Armul Mathematics & Computing

Effective Learning


Resources on this page:
Your Brain | Test Preparation | Study Skills

Working With Your Brain

Your brain is an amazingly efficient learning machine. If you find it difficult to learn then it isn't your brain that is the problem, it is the way that you are trying to use it.

Diagram showing the correct way to eat with a spoon and the incorrect way

I learn things but just forget them again.

A fundamental part of learning is forgetting things. Your brain remembers things it judges to be important and forgets things it judges unimportant.

You need to work with your brain not against it - show it what you want to learn, use the tools it has, respect its limitations.

The core technique is spaced repetition. Essentially the more times you do something the more likely you are to remember it. Go to the Test Preparation section to find out more.

To get the most from your learning time you need to plan how to use it properly. Go to the Study Skills section to find out more.

I look at the answer and still don't know how to do the question.

Write down clear feedback beside the question. If you nearly understand the method then simply writing down your feedback or asking someone about the problem can be enough.

That is because by putting it into words you are thinking about it and organising it in your head. The brain is not a filing cabinet of facts it is a network of paths between ideas. By thinking about the problem you spark connections. You may already have the ideas you need and now they will connect up.

Use your feedback yourself. When you come back to the question later do you now see whatever it was you didn't understand before? If not and you are still confused then that is what your teacher is for.

What do I say in my feedback?

Your feedback should be specific. What in particular is confusing you? Do you understand the question? Do you know what the answer will look like? Do you know what technique to use? Do you understand why that technique works?

In your feedback you should also say what you will do to improve. Come to a clinic? Do similar questions? Work with a friend? ...and don't just say it - do it.

You should also give feedback to your teacher in homework if you used help to answer a question. This helps them to know what to work on with you in the lessons.

Here is an example of good written feedback from one of my students:

Why is this good feedback?

  • It says what help was used (they used an example and the actual answer)
  • It explains how the help was used
  • It says (at the beginning) what they will do now

It would have been even better if the student had said which steps were the hardest to remember.

Test Preparation

Test preparation isn't about shoving more knowledge into your memory, it is about training your brain to draw knowledge and skills out of your memory.

To achieve this you need a carefully planned programme of effortful work. If the work is easy then you are not learning much.


Do and Check

Always check your answer as soon as you have done a question - don't do another similar question until after you have checked.

Why is this best? Practice Makes Permanent, so make sure you are practising the correct method.

Method:

  • Do a question from your book, a worksheet, a website or Century. Just make sure you can look up the correct answer or that your answer is marked automatically.
  • Check your answer.
  • If it is wrong...
    • go to your book or your notes or an example or a website or another person to work out how to do it correctly;
    • try the question again;
    • and keep trying until you are getting it correct.
  • At the end of your preparation session note down all the questions you got wrong.
  • Do these again a few days later (see Spaced Practice below).


Retrieval Practice

Don't just look at information, practise retrieving information and using methods and skills.

Why is this best? This is what you have to do in the test, so practise doing it. You will also learn faster and remember for longer. See the chart at the end of this document.

Method: Generative tasks are the best form of retrieval practice, tasks where you have to produce something.

  • Brain dump: Write, draw, make a mind map with everything you know about a topic;
  • Quizzes: Create practice questions on a topic, then swap your questions with a partner and get quizzing;
  • Flashcards: Create your own flashcards with a question on one side and the answer on the other - as you start to learn answers drop those cards from the pack;


Spaced Practice

Plan and spread out your preparation.

Why is this best? If you ask your memory to retrieve something often over time then it will store it ready for easy access. You will be relaxed and confident going into the test since you know that you can retrieve what you will need.

Method: When memorizing something or practising a method, start at least a week before the test (using retrieval practice), then repeat the next day – note the parts you don’t remember, then 2 days later, then 3 days later, each time focusing on retrieving the parts you couldn’t recall last time.


But do these really work?

We did a survey after a test to see how effective these methods are compared to just reading your notes or the textbook - this graph shows the results.

Study Skills

The suggestions below are split in two parts. Get started with the first half right now. Once you have completed a topic then bring in the second half.

You don't have to use all the strategies, but the more you use the more effective your study time will become.

From right now:

  • Each lesson or after each lesson, make brief notes on the content covered.
  • Keep a folder for each subject and keep the notes in order.
  • Use trigger words, diagrams, mind maps etc. Use colour, position and spacing. Your brain is very visual.
  • Review the notes immediately, then 24 hours later, then each month (see next).
  • Each weekend go over the notes from the previous four weeks for just two or three subjects on a rolling programme, just 30 minutes each.

Once you have completed a chapter (Y7-9) or book (y10-13):

  • Complete your notes first - this is ongoing process
  • Memorise your notes (you can't take them into the exam with you) - use retrieval type exercises such as these:
    • flash cards;
    • make a mind map on blank paper then check it against your notes;
    • Century;
    • but don't waste time just reading notes, making more notes, or highlighting notes.
  • Do practice papers or practice questions:
    • First do one or two, using an open book and don't time yourself;
    • Then move onto exam/test conditions - closed book, timed (usually one minute per mark);
    • Mark them - check with your teacher if you are are not sure how to mark a question;
    • Repeat.
  • Learning from mistakes:
    • Where are you losing most marks? This is where to focus your preparation;
    • Correct your mistakes;
    • Keep a check list and your mistakes/corrections;
    • Always ask teachers - where am I losing marks, specifically why am I losing marks, how can I correct it.
  • Focus time where real gains can be made - don't fall into the trap of working on things you are already comfortable with, because it is 'easier'.
  • Set real mark targets not generic targets before tackling past papers. E.g. I aim to get 4 out of 5 on all the 5 mark questions.
  • PLAN - be organised and structured so high value work is not missed or left too late.

Then, when exams approach and everyone else is starting to panic and beginning to make their notes, you have all yours done, you have regularly reviewed your learning and can start the productive activity of past papers or practice questions.

Exam time

  • Develop a routine - lay out all you need the night before; pack your bag; have a good sleep routine; have breakfast before you go to school.
  • Avoid stress merchants and exam content speculators just before an exam.
  • Use breathing exercises to keep focused - 4 seconds in, 8 seconds hold, 8 seconds out.
  • Use "marks per minute" to help you pace the exam - for maths exams use 1 mark per minute.

Go to the Test Preparation section for more ideas.