Learning how to Learn
3. Learning how to Learn
"Knowledge is power" yes, however some people have to work that bit harder to obtain and then a bit more again to demonstrate they have it. I thought after my first set of exams at school, that would be it - no more. The reality is, I'm still doing them.
In school, sitting in classes, struggling to take notes or read poorly photocopied material - was not productive for me. I tended to notice the white spaces between letters on print and would often loose my place. In addition I had to re-read the same passage in order to extract the context. Later I was to discover there was an easy fix to this with a colour overlay reading ruler (requires assessment).
Copying from the board was generally a nightmare. I doubt I will have ever had a complete set of notes. I was struggling with a pen - awkward grip, too much pressure, slow word rate and a strain sensation were all issues - I dare say some still are.
The knowledge was not in a particularly assessable format so I had to learn how I would learn best.
I tended to create my own study notes by typing them out and for revision, formatting them i.e. adding colour, rewording, adding pictures etc. I found this really helpful because it became creative and therefore interesting. Mind maps - Drawing them by hand - No. Using shapes, text boxes and lines on Microsoft Word worked well because again I could edit and add colour.
I was given 'speech to text' software at university. I thought my prayers had been answered and every pen I owned was on route to the bin. After a few training sessions I realised this was not going to be the case and would have to fish through the rubbish like a hungry racoon to retrieve the displaced bics. It became rather comical the words it appeared to "choose" to type on my behalf. Unfortunately I have a semi Glaswegian / mixed Scottish accent which didn't appear to help. I still do have some residual immaturities of speech as well. I am informed that there has been some improvement in such technologies nowadays.
At Police College there is an emphasis of learning legal definitions verbatim. You quickly realise that everything in the police appears to have a definition from Breach of the Peace to a builders skip which needs memorised. I convinced my mate to record a series of definitions on a Dictaphone and share the file with the group. I found when I recorded it, I tended to zone out when listening to myself however listening to someone else was quite different. I would play and repeat the words out loud. I would also listen to the recording at night. It was that boring it became an effective sleep aide. This style of learning did appear to work for me.
Highlighters were dangerous for me at university. What was a serious piece of research in psychology under review, I managed to turn it into a neon colouring in exercise.
Exams - I learnt that it was my paper. I could underline key words in the question, write on it and plan my answer. For some exams where there was a lot of information to impart, I would take 5 minutes just to put as much down on paper as quickly as I could. Sometimes it was just as useful drawing out a quick mind map. In order to assist the poor exam board with my “interesting” writing style, I was given a scribe for extended answer papers which was helpful.
I tended to over run on time and my answers would be massive in parts. It was pointed out to me that If the question is worth 5 marks then has the answer I've given got 5 mark-able points? If its worth one mark then why am I providing an essay? Past papers and the marking schemes l were rather helpful in seeing how the exam works and helping me form my plan of attack.
I am not a teacher or anyway an expert in anything. This is just a reflection of tecquniques I have used or adopted. Everyone finds their own way. I’m quite creatively minded therefore being creative with revision helped.
Remember go in to an exam with a positive attitude - Its your time to shine. Its an opportunity to show off how much you know.
"A positive attitude can make dreams come true - It did for me" David Bailey
"Knowledge is power" yes, however some people have to work that bit harder to obtain and then a bit more again to demonstrate they have it. I thought after my first set of exams at school, that would be it - no more. The reality is, I'm still doing them.
In school, sitting in classes, struggling to take notes or read poorly photocopied material - was not productive for me. I tended to notice the white spaces between letters on print and would often loose my place. In addition I had to re-read the same passage in order to extract the context. Later I was to discover there was an easy fix to this with a colour overlay reading ruler (requires assessment).
Copying from the board was generally a nightmare. I doubt I will have ever had a complete set of notes. I was struggling with a pen - awkward grip, too much pressure, slow word rate and a strain sensation were all issues - I dare say some still are.
The knowledge was not in a particularly assessable format so I had to learn how I would learn best.
I tended to create my own study notes by typing them out and for revision, formatting them i.e. adding colour, rewording, adding pictures etc. I found this really helpful because it became creative and therefore interesting. Mind maps - Drawing them by hand - No. Using shapes, text boxes and lines on Microsoft Word worked well because again I could edit and add colour.
I was given 'speech to text' software at university. I thought my prayers had been answered and every pen I owned was on route to the bin. After a few training sessions I realised this was not going to be the case and would have to fish through the rubbish like a hungry racoon to retrieve the displaced bics. It became rather comical the words it appeared to "choose" to type on my behalf. Unfortunately I have a semi Glaswegian / mixed Scottish accent which didn't appear to help. I still do have some residual immaturities of speech as well. I am informed that there has been some improvement in such technologies nowadays.
At Police College there is an emphasis of learning legal definitions verbatim. You quickly realise that everything in the police appears to have a definition from Breach of the Peace to a builders skip which needs memorised. I convinced my mate to record a series of definitions on a Dictaphone and share the file with the group. I found when I recorded it, I tended to zone out when listening to myself however listening to someone else was quite different. I would play and repeat the words out loud. I would also listen to the recording at night. It was that boring it became an effective sleep aide. This style of learning did appear to work for me.
Highlighters were dangerous for me at university. What was a serious piece of research in psychology under review, I managed to turn it into a neon colouring in exercise.
Exams - I learnt that it was my paper. I could underline key words in the question, write on it and plan my answer. For some exams where there was a lot of information to impart, I would take 5 minutes just to put as much down on paper as quickly as I could. Sometimes it was just as useful drawing out a quick mind map. In order to assist the poor exam board with my “interesting” writing style, I was given a scribe for extended answer papers which was helpful.
I tended to over run on time and my answers would be massive in parts. It was pointed out to me that If the question is worth 5 marks then has the answer I've given got 5 mark-able points? If its worth one mark then why am I providing an essay? Past papers and the marking schemes l were rather helpful in seeing how the exam works and helping me form my plan of attack.
I am not a teacher or anyway an expert in anything. This is just a reflection of tecquniques I have used or adopted. Everyone finds their own way. I’m quite creatively minded therefore being creative with revision helped.
Remember go in to an exam with a positive attitude - Its your time to shine. Its an opportunity to show off how much you know.
"A positive attitude can make dreams come true - It did for me" David Bailey
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