1. STUDY SKILLS

2. A useful model! The Information Processing Model
Analogy between the Brain and a Computer
3 Sequential Processes:
Registration - encoding to make it meaningful
Retention - storage ready for future use
Retrieval

3. Atkinson/Shiffrin - (1968)
Stage 1 Receive Information
Stage 2 Some information then stored in Short term memory
Stage 3 Reworking/Rehearsal after which it is then stored in Long term memory
Emphasis on “Elaborative Rehearsal” where new information related to the original is introduced
Once in the long term memory information may be retained permanently or may decay with time

4. Tony Buzan 1996 Students retain only 4% of a lecture after 2 weeks
But they can retain 80% if effective reworking/rehearsal is undertaken –

5. When should you revise? Early morning? But not too late at night!
Bite size chunks - 3 x 25 min is more productive than one block of 75 minutes

6. How should you revise?
If you just sit down to revise, without a definite finishing time, then your learning efficiency falls lower and lower, like this:

7. How should you revise? One solid session 4 shorter sessions
The yellow area shows the improvement

8. For example, Suppose you start work at 6 pm.
You should decide, looking at your clock or watch, to stop at 6.25 pm -and no later.
Then at 6.25 pm have a break for 5-10 minutes.
When you start again, look at the clock and decide to work until 7 pm exactly, and then have another break.
This way you’re working more efficiently.

9. How often should you revise?
Look at the graph below:
It shows how much your brain can recall later.
It rises for about 10 minutes …and then falls.

10. However, If you quickly re-revise after 10 minutes,
then it falls more slowly! This is good.
Analyse the new graph:

11. Even better, If you quickly re-revise again, after 1 day,
then it falls even more slowly!
Analyse the new graph:

12. Exams Why do people fail exams?
Not taking responsibility for their own learning
Failure to read instructions
Failure to read questions properly
Lack of preparation
Inappropriate preparation
Question choice
Not being familiar with the format of the paper/style of the questions
Not following the marking scheme

13. Why do people fail exams?
Not managing time/running out of time
Getting stuck on one question
Waffle
Poor academic style
Wrong/lack of equipment
Last minute preparation
Panic and stress due to lack of preparation
Lack of effort