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Study Skills <br />Orna Farrell<br />orna.farrell@dbs.ie<br />

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Outline<br />Learning theories<br />Learning styles...VAK <br />Successful learning<br />Study Strategies<br />Personal effectiveness<br />Time management<br />

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Learning: Behaviourists<br />Behaviourist<br />Learning through stimulus, response & reward<br />Pavlov (1927)<br />Skinner (1965)<br />Conditioning<br />Input.......output<br />

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Learning: Cognitive<br />Perception, memory &<br />concept formation <br />Demonstrate understanding by applying knowledge to solving a problem<br />Kolb(1984) Experiential learning<br />

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What is your learning style?<br />Visual: use of seen or observed things, including pictures, diagrams, demonstrations, displays, handouts, films, flip-chart<br />Auditory:involves the transfer of information through listening: to the spoken word, of self or others, of sounds and noises<br />Kinaesthetic:involves physical experience -touching, feeling, holding, doing, practical hands-on experiences<br />

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Successful learning<br />Write down, something you think you are good at...........<br />Write down a few words about how you became good at this.................<br />

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Successful learning<br />Did you write?<br />Practice<br />Trial and error<br />Repetition<br />Having a go<br />Experimenting<br />Most people “learn by doing&quot;<br />

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Study strategies<br />Identify what is really neededStudy assignment titles carefully. <br />Work out exactly what is required for assignments. <br />This saves time in re-writing assignments later. <br />Time spent in preparation is well spent.<br />Work strategicallySet yourself clear goals and work towards these. <br />

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Study strategies<br />Make the material meaningfulLooking for &apos;the meaning&apos; or how things work, rather than focusing on remembering information. <br />Work with the material, looking at how it fits together and applies to different circumstances. <br />If you develop your understanding of the subject, it will help you to take in future material more easily. <br />This makes reading easier.<br />It also improves your memory for the subject.<br />

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Study strategies<br />Look for linksBe active in searching out links between different aspects of the programme.<br />Look also for links between what you are learning and the wider world. <br />This helps to develop understanding and memory.<br />

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Study strategies<br />Work with othersWork with other students so that you share ideas and gain mutual support. <br />You may be able to share some research tasks and clarify your lecture notes.<br />Studying with others makes study more interesting, as you gain a different set of perspectives.<br />

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Study strategies<br />Set yourself SMART-F targets<br />strategic: they assist you to achieve your goals<br />measurable: you can tell when you have completed them<br />achievable: you are likely to succeed in meeting them<br />realistic: they fit the circumstances<br />time-bound: you have a set time to meet<br />flexible: you can adapt them if the circumstances change <br />

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Why take notes?<br />To note down facts<br />To contrast similarities and differences<br />To summarise main points<br />To help pay attention<br />To review and revise<br />To record thoughts & brainstorm<br />

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Types of note taking<br />Prose/linear<br />Many students use this format <br />basically written paragraphs<br />While this type can provide a summary the disadvantages are that it encourages verbatim copying <br /> doesn&apos;t allow for organisational strategy use<br />

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Types of note taking<br />Mind mapping/spider diagrams<br />The notes start in the middle of a page and &apos;explode&apos; out towards the edge of the page. <br />The advantage is that it is very visual, allows for structure and displays relationships. <br />They are very useful for review and recall, brainstorming and revision purposes. <br />Another advantage is that a lot of information can be condensed<br /> Disadvantages include they are hard to produce, especially from lectures and they require practice<br />

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Why mind map?<br />Using words, numbers and sentences only uses one side of your brain: the left<br />Your right brain responds to colours, shapes and sound<br />Mind mapping uses both left and right brain skills<br />Interview with Tony Buzan<br />

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Types of note taking<br />Cornell Method<br />This method involves drawing a line down the page, about 1/3 from left side of page. <br />The right side is used to record notes. The left side is reserved for key words and main points. <br />These can be done after the lecture, when trying to condense the information. <br />The advantage of this method is that it forces the note taker to select main points; <br />

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Taking Notes from readings<br />The SQRNR Reading Method<br />Survey the text <br />Question: make questions about the text<br />Read & underline key words<br />Make notes<br />Revise<br />

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What now?<br />Study plan<br />Study group<br />Start reading for your assignments<br />Learning journal<br />Set SMART Targets<br />

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Further reading<br />http://www.spicynodes.org/a/7263f7634cbe7f820fa717500f117a71<br />Buzan, T. (2002) How to mind map. London: Thorsons.<br />http://www.buzanworld.com/<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlabrWv25qQ<br />