Teaching & Learning

On Monday night, 29 April,  Dr Jared Cooney Horvath personally delivered a 60 minute Zoom session to Moama Anglican Grammar families that explored the brain, how it develops, and how things change during adolescence and early adulthood. Dr Horvath explained how and why teenagers think differently than adults, and discussed ways we can support them academically, emotionally, and cognitively.

The following excerpt has been taken from an article written by Dr Horvath in 2017, and highlights specific ways in which students can maximise their study power and how we as families, can support our children on their learning journey.

STUDY TIPS FOR STUDENTS

Stop reviewing – start recalling

Many people believe if they repeatedly expose themselves to a piece of information, it will eventually sear itself into memory. This is why most study sessions are filled with re-reading text books, re-watching lectures, and re-copying notes.

Here’s the problem: repeatedly reviewing content does not lead to better memory.

If you want to build deep memories, you must focus on recalling information. The more you access a memory, the stronger it will become.

This means focus less on cramming info into your brain and more on pulling information out of your brain. Use flashcards that require you to recall facts. Use practice quizzes to force you to call-up information. Summarise complex ideas into single sentences and share/discuss these with others. Recall instead of Review.

Mimic the exam environment

When it comes to memory, everything seems to be included. As you read this sentence, surrounding scents, sounds and textures will all become part of your memory of these words.

Why does this matter? If you study while listening to your favourite music, lounging in a soft bed, munching away on yummy snacks – all of this will become tied into your memory for the material you are learning. This means that in a couple weeks time, when you are sitting your… exam in a silent room with stiff chairs and no food, you will have a much harder time recalling the material you studied.

As you study, try to mimic the conditions you will encounter during the actual test. In this way, you can ensure your memories will be infused with the same sensations you’ll experience when it comes time to access those memories.

Space it out

Cramming: it feels so right. What better way to learn material than to spend six straight hours reviewing and recalling it?

Believe it or not, if you were to spread those six hours across six, 12, or even 24 days, then your memory for the material would be much better and last much longer. In fact, people who spread study time over several sessions can remember up to 50 per cent more than people who study for the same amount of time in one long session. Furthermore, material learned in a spaced-out manner can be retained for up to 6 months (probably even longer).

Sleep, sleep, sleep

It might feel like wasted time, but sleep is the only way to ensure new memories are permanently stored within your brain. If you do not sleep, you will not remember: simple as that (and, if your parents complain you’re sleeping too much, just show them this article).” (Horvath, 2017) 

“This article was first published on Pursuit. Read the original article.”

Mrs Brooke Barber

Director of Teaching and Learning K-12