Quick and Easy Techniques

Types of Studying

There are two broad categories of study techniques; active and passive. Active studying is more effective at helping you to understand and apply information. But sometimes when we are first learning something or if we only have 5-10 minutes, passive studying techniques can be a good place to start. Make sure your study time has a mix of both types so it is productive. For each technique on this site, I will tell you its type and intensity level.

Read over notes or textbook

Type: Passive Intensity: Low

This is the easiest, least effective way to study. Just reread your class notes or textbook when you get home. This method has only shown a 10% retention rate over two weeks. However, there are a few things you can do to turn it into active study and make it more effective:

• take memo notes on the side of the page or on a post it

• write a paragraph at the end summarising the information

• highlight key points and definitions

• write down examples that relate to your own experiences

• draw a mindmap or flowchart of the information

• make up 5-10 questions and answers for the information. Bonus tip: write the question on one side of a flashcard and the answer on the back. Then you can build up a set to help you revise each week!

DIY Audionotes

Type: Passive Intensity: Low

Record yourself reading your study notes and play it back when you are doing other things, like commuting to school, mowing the lawn, colouring in, cooking dinner, etc.

Some apps I have used for this include:

• • iOS Users: Voice Memo, GarageBand, OneNote, Notability, Goodnotes, Rev

  • Android Users: Rev, OneNote

  • Mac Users: GarageBand, Quicktime, OneNote

  • PC Users: OneNote

There are so many more! So don't just settle for this list, do a quick search for your platform's best apps.

Mnemonic Devices

Type: Active Intensity: low

If you have to memorise a list of things in order, a mnemonic (or memory trick) can help you do it. You probably already know a few. One of the most common mnemonic devices is an acrostic. Just write out the starting letters of the objects in order, then make up a sentence with those letters. Another common mnemonic device is an acronym. An acronym makes its own word!

Acrostic example:

The staff lines in a treble clef from bottom to top are E G B D F.

The most common mnemonic for this is: Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit.

Acronym example:

The PEEL strategy for composing a paragraph.

• Point

• Example or Evidence from text

• Explanation

• Link

Watch a Video

Type: Passive Intensity: Low

Sometimes you just need the concept you are trying to understand explained in a different way. There are many sites that offer video content. Use your judgement to find a reliable source or ask your teachers for some good sites/channels to follow for your subjects. YouTube has the largest database of videos but the reliability and accuracy of the content can sometimes be questionable (I'm looking at you flat earther YouTubers...). So make sure you choose good channels to view, not just the first thing to pop up. The school has paid for access to educational video sites including Clickview and Edrolo.

Here are some of my favourite sites and channels:

• • Clickview - sign in with your school email.

  • Edrolo - only for science at the moment, sign in with your school email.

  • Col Harrison - Australian Science teacher with playlists for each module.

  • Amoeba Sisters - such a cute and fun biology channel.

  • FuseSchool - UK-based channel for science and maths but easy enough to find the video that you need.

  • CrashCourse - the chemistry guy speaks so fast! (I recommend turning the speed down) It is good quality information.

  • Khan academy - so much respect for this nonprofit, they have every video you could want for school in one place.

Not syllabus based sites:

• • Veritasium - great for chemistry or physics.

  • It's Okay To Be Smart - random topics based around a question but he approaches it from so many angles.

  • SciShow - curious about science? This channel answers questions you didn't know you had.

  • AsapSCIENCE - very hot topic style channel, interesting but not based on our syllabus.

Remember: you can make this an active strategy by taking notes or organising the information in a diagram, mindmap or table.