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Developing an effective study method
Developing an effective study method
Every year many students reach out to me expressing interest on improving their results in biology. I am very fortunate to have such a great group of dedicated students and I really, really want everyone to reach their goals.
I believe that developing an effective study technique is important to succeed in IB Biology, as it is a subject that has a lot of content to learn. For the last few years I’ve been researching and learning about study methods to advise my students. The goal is to provide guidance on how to spend your revision time to get the most out it.
Sometimes it is more beneficial to change the way you study than to spend more time studying the same way that you’ve always done. Scientists know that if you do the same thing once and again without implementing changes you are likely to obtain the same results. So if you want your results to improve, it may be a good idea to change one (or both) of these variables: spend more time studying and/or change your study techniques to optimize your time.
I hope that you all find this useful. And, as usual, study Bio like crazy ;-) Dr. Pena.
Photo: Roberto Ivan Cano
Self Assessment: test yourself!
Self Assessment: test yourself!
Use the opening questions, the questions in your textbook and the past quizzes and tests to test yourself. Set up time limits for each questions and simulate testing conditions: phones away (off), no books/notes and only pen, pencil, eraser, ruler and calculator (cleared) on the desk. If you get used to test yourself, you will develop test-taking skills and will find all your tests much easier!
Test yourself!
Test yourself!
Textbooks have plenty of questions for you to practice. Try to answer and then check your answers with the answers provided. The answer to the IB Biology Oxford textbook can be found here and for the the IB Biology Pearson textbook here. The more you practice, the more prepared you will be.
Spaced practice
Spaced practice
Space practice is essential to build long-term memory. The increased effort required to retrieve the learning after a little forgetting has the effect of re-triggering consolidation, further strengthening memory. Rapid fired practice uses only short term memory.”
From the book “Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning” Have a look at the book here.
Retrieval practice
Retrieval practice
Retrieval practice is a learning strategy where we focus on getting information out... what do you remember?
Students often study by re-reading their textbooks, highlighting information, and/or reviewing their notes. In both of these situations, the focus is on getting information “in,” with the hope that it sticks. But these methods only lead to short-term learning. Retrieval practice is a strategy in which bringing information to mind enhances and boosts learning. Deliberately recalling information forces us to pull our knowledge “out” and examine what we know. (obtained from "What is retrieval practice").
Improve your study method
Improve your study method
Connect concepts
Connect concepts
Learning happens faster if we build connections between the new concepts that we are trying to learn and concepts that we already know.
Graphic organisers - Dual coding
Graphic organisers - Dual coding
Dual coding is the process of combining verbal materials with visual materials. There are many ways to visually represent material, such as with infographics, timelines, cartoon strips, diagrams, and graphic organizers. When you have the same information in two formats - words and visuals - it gives you two ways of remembering the information later on. Combining these visuals with words is an effective way to study.
This belongs to: Learn How To Study Using... Dual Coding — The Learning Scientists. “The Learning Scientists.” The Learning Scientists, Sept. 2016, www.learningscientists.org/blog/2016/9/1-1. Accessed 26 Aug. 2019. Find more information here.
Mind-Maps
Mind-Maps
Have you try Bubbl.us? It is pretty nice digital tool designed to to organize thoughts. Here is the challenge: give yourself a question and then try to answer it by organizing your ideas in a mind-map! Once you believe you have answered the question to the best of your ability, check the book and complete the map!
Arizona State University (ASU) announced last week that it has developed the world’s first adaptive-learning biology degree, adjusting to its students’ needs in real-time.
“We are moving away from mass production to mass personalization,” said Dale Johnson, director of adaptive-learning initiatives with EdPlus at ASU. “We used to teach everyone the same thing at the same time. Now, we’re connecting the right student to the right lesson. We are changing the structure of higher education from static to dynamic,” he added. Read more here.
Plan ahead - set auto-reminders
Plan ahead - set auto-reminders
Do you know how to create Google Calendar reminders? When you create an event in your calendar, you can add reminders, in the form of emails or notifications. Reminders can be very useful to keep you in track with revision planning for upcoming assessments. So give it a go! Why not opening your calendar and creating a calendar event with some reminders for your next assessment?
Flashcard Apps
Flashcard Apps
Anki is a great revision system which allows you to create advanced and personalized revision flashcards! Students often find it very useful, so give it a go!
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