Study is a significant practice by now. Quality study is essential to do well, even for those who have been or indeed are 'able learners'. By now you are likely to be looking at 2-3 hours a night as well as some time on the weekend. It is important to remember to balance your life. Remember for your mind and thinking to function at its best a strong vital body is important. Indeed energy and time management, previously covered, becomes critical with the load you may find yourself dealing with.
In Year 11 & 12, when it comes to study skills, much is about reinforcing and strengthening previous learnt skills, as now is the time to really practice them to maximise your outcomes.
However a skill to master now, is the skill of the researching of and use of appropriate resources and referencing them correctly. This includes evaluating and integration of the content of the resources. This is a critical skills as there is so much information easily available it is critical for effective learning to be selective in what you use. You want to use the most reliable and current information. Year 11 is also time to ensure 'self help group' skills are developed. Both of these skills will be very valuable for senior secondary school and post secondary learning.
Resources and Referencing:
Self Help Groups:
These study skills set you up for success in your school years as well as for university and life long learning. They will assist you in your daily life, especially around knowing what information you use when making decisions whether small daily ones or important life altering one. While I say that I feel the need to remind you that is it the small regular actions, habits, that have the most significant and powerful impact on you.
Another skill that I have not covered yet, however hopefully has been maintained, is the creative use of information. While knowledge provides the power of informed choice- key for effective decision making. Professions are grounded in the power of knowledge, they are rapidly discovering it is the use of the knowledge that grants the most power today.
Today power is less in holding the knowledge and more in the 'effective use of knowledge'. This requires many of the skills covered, creativity and more (moral, emotional intelligence).
Copyright Dr Janelle Sheen 2014