When we learn and remember information we build new neuropathways in our brains. These pathways are strengthened when we chunk and clump information. In other words when we can see how the parts are interconnected and how they are different. Honing notes is a great way for our brains to process the information we are given in a new way. When we take notes in class or read a textbook the information is presented in a particular order. This is…
The main purpose of honing notes is to refine them and make them your own. There are many ways to hone your in class notes. Sometimes honing your notes makes them longer, sometimes it makes them shorter. They should NOT be a neater recopied version of the in-class notes. The key is to learn how you want to sharpen your notes in a variety of classes because not all classes are the same. Building intuition around in class and honed…
There is a lot of debate about the best way to take notes. There are some studies that show that paper note taking is better for long term retention than computer-based notes. I do not think that the conclusions of these studies are not as clear as suggested. But they do highlight some important points to consider when picking a note taking strategy. 1- Paper can be easier to draw on that most software. This is very helpful for classes…
You can check out an overview of the two steps note-taking process here. This post is a deeper dive into what lecture notes are and why they are valuable. First, I call them “get it down notes” because that is the main goal of taking notes in class. The main goal of these notes is to “get down” the main points of the lecture. This allows us to add context to the material that we need to master for class,…
Textbooks are often overlooked in discussions about note-taking. When students take notes from their textbooks they can practice extracting and summarizing key information before class. Taking notes while reading a textbook will add a few minutes to the reading time, but it also helps students retain information and allow them to make quizzable study tools without repeating work. As with lecture notes, students should summarize and not try to recopy the textbook. I teach students that when taking notes and…
For the next few weeks, I will be covering note-taking strategies and tips. Taking notes in class and from textbooks is a skill. And like most study skills, it is rarely modeled. This is unfortunate because notes are an invaluable resource for students, especially in college. Notes support the whole learning cycle, they can use for encoding and can be converted into quizzable study tool. Taking notes in class has historically helped students stay focused and attentive. As we move away from…
Teaching is a very challenging profession, but we need to realize that some classes do not work for some students. The cause of these gaps can be stylistic, lack of access to resources, unclear lectures, or a combination of many interconnected issues. The solution is to figure out how to learn the material in the class independently. This is often hard for students because of the expectation in middle and high school is that learning will be directed by an…
One of the best ways to fill gaps is to use your team. Most teachers are trying their best, but sometimes classes are poorly organized. Learning is a group activity. Like 0
Sometimes the best way to address the gaps is to build in study time. Students often need to use the materials in new ways. For example, students can hone their notes or collect information from their worksheets. Active learning can help students increase their test scores and be successful in most classes. Like 0
Sometimes students miss points on an exam because they do not understand what level of learning the teacher is expecting. Often students assume that teachers want a regurgitation of facts when they actually want a higher level of thinking. This video explains how understanding the correct level of learning can students study with less stress. Like 0
One of the best ways to fill gaps is to look at old tests. Old tests are amazing because they give you insights into what level the teacher is expecting. Students can then look back at their test prep to find what is missing or what they missed. Like 0
This video provides more details about how students and parents can start filling gaps. Sometimes filling these gaps can be tricky because resources are no longer contained in a single textbook. Because students may not have textbooks their learning materials can consist of websites, handouts, homework sheets, group discussions, and a myriad of other resources. Because students get so many materials they do not know what is important to keep and this can make studying for tests challenging. Like 0
During one of my high school classes, a student came up with a new way to draw the Learning Cycle. I thought that his modification about visualizing the information flow was very clever. The video below illustrates his creative change. Like 0
Many students are reluctant to quiz themselves because it feels daunting. In this video, I help students see how practicing getting things out of the brains can help them study faster by reducing the number of things in their basket. This can help students go through the Learning Cycle easier and faster. Like 0
Check out the learning levels introduction video before watching this video. Understanding learning levels can help us prepare for exams. Because we do not teach study skills most students assume that most tests about remembering facts. While students do need to know basic facts their tests are often asking them to master the material at a higher level. Watch the video to see how understanding learning levels can help increase your tests scores. Like 0
Do you ever feel frustrated that you can’t understand how to get better grades in class and on your assignments? This is very frustrating. I often have students who conclude that they “are just not smart enough” to understand. This problem does not have to do with a student’s intelligence it often comes from underestimating what learning level the teacher is using to assess the class. Classes often level up without students being aware of the shift. Watch this video to see…
Class structure and homework types can create different types of gaps in knowledge and these gaps can impact test scores. For more information check out my previous post. When I was discussing this idea with students we identified another important type of work to understand busy work. Watch the video below to see why busy work can feel so frustrating. Like 0
When making a study plan do not use the word “study” or “studying” because these words are so general. It is very easy to stick “study Spanish” into our planners. But what will we actually do to learn Spanish better? Watch the video to learn how using descriptive words can help you study faster with less stress. Like 0
Writing well can be very time-consuming. Part of the writing process is learning how to edit our own text. Editing our own work can be difficult what we are trying to say does not get communicated to the reader. One of the most effective ways to edit our writing is to have another person read it out loud, but this is not always possible. Watch the video to find out about a fast technological solution that will help you edit…
Do you ever feel like you are studying for tests and doing all of your homework but not getting the scores that you want? This is an incredibly frustrating situation and often the advice is to “study harder” or to “study longer” but these approaches do not always work. Watch the video below to explore why some classes are harder to study for and what you can do about it. Like 0