Study Methods
We know that we can achieve whatever we decide to achieve. The sky is never the limit… Many times we realise that we can’t do something, yet. It can be either because there is something we must still learn or because of the way in which we attempt to do it. We have to keep on trying in different ways.
After many hours and days of research, we believe that Metacogs is one of the methods in which the way the brain learns best. Complete your Metacog for every section of work in every subject. This is how you can secure storing information in the right way and improving your results.
YOU are responsible for your own success.
What the brain does not understand, it will not remember. That is why you have the best teacher in class! ASK until you understand. Once you understand the work your teacher only has the responsibility to assess you. You are now responsible to study and master the learning content.
This will be the most satisfying journey but your teacher or parents can’t walk it for you. YOU are responsible to get up and do it! We can’t wait to celebrate your success with you. We know you are going to do your very best.
Be blessed while you study and prepare for assessment.
STUDY SKILLS
Managing your time
Knowing what you want to achieve and practicing some good organisation habits can go a long way towards helping you achieve the goals you have set.
In class
- Record all homework tasks in your diary. Include the due date.
- Write down tests, assignments and long-term projects in the your diary on a ‘to do list’, as well as the due date in the homework diary section. A reminder in between is also a good idea.
- Record assignment and test results in the Record of Marks section of your Script. This will help you determine which subjects need improvement and extra study time. (Assignment, due date, results, reflection)
- In your diary, keep a record of upcoming events, such as sports or subject related trips, you plan to attend. You will need to take these into account when planning your time.
After school – At home
- Arrange your work in order of priority; for example, you could give each homework task a number.
- Make a schedule and stick to it. Remember the goals you have set yourself.
- Organise your time in half-hour blocks (to help concentration). Plan to spend more time on subjects which need improvement.
- Revise the work you did in class today – EVEN IF THE TEACHER DID NOT GIVE ANY HOMEWORK – your brain wants it.
- Do step 1 of your Metacog and read to understand. Find the meaning of words you do not know. Write it in your dictionary at the back of your book.
- Start making Metacogs where you have completed a section of work
- Recheck the Metacogs you have made
- Reteach the Metacogs to prepare for tests or exam – LONG BEFORE THE TIME
- Allow yourself time to review your work two or three days before a test.
- Remember to allow time for long-term assignments that you are working on.
- Take time to go over assignments and tests returned by your teacher.
- Transfer all unfinished tasks to a later date.
- Tick off assignments that you have completed or transferred
- Adjust your schedule regularly to keep up-to-date.
Managing your time
Tips on organisation
- Divide lengthy or difficult assignments into shorter, manageable tasks
- Set realistic goals – unrealistic ones will only discourage you
- Make sure your schedule of work allows for other regular commitments like sport or music practices, recreational activities – be balanced
- Review your schedule regularly, and adjust it to fit different commitments in different terms.
- Take a short break or reward yourself after completing each section of your work – this helps your concentration and motivation.
- Manage your electronic device (Phone, tablet, computer and home) with integrity. Even if no one is watching, choose do the right thing.
REFLECT on your results. Be honest with yourself:
- What did you do well? (Give yourself a star)
- What should you do different? (Make a wish – something you would have changed if you can do it again)
PERSONAL PLANNING AND STUDY
Why set goals?
It is easier to reach a destination if you know where you are going. We all have the freedom to make the choice necessary to give our lives the direction we want them to have. But once we have made a choice, we must also decide on the means to achieve it. Goal setting is way of reaching that destination without going round in circles.
How do I set goals?
- Be realistic – choose goals that are attainable.
- List your goals in order of priority.
- Be specific about how you can be successful.
- Draw up a plan of action: step by step.
- Share your goals, plan of action and progress you have made.
- Reward yourself when you reach a goal.
What kind of goals?
- Goals can be related to any area of your life. At school you could set goals for your academic studies, your sporting aspirations, music and drama, personal resolutions or friendship commitments.
- Use the section provided in this document to record your goals for each term.
How to plan
- If you want to get better marks, be specific and decide what marks you want to achieve.
- Decide what you are prepared to set aside in order to achieve your goal and write down your plan of action.
- Write down your plan of action and start now, whether you are ready or not.
- Write up a goal statement about the goal you want to achieve and the time you want to achieve it in; include what you will do to get the result and how you will do it. Place it where you will see it often (such as in the section in your diary).
- Read aloud your goal statement from time to time. Concentrate as you read and think of yourself as already succeeding at this goal.
- Keep checking to see whether you are reaching the goal you have set.
Setting Goals
Do not set many goals. Identify the one thing that you need to focus on to improve results. For example: If I improve my reading skills it will improve my overall results OR
I have to improve my understanding of mathematical concepts OR
I need to be more disciplined with my day to day responsibility to study.
It is not good to just set goals. You have to check where you are on a regular basis. There is a reflection at the end of every assessment period to see if you are still on the right road.
Switch on your brain to learn…
Rabbits should be allowed to jump and run. Fishes should be allowed to swim. Your brain should be allowed to learn in the way it does it best….
Four steps of the Metacognitive-Mapping Approach (MMA)
INPUT PHASE
Step 1: Read effectively
- Switch on reading centre in brain
- Use a pacer
- Read out loud
- Read in chunks
- Have a positive attitude
Step 2: Understand and make the Metacog
- Chunk information
- Think about what you read
- Ask, answer, discuss to understand
- Circle concepts DON’T underline – 35%?
- Check if what you circled is right. Reread the unit of meaning. UNDERSTAND?
- Fully understand the concepts? Sure?
- Make Metacog
Step 3: Recheck the Metacog
- Understand?
- Does it make sense in concepts?
- Organised in a logical associated way?
- Check for cross linking of information
- Add pictures or symbols if that will make it easier to remember.
If you followed the process till here you should get 60% to 70% in the exam. To improve it even more move to the final step of the MMA.
OUTPUT PHASE Step 4: Reteach the Metacog
Do this again three days before the test, exam or presentation. Go through the first 3 steps daily or weekly.
Reteach yourself – Metacog on wall – teach loud.
- Reteach in a way you would like to have been taught in class.
- Explain in detail. Imagine you are watching a movie of exactly what it is you are learning.
- Paint a picture in your mind of the information on the Metacog.
- Put a piece of paper on the wall or use a board to reteach, write main points, recreate diagrams or do maths calculations.
- Continue teaching till you answer difficult questions without even looking at the Metacog.
- You will have to go through the Metacog at least 3 times before you can confidently teach better than your teacher.
- Is something unclear in the Metacog? This is the time to look back at your notes or text and fix it up. After that put your book away and go back to the Metacog.
- IT WILL NOT HELP TO JUST READ your Metacog. You need to teach it to yourself and explain it out loud. Auditory and Visual stimulation makes the brain work harder from effective memory.
- If you spend enough time to follow step 1-3 properly the reteach stage will be easy. If it is difficult, go back a step and cross check your understanding of the Metacog. DO NOT TRY TO SHORTCUT UNDERSTANDING!
- Once you are happy to reteach the Metacog, it will help you to get hold of old tests, exam papers or assignments and test yourself.
- This is how we know the brain can prepare for an exam. It is never too late to start…
Study Resources
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