OUT OF THE FRYING PAN OUT OF THE FRYING PAN AND INTO THE FIRE:AND INTO THE FIRE:

Life After TYLife After TYStudy SkillsStudy Skills

Mr FosterMr Foster

Coláiste Choilm C.B.S.Coláiste Choilm C.B.S.

SwordsSwords

Agenda Agenda

PreparationPreparation Studying: a goal oriented processStudying: a goal oriented process Control: Planning and organising Control: Planning and organising

ActionAction Learning and RecallLearning and Recall Exam TechniqueExam Technique

PerformancePerformance Stress Management and Self Stress Management and Self

Management Management

Studying: a Goal Oriented ProcessStudying: a Goal Oriented Process

Before you start walking, you must Before you start walking, you must choose where it is you want to go….choose where it is you want to go….

What do YOU want to achieve in the What do YOU want to achieve in the next 2 years?next 2 years?

How do I set goalsHow do I set goals SSPECIFICPECIFIC

MMEASUREABLEEASUREABLE

AACTIVECTIVE

RREALISTICEALISTIC

TTIME FRAME IME FRAME

SMART GOALS 1• Specific

• The goal should refer to an event. It should have a quantity of work attached

• “I shall do all the Question 2’s in Maths”

• Measurable• It should be possible to see how far you have got

with your goal. “I have half of the Question 2’s done” When you reach the target, reward yourself with doing something you enjoy

• Action Orientated• A target should be an action statement:-

something that you will do• By Friday I will have a chapter in Science

finished”

SMART GOALS 2• Realistic

• The goal should be doable. If not, you will feel unmotivated and become discouraged

• Time Limited• The plan should have a time limit. Generally

plans should have a short time limit. By breaking up topics in to weeks, you will find it easier to learn material.

• Working smarter, rather than harder is the key to success.

Activity Activity

Outline the 3 goals you want to achieve by:Outline the 3 goals you want to achieve by: Christmas Christmas SummerSummer By end of 6th year By end of 6th year

Check to see if these goals are what SMARTCheck to see if these goals are what SMART

Planning and ControllingTHE GOLDEN RULE: YOU CONTROL THE SITUATION, NOT THE SITUATION CONTROL YOU

Time Management Average concentration time 20-45 minutes

so necessary to include short breaks Divide task by time and function

E.g. 20 page chapter can be divided up into 4 blocks of 5 pages …

Do boring tasks first or work related to it first

Be specific in what you allocate

TIME PLAN 1TIME PLAN 1Tips for Creating a Time PlanTips for Creating a Time Plan

Create a master schedule or diary that Create a master schedule or diary that indicates on a year basis when holidays, indicates on a year basis when holidays, exams, homework, essays etc are due:exams, homework, essays etc are due: At a regular time e.g. Sunday evening, plan At a regular time e.g. Sunday evening, plan

your week taking into account your master your week taking into account your master schedule and your study goals for that weekschedule and your study goals for that week

Mark out commitments such as meals, Mark out commitments such as meals, classes, sport etcclasses, sport etc

Make out a lists of tasks to doMake out a lists of tasks to do Schedule these tasks into the available time Schedule these tasks into the available time

slotsslots

TIME PLAN 2TIME PLAN 2

Review what has been done at the end Review what has been done at the end of the day- see if the schedule has to be of the day- see if the schedule has to be changedchanged

Allot times for relaxation Allot times for relaxation When you have finished a task cross it When you have finished a task cross it

off the timetableoff the timetable Avoid too much detail. There should be Avoid too much detail. There should be

some free slots in case things go wrongsome free slots in case things go wrong Schedule in rewards e.g. training or TV Schedule in rewards e.g. training or TV

programmesprogrammes

ACTIVITY Look at your time per day: Write in all fixed events (such as

classes, breaks, holidays etc) 2. Make an allocation for Homework 3. You should have about of your

day allocated to non-academic tasks such as sport

4. Leave one day a week totally free of all academic work

Activity 2 5. Include a period of

flexitime….time that is spare just in case something unexpected occurs

6. Now, you can allocate your time for study.

Make a list of Topics Covered 7. Now you allocate items on the

list to your spaces.

BIG PROBLEM!!BIG PROBLEM!!

After TY Students suffer fromAfter TY Students suffer from

PROCRASTINATIONPROCRASTINATION Put Things off…again, again, and againPut Things off…again, again, and again

1.1. Identify a specific task you are putting off Identify a specific task you are putting off that you need to dothat you need to do

2.2. Why are you putting it off?Why are you putting it off? 3.3. What or who supports you in putting this task What or who supports you in putting this task

offoff 44.. How will you change the components that How will you change the components that

support this procrastination?support this procrastination?

Agenda Agenda

PreparationPreparation Studying: a goal oriented process Studying: a goal oriented process Control: Planning and organising Control: Planning and organising

ActionAction Learning and RecallLearning and Recall Exam TechniqueExam Technique

PerformancePerformance Stress Management and Self Stress Management and Self

Management Management

ACTION: EXAM TECHNIQUE AND LEARNING

LEARNINGHow to Read Text Books

SQ3R: Survey Question Read Recite Review

REVISION 1

Its Never too late to Start (a) look at your course material and note the topics

you must cover for each subject (b) plan around these, working back from the exam

date to give you a starting date for your revision. (c) allow 1-2 weeks before the exam for overall

revision of topics already revised in depth and within this allow 1-2 days per subject.

(d) make a timetable – realistically, allocating time to each topic.

EXAM SKILL, NOT EXAM KILL

Have a finishing time for each question :- write it down beside the question

Write the Number of the question at the top of the page do not waste time copying out the wording of the question

Answer the question asked…not the question you would like to have been asked. Look at the marks allocated. The more marks given, the deeper or longer the answer required

Exam Q’s: What they mean

• Compare and Contrast: show the similarities and the differences between two or more things

• Define: explain the precise meaning of a topic

• Describe: give a detailed account of

• Discuss look at the different aspects of the topic. Present arguments for and against the topic

Exam Q’s what they mean 2

• Evaluate: Stress the strengths and weaknesses of a topic

• Explain Give an account of a topic with reasons

• Illustrate Explain using diagrams and examples

• Outline Give the main features/facts of a topic

• State Present a clear and brief and clear account

• Summarise Provide a short account of the main points

Agenda Agenda

PreparationPreparation Studying: a goal oriented process Studying: a goal oriented process Control: Planning and organising Control: Planning and organising

ActionAction Learning Learning Exam Technique Exam Technique

PerformancePerformance Stress Management and Self Stress Management and Self

Management Management

STRESSSTRESS

► Demands on us > our ability to meet themDemands on us > our ability to meet them► What is a CrisisWhat is a Crisis

A crisis is an emotional and physical response to A crisis is an emotional and physical response to an event that disrupts our normal day-to-day an event that disrupts our normal day-to-day functioning. They are a normal part of life. functioning. They are a normal part of life.

► How to deal with a CrisisHow to deal with a Crisis Define what has happenedDefine what has happened Seek helpSeek help.. RoutineRoutine. – Stay in Control. – Stay in Control Be open-mindedBe open-minded Make a plan and stick to itMake a plan and stick to it

► ExerciseExercise

SUCCESS IS A SUCCESS IS A JOURNEY AND NOT A JOURNEY AND NOT A

DESTINATIONDESTINATION

It only takes a single candle to light an entire It only takes a single candle to light an entire roomroom