How to reduce a set of notes to useable and digestible information and How to remember information LONG TERM

How to reduce a set of notes

Below is a sample of text. Assume you need to break down and remember

long term, not just for a teat or short term assessment, but for the examinations many weeks away ……………

How do you go about maximising your chances of remembering the text during the pressure of time in an examination?

Steps:

Determine to make the effort! Set up with pens, lined note paper …. Have the room well lit, airy, devoid of distractions, chair comfy but

not too easy. Skim read the topic and note its structure: headings, main words,

main messages Read the text fully using a highlighter or pencil to underline KEY

pieces of information, definitions, diagrams Begin to make notes that reflect the visual structure of the text Break down the information into headings, sub- headings, sub-sub-

headings and bullet point format Set aside a group of words, diagram or anagram to assist memory When you have finished the task re-read YOUR NOTES and recite

them. When studying the notes at another time use them to help you recite them, cover them up and test yourself by writing them out without looking. The more you do this the better you will become and the faster you will achieve competence in this method.

“Air Pollution Causes and Effects

History Humans probably first experienced harm from air pollution when

they built fires in poorly ventilated caves. Since then we have gone on to pollute more of the earth's surface. Until recently, environmental pollution problems have been local and minor because of the Earth's own ability to absorb and purify minor quantities of pollutants. The industrialization of society, the introduction of motorized vehicles, and the explosion of the population, are factors contributing toward the growing air pollution problem. At this time it is urgent that we find methods to clean up the air.

The primary air pollutants found in most urban areas are carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter (both solid and liquid). These pollutants are dispersed throughout the world's atmosphere in concentrations high enough to gradually cause serious health problems………….. “

Skim read the topic and note its structure: headings, main words, main messages

Read the text fully using a highlighter or pencil to underline KEY pieces of information, definitions, diagrams

Begin to make notes that reflect the visual structure of the text

Break down the information into headings, sub- headings, sub-sub-headings and bullet point format

Set aside a group of words, diagram or anagram to assist memory

Your text now begins to look like this………………

Air Pollution Causes and Effects   HistoryA. First experienced 1. Fires . 2. Local and minor because of the Earth's ability to absorb and

purify minor quantities of pollutants. 3. Industrialization of society,

motorized vehicles, explosion of population

[Fire, Earth, Industrialisation]

B. Primary air pollutants carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter (both solid and liquid).

[C.N.S.H.P]

Now, have a go yourself“Sources of PollutantsThe two main sources of pollutants in urban areas are transportation (predominantly

automobiles) and fuel combustion in stationary sources, including residential, commercial, and industrial heating and cooling and coal-burning power plants. Motor vehicles produce high levels of carbon monoxides (CO) and a major source of hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Whereas, fuel combustion in stationary sources is the dominant source of sulphur dioxide (SO2).

Carbon DioxideCarbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the major pollutants in the atmosphere. Major sources of

CO2 are fossil fuels burning and deforestation. "The concentrations of CO2 in the air around 1860 before the effects of industrialization were felt, is assumed to have been about 290 parts per million (ppm). In the hundred years and more since then, the concentration has increased by about 30 to 35 ppm that is by 10 percent". (Breuer 67) Industrial countries account for 65% of CO2 emissions with the United States and Soviet Union responsible for 50%. Less developed countries (LDCs), with 80% of the world's people, are responsible for 35% of CO2 emissions but may contribute 50% by 2020. "Carbon dioxide emissions are increasing by 4% a year". (Miller 450)

In 1975, 18 thousand million tons of carbon dioxide (equivalent to 5 thousand million tons of carbon) were released into the atmosphere, but the atmosphere showed an increase of only 8 billion tons (equivalent to 2.2 billion tons of carbon". (Breuer 70) The ocean waters contain about sixty times more CO2 than the atmosphere. If the equilibrium is disturbed by externally increasing the concentration of CO2 in the air, then the oceans would absorb more and more CO2.  If the oceans can no longer keep pace, then more CO2 will remain into the atmosphere. As water warms, its ability to absorb CO2 is reduced.

Remember

Skim read

Pencil / highlight key information

Make your own notes

STUDYING SKILLS Memory Skills

While each of you will have developed different techniques, there are some hints and tricks to assist you in your work to go from short term memory to embedding long term memory and deeper understanding of your work. Having a good memory is not a gift. It is a skill anyone can learn!

HOW MEMORY WORKS

There are two types of memory: short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM). STM can only hold about five new pieces of information at a time. To really remember something, we need to transfer information to LTM. 

We can do this by: 1.  Grouping/linking: Our brains work by linking

information, so we should aim to link all new information to something we already know. For example, we might link bilby to all Australian native animals. 

2.  Revising constantly: After a learning session, we should go over the information that same day, and then at regular intervals. 

3.  Using all our senses:  Our brain is a “sensory receiver”, so we should use all senses (seeing, hearing, doing) to help us to remember things better. 

SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES TO USE

NOW

Visualisation: Link the information you want to remember to visual images. Link things such as formulae, people’s names, place names and other information to pictures, colours etc. The more unusual you make the image, the easier it is to remember. For example, this may be how you remember a man whose name is Kloundeski: 

Visual Study Aids

Use mind maps, diagrams and models tohelp your revision. Mind maps are usefultools. Have a go!

Acronyms

Eg ROY G. BIV for the colours of the spectrum.

Can you recall Australian state and territory capitals using the letters below? (Let’s say you’ve decided your acronym is DB Champs)

D......   B.......   C.......   H.......  A......   M......   P......   S......

Poems/Rhymes Eg “Thirty days hath September…”

Sound Tape your notes and listen to them before you go to sleep. Listen to Baroque music (60 beats/minute) when you study, as this helps you to remember things better.

Repetition Repeat things … in your mind, on paper, in speech.

Time on taskRemember, in the end, it is the time you spend on the task that will enable you to acquire a deeper understanding than before.