, student A’s concentration is less than focused on the task at hand, but there may be more wrong here than poor study habits. The increased decibels from the TV, the iPod, and the cell phone may be doing more to increase stress levels than the upcoming test!

A study from the World Health Organization shows that excessive noise is linked to health problems. Physiological changes occur in the body when loud noise is present in the environment that a person may not even be aware of—stress hormones increase, sleep patterns can be disrupted, and ear problems such as tinnitus can develop—all from even small increases in the background noise level.

And you thought that loud noise was just bad for concentration!

Attention all students who study like the student in scenario A: Turn down the volume. Take a deep breath. Reduce your stress. Study, and do it quietly, with little to no distractions—your health and your memory will thank you.

In the first part of this series we looked at why students might cheat on exams. There is a lot of pressure to succeed especially in the higher grades as college or university looms near.

But more than just pressure, if your child has been caught cheating on a test or exam, it can usually be traced back to inadequate study skills. And it’s little wonder since study skills are rarely taught in school.

But there are plenty of other reasons why students might cheat.

Here are some of the main reasons students cheat:

• They are unmotivated
• They have gaps in their learning skills
• They are unable to make lasting connections in the subject matter
• They have trouble developing a fundamental understanding of course material.
• They have poor exam preparation techniques.

The best way to avoid cheating is to help your child develop better study skills. Try these 6 tips:

1. Hire a tutor.
2. Enroll in a program that focuses on study skills.
3. Create a study schedule, and review steps involved.
4. Use a school agenda.
5. Talk to your child about cheating and school pressure.
6. Stay involved.

The school year is coming to a close and for high school students that means exams. The inevitable fact of exams causes some strange behavior in students: they stress out. They freak out. They stay up all night cramming. They lose sleep.

Sometimes they even cheat.

Scenario: It’s 45 minutes into a biology exam and Jimmy blanks on the role of mitochondria. If he misses this question he’ll lose 5 marks, so he sneaks a peek at his neighbors’ sheet.

Students are constantly reminded how important good grades are, so it’s no wonder that they can occasionally give into the urge cheating. They know that every grade counts, every homework, assignment, test, project and pop quiz goes towards the final grade—which in turn reflects whether or not they will be accepted to university—and even which university they will be accepted to.

It’s a lot of pressure for the average teen.

According to Today’s Parent Magazine, studies in the US report that between 62 and 70 per cent of students admit to cheating on tests.

The pressure to succeed is one reason that kids sometime cheat.

For more reasons that kids cheat, stay tuned for part two of our look at cheating.

From Today’s Parent magazine. Read the full article here: Why kids cheat and how to prevent it

Breaking the Stress Cycle at Exam Time – Part One

Whether students are in elementary or high school, preparing for standardized tests or writing final exams, they need successful study skills and habits to help them focus and stay on track. Oxford Learning recommends the following effective study skills to help students get through the last few months of the school year with confidence and success:

Study Effectively for Tests

• Make a plan. Set goals for each session. Divide your material into units and assign one unit per day. Give yourself a three-day break before the test and make sure that you’ve learned all the units by then.
• Study in short bursts. 15 minutes at a time is excellent. After 15 minutes, take a five-minute breather. Do some exercise. Stick your head out the door. Get refocused.
• Use the Oxford Learning proprietary SQRCRC method to study for tests:
  • Survey the headings, introductions and summaries in order to get the main idea.
  • Question yourself. ”What do I hope to learn by reading this note?”
  • Read carefully for detail.
  • Cover the work.
  • Recite what you have just read, trying for main ideas and details.
  • Check to see how well you have done.

Be Prepared

• Every day counts. Do a little review and studying each day. Schedule time for your homework and study. Have a plan and work toward your plan.
• No homework? Work on assignments; review and correct mistakes from class or tests; plan your study schedule for next week; work on the “tough” stuff.

Support Tips for Parents

• Help your child prepare an accurate study schedule and review it together every morning.
• Create a ‘study stadium’ a very special work environment that supports and encourages best efforts and successes and makes it easier for your child to get into the “study mode”
• Get involved. Your interest shows that school is important.

Stay Sharp Throughout the Summer

• Once students complete their school year with success, carry the momentum through summer. Summer is an opportunity for children to develop new skills, make new friends and experience new challenges. If parents blend both recreation and academics, students will be prepared physically, emotionally and academically for a successful return to school in the fall.
• For maximum benefit, Oxford Learning recommends supplementing summer activities with a core program of education — 60 to 90 minute sessions three times a week. Whether it’s to brush up on areas that might need improvement or to get ahead so school is less stressful and more manageable, Oxford Learning summer programs are designed to meet each child’s needs and to provide opportunities to keep their minds active. To find out more, please click here.

Breaking the Stress Cycle at Exam Time – Part Two

Exams on the way? Is your child facing anxiety, stress and frustration? Are you beginning to feel the same way?

The game of catch-up at year’s end can take a toll on a student… and his or her parents. Falling behind can also lead to discouragement that results in the same problem year after year. Whether students are in elementary or high school, preparing for standardized tests or writing final exams, they need successful study skills and habits to help them focus and stay on track. Oxford Learning recommends the following effective study skills to help students get through the last few months of the school year with confidence and success:

Listen and Hear

• Start every class by making an effort to pay close attention. Whisper a reminder to yourself that you want to understand everything that the teacher says.
• Every five minutes or so, quietly summarize the lesson to yourself.
• Jot notes of the main ideas as you listen. Underline or highlight key words.
• When you don’t understand something, make a note and ask someone to explain it to you later.
• Notice what distracts you in the classroom. Take steps to make sure that it doesn’t happen again. If you find that you’re daydreaming, bring yourself back to task and try to fill in the parts you’ve missed.

Remember What You Hear

• Everyone has a good memory…if it is used properly.
• Take your main idea class notes home every evening and summarize them into point form. At first you may have to use a text or your classroom notes. Eventually, with practice, you’ll be able to remember these details.
• Review these notes to make sure that you understand them within two days and once more before you begin to study for a test.

Ace Your Homework

• Carry a homework planner with you at all times, to every class. Enter homework, projects, tests and assignments as soon as you’re given them. Don’t trust your memory – write it down as soon as the teacher assigns it!
• Choose a comfortable place to do your homework and study. Sorry, lying on the floor, listening to loud music or having the TV on in the background doesn’t cut it!
• Check your homework planner and begin by asking yourself the following questions: What am I supposed to do? When is the assignment due? Where can I get the necessary information? How do I do the assignment?

In our next post, we’ll outline more ways for families to cope by arming students with the tools to succeed through proper exam preparation and simply knowing how to study. Oxford Learning has personalized programs to help any student. To find out more, please click here.

Breaking the Stress Cycle at Exam Time – Part Two