Goal-setting, Study skills and environment

Question 1

What are learning styles?

Answer 1

Learning styles are different ways of learning. Different methods of learning suit different people.

Question 2

Name the four main learning styles.

Answer 2

• Aural/auditory
• Kinaesthetic
• Visual
• Reading and writing

Question 3

Provide information on the visual learning style.

Answer 3

Visual learners learn best by seeing things. They do well by using mind maps to learn. These are some of the main characteristics of visual learners:

• prefer using pictures
• need quiet study time
• fond of reading
• memorise by seeing
• usually good at spelling
• may scribble while thinking of something else
• prefer to observe
• have a preference for colours and diagrams

Question 4

Provide information on the aural/auditory learning style.

Answer 4

Some people learn best through hearing information. 
Main characteristics of aural learners:
-prefer to read to themselves aloud
-talk to themselves aloud
-easily distracted
-tend to prefer using sound and music
-good at explaining
-prefer doing oral reports

Question 5

Provide information on the kinaesthetic learning style.

Answer 5

Some people learn best by experiencing things through activities such as experiments and movements.
Learners as such have the following characteristics:
-good at sports or other physical activities
-cannot sit still for too long
-don’t have great handwriting or spelling skills
-enjoy acting
-study with loud music
-enjoy handling objects
-reading tends not to be important to them

Question 6

Provide information on the reading and writing (r/w) learning style.

Answer 6

These learners learn by seeing information as printed words. They like to make summaries or additions notes and will look up information in reference books and dictionaries. They often have these characteristics:

• stay very focused on what they do
• don’t like to be interrupted
• spell really well
• ‘disappear’ into books - when they read, they forget about the world around them. (YES I CAN RELATE)

Question 7

What does SMART stand for in goal setting?

Answer 7

S- SPECIFIC
Know exactly what you want to achieve

M- MEASURABLE
How you will know you’re making progress

A- ATTAINABLE
Must be within your ability

R- RELEVANT
There must be a good chance of you doing this

T- TIME-BOUND
By when you would like to achieve this goal

Question 8

State the ten essential steps in studying.

Answer 8

1. Set goals.
2. Plan.
3. Take frequent breaks.
4. Balance.
5. Make use of technology.
6. Quiz yourself
7. Maintain a positive attitude
8. Collaborate with others.
9. Maintain a routine.
10. Make use of memory aids.

Question 9

How can you plan to make studying more effective and efficient?

Answer 9

• Make use of timetables.
• Start studying 3 weeks before exams.
• Create a weekly/daily/monthly planner to organise yourself.

Question 10

How can you use a routine to make studying more effective and efficient?

Answer 10

Maintain routines that are familiar to you. Make sure to anticipate surprises that come up in your timetable- sometimes life doesn’t go as we plan.

Question 11

What does a good study environment look like?

Answer 11

• Sit at a desk. Your bed may be more comfortable at first, but in the long run you’ll get less done.
• Sit in a light room with an open window to help get oxygen to your brain.
• Take regular breaks! You can’t keep going non-stop for hours on end.
• Put all your devices on silent.
• If music helps you study, then play it.
• Provide yourself with some snacks and water.
• Study in a quiet place, and ask your family members/other people not to disturb you.
• Try get your study environment to be inspiring, comfortable, organised, and aesthetically pleasing with adequate lighting and supplies.

Question 12

Give some study tips

Answer 12

• Pick a date and time to study
• Plan your time
• Discover your learning style
• Cellphone = rewards system
• Stay motivated by setting goals
• Look after yourself- enough hours to sleep
• Organise your notes BEFORE & clear your study space. - Complete past papers
• Ask for help!

Question 13

Name seven study techniques.

Answer 13

1. Headings and keywords
2. Simplifying language/using own words
3. Sorting information
4. Mnemonics and Rhymes
5. Mind maps, spider diagrams and flow charts.
6. Symbols/images.
7. Story telling and visualisation

Question 14

Give information on the study technique ‘headings and keywords.’

Answer 14

Supply a heading, then pick out 3 important key wordsor phrases in the next two sentences.

Question 15

Give information on the study technique ‘simplifying language/using your own words.’

Answer 15

Rewrite sentence in your own words. Where possible make them simpler and shorter.

Question 16

Give information on the study technique ‘sorting information.’

Answer 16

Use a table to sort info in a paragraph.

Question 17

Give information on the study technique ‘mnemonics and rhymes.’

Answer 17

Acronyms, etc. Watch video linked on our slide shows.

Question 18

Give information on the study technique ‘symbols and images.’

Answer 18

Draw symbols that you could use for each of the following concepts/terms when making study notes, to avoid writing them out in full each time

Question 19

Give information on the study technique ‘story telling and visualisation.’

Answer 19

Use what you remember to make up stories and drawings.