LU2: Study Skills

Question 1

Learning as a core element of education

Answer 1

• learning is a process
• facts deposited into students brain and are withdrawn at the right moment: banking
• questioning and interrogating information
• gathering new ideas and info and making it ones own
• relating info to ones own life and applying it
• interacting with fellow students and sharing ideas

Question 2

The exploration phase

Answer 2

• generalizing of activities whereby you find info on topic and getting background info, start managing time
• ensure that you have all the required study material
• contact fellow students to sort out problems
• discuss topic with lecturers
• identify and clarify difficult concepts
• get an overview of the content
• identify questions
• make summaries of info

Question 3

The fixation phase

Answer 3

• stage where you actually get to grips with real contents of subject, intensive reading
• consolidation of facts
• summarize facts
• ensure you understand material
• review notes
• memorization/rehearsal

Question 4

The testing phase

Answer 4

• assess your understanding of material

- understand instruction words

Question 5

The study environment

Answer 5

• social space: find those who are supportive of your studies
• physical space: particular study area, be comfortable, good lighting and ventilation, warm temperature, no interruptions, no distractions

Question 6

Motivation

Answer 6

• external motivation: weaker than internal, positive & negative
• internal motivation: individual knows what he wants and pushes himself to achieve it with short and long term goals

Question 7

Other considerations

Answer 7

• avoid substance abuse
• eat fruit and veggies
• drink water
• exercise regularly

Question 8

Time management

Answer 8

• ability to recognize that being a student doesn’t mean you’re not a human anymore
• realistic planning
• manage time effectively

Question 9

Prioritizing

Answer 9

• allocate time based in urgency and importance
• degree of difficulty
• time needed to complete activity
• scope and volume of work involved

Question 10

Time planning

Answer 10

• sticking to schedules can be difficult

- make sure to get sufficient rest

Question 11

Study groups

Answer 11

• humans are naturally group oriented
• constructive criticism
• motivate you
• hear other points of view
• compare notes
• add social element

Question 12

Ways groups can function

Answer 12

• central figure model: person in middle responsible for flow of communication, suitable for simple tasks, central figure overloaded, used in meetings
• decentralized groups model: communication flows freely, suitable for small groups, unstructured so can dad to nothing getting done
• free flow of communication & chairperson model: used with greatest success

Question 13

Note making

Answer 13

• promotes learning
• helps sustain concentration
• write notes in own words
• record for future use
• write ASAP to save time
• go over and edit notes when finished
• separate sections
• write legibly

Question 14

Note making styles

Answer 14

• visual notes: more schematic or diagrammatic

- narrative notes: more textual and involve a lot of written work

Question 15

Relationship between method and approach to learning

Answer 15

• Conscientisation: critical education, it is an active process, which entails you getting involved, participating and taking responsibility for your own learning, study methods that encourage critical reflection and engagement
• banking education: accommodate study methods that are associated with wrote learning

Question 16

Mnemonics/memory strategies

Answer 16

• acronyms, acrostics, keyword method, linking method, association, imagery
• classification: rearrange material in an order that will make it easier to remember

Question 17

Summaries

Answer 17

-short way of representing the contents of the original text, prevents wasting time rereading original document

Question 18

Dealing with assessment/testing

Answer 18

-assess extent to which we have learnt content